The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-03-17


face, and Its luxuriant brown hair all
hanging about it's shoulders, 1t proved
Ito be poor little Hattie Thorpe.
Il ssMiss Thorpei Why, Pm so sorry Is
Eanything the matterfg Edward asked,
.Egently fearing some msfortuDe to the
.tgirl, or that she had lost some relative; I;
Tor he was not aware that the little gov
erness was fatherless and motherless,
and without o blood-relation In the wide
world.
Hattie's tears and sobs redoubled; |;
she placed her two hands before her
face, and sank down on u seat In an atti-
tude-of shame and despair.
Edward was the tenderest-hearted Of
mortals, and telt Infinitely grieved at
sucn a spectacle OF grief He sat down
beside her and drew the little hand away
from her face.
''Do tell me what is the trouble." he
said, kindly.
"Oh, Mr., Edward,p sobbed the poor
child, "how can l say it' Miss Helen
thinks have stolen her turquOis ring"
| "lmpossiblep exclaimed Edward,
shocked.
"oh Yes. Sir. Thank you, Sir. It is
Impossible, but she thinks.so."
.sHelen can't think any thing SO cruel.
Pm sure you must be mistaken."
Ppm not mistaken, Sir. Sue said 80,
plain, two or three times-that l stole
ner ring because you gave it to her, Mr..
Edward, and thatI would like to steal
you too"
Edward laughed, but a warm blush
stole over his cheek. The silence became
a triae awkward, and to break IL he said,
"That's worse nonsense than the
other. You wouldn't steal me either,
would youW
Il wouldn't steal anything, Mr.. Ed
ward, of course, and besldes-"
'sPm not worth stealing" Edward in
terrupted. e
"You are worth anything cried little
Hattie, with unnecessary feryor.
"But still, you wouldn't steal meW
said Edward, laughing.
Il couldn't, you knows" and the large
innocent eyes were raised appealingly.
| "Pm not SO sure of that,' thought Ed
ward, unconsciously pressing the soft
little hands he still held between his
own. He bent over her in agentle, pro
tecting way, and whispered
| "Y on are dear little thing, and Pm
sure you could do nothing in the world
SELF" And then, what with the MOON
light, which made the girl more child
like than ever, and the wet eyelashes
and pretty quiyering mouth that trem-
bled like a baby's, and the two faces be-
ing SO close together, Edward kissed
little Hattie, and bade her not cry any
more, and he would see her put right in
every way.
Hattie wasn't angry. He was just like
a nice big brother; but she thrilled and
trembled under his kiss, and she
dreamed all night OF fair young prince
with beautiful turquois ring, and he
could find no finger that fitted il till he
tried it on hers-just like Cinderella and
4; the little glass slipper. Edward was as
good as his word, and spoke to Helen
very seriously about the accusation she
had made against Miss Thorpe; but that
didn't mend matters for Helen really be-
lieved that Hattie had stolen the ring,
and was indignant with her cousin tor
asserting the contrary. A lovers quar-
rel was the result; and Edward kept the
new ring in his pocket, and delayed the
important question he had intended TO
put when presenting it.
Miss Langley had scene with
mamma, and insisted that the little chit
of a goyerness, with her make-believe
pocrisy, should be turned out of doors !;
but mamma chose so take time to think
about that-she knew she had treasure
and she wasn't going to throw it away
! for the sake OF mere suspicion, possi-
bly, Infounded. Besides she had consci-
entfous scruples about discharging Miss
Thorpe without a character, and perhaps
running her prospects In life.
l. Mrs. Langley maintained this virtuous
resolution for several days-but que UoW-
| lee oottse What would you have? Are
even the CONSCIENTIOUS scruples of good
mother to stand In the way OF her daugh-
ter,s ad vancement2 Mrs. Langley very
soon saw that Helen was right, and that
/ Edward was quite toe much interested
in the little goyerness, and Hattie re.
| ceived her discharge on the following
day, being permitted to finish her week,
to allow her the opportunity of finding
another roof to shelter her poor homeless
head.
But we all know the fate Of "yaulting
1 AMBITION and even the cleYerest mann
mas do at times o'erleap discretion, and
suffer IL similar way anait happened d d
and Helen declared, Hattie was playing
i a deep game, these ladies threw her a
trump card and played 1t for her. Ed
ward found the little governess crying
i again, and this time her despair was
4 complete, for she was thrown on the
werld with blemished reputation and the
II lsuspieien of theft attached to her. The
i young man overflowed with pity and in
dignation, and having been gradually
falling in love with the childish little
creature, her present misery brought
his feelings to climax. He took pos.
session Of her, bade her consider herself
his promised wife, and with many tender
assurances and several kisses on the
trembling lips, vowed she should never
know care or trouble again. Then he
put the new turquois ring on her finger,
and as the diamond initial was H., little
Hattie did not know 1t had been first In
tended to signify Helen.
I Edward was no hypocrite, but he was
angry with his aunt and cousin, and 90
4 he went away to town and did not con-
tide to these ladies the news OF his en-
I igagement; and Hattie had little induce
lment for confidence on her part.
Il Mrs. Langley believed Edward to bt
Ireally attached to Helen, and 80 he had
lbeen, ana was still to q certain extent,
ene made no effort to keep him, there
fore, feeling sure that he would soon re.
. lturn of his own accord, and she wat
-Iquite as well pleased 10 have him away
Il from the house during Hattie,s last days