The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-09-10
She turned upon him and grasped his

She turned upon him and grasped his
arm almost 6ercely.
"Do you believe herr" she demanded.
81 heard her telling YOU"
"Then you must have heard my recep-
ton of her absurd suspicion"
''That is true" replied the governess,
with an air of relief
"Miss Compton, said Tom, taking her
hand, al cannot express my regret that
you should have overheard my cousin.
who at best Is but woman easily influ-
enced by outward appearances. But
since you did hear her, l am abont to
prove to you that in my mind, at least,
not a shadow of suspicion rests against
you. Miss Compton-JesSie-let me
call you sol love you, and ask you to
be my wife p
With sharp cry, she snatched her
hand away, and broke from him.
"Don't! don't !" she cried. ~ am
satisfied that you believe in my innoc-
ence in this case; but, aside from this. |
am unworthy of you. Do not entertain
the thought for one moment.
"JessIe, / know all; but if you return
my love, i will brave the opinion of the
world o, let me stand between you and
it! Give me the right to be your pro-
| tector."
mo, no, Mr.. Harkworth. cannot
accept the sacrifice your generosity
would prompt you to make. And now
let me pass, please"
"Jessie. is this your final answer ?''
eyes, final. 1t must be So" she said
in broken voice.
"One moment" he said. "Do not
think give you up. 1 do not believe
am Indifferent to you, and some day
shall renew my suit"
With that he stepped aside and let her
pass.
The next morning Mrs. May6eld's
maid came to her asId said:
"Just see, ma'am, what found in ba-
by's Clothes"
And she put into the lady's hand a
crumpled five dollar note. 1t was NUT
ilated and wet, indicating that it must
have been in the babv's month.
"Dear me P' said Mrs. Mayfield, with
look of distress, sit mus have blown
down on the floor, where the BABY could
get it, and been overlooked in undress-
ing him.
She hastened with the bill and her
explanation to Tom. He compressed
his lips.
"This is very poor saIve for the pain
yonr tongue caused her yesterday" he
said, gravely.
"I'm sure, didn't mean to be unjust, !"
said Mrs. Mayfeld with a whimper.
Then she ran to Miss Compton's
room TO apologize. The chamber was
empty. A note explained the matter.
"Of course cannot stay under your
roof with the suspicion of theft resting
upon me. The money due me will more
than repay you the amount you suspect
me of having stolen from you-the in
Justice of which may never be known
save to God and myself. Do not think
that ] entertain hard feelings toward YOU.
I do not. Appearances are certainly
against me. But my usefulness wulod end
with the loss of your confidence, and
hence ] go. Jessie Compton"
Mrs. May6eld wept over the note
Tom put it into his pocket without
comment. He Immediately employed a
private detective and hunted her up.
"Miss Compton," he said, "it would
be only generous in you to return and
receive my cousins apologies"
When he had carried his point, and
Mrs. Mayfield had again and again beg
ged Jessie's pardon with tears, she said:
"You cannot better show your perfect
forgiveness than by consenting to retain
your position.
That was purely selfish. However,
he was ably seconded by Mrs. Maytield.
and between them they almost constrain
ed compliance with their wishes. Tom
had quite laugh in his sleeve, noting
his cousins enthusiasm, and thinking
how il would be cooled down by little
peep into his mind.
While they were talking a tragedy
was being enacted in another party of
the city. A fugitive from justice, being
hard pressed by the police, shot himself
rather than be captured. Tom took
charge of the bodv of John Compton,
and secured for it decent burial.
Six months after that he shocked his
cousin and the devotees os Mrs. Grundy
generally by marrying Mrs. May6eld's
| Governess.