The Morning herald., 1876-08-16
THE HALF-CASTE

THE HALF-CASTE.
AN OLD tOvERNEss' TALE.
FOUNDED ON FACT.
| SELECTED FOR THE MORNING HERALD.
"We know what we are, but we know not
what we may be-" as my susintly-clever
niece and namechild, Cassia, would say
And truly who could have thought that l, q
plain governess, should In my old age have
become writer. Yet, for the life of me, l
cannot invent plot-I must write nothing
but truth. Here pause, recollecting pain
fully that in my first sentence 1'have sinned
against truth by emitting Cassia "my niece
and namechild," when, strictly speaking,
she is neither the one nor the other. She is
no blood-relation at all, and my own name
happens o.be Cassandra. Ialways disliked
it heartily until Mr.. Sutherland called me
- But I forget that l must explain a
little.-Mr. Sutherland was-no, thank
Heaven lis, very good man friend of
my late father, and Of the same business
an Indian merchant. When in my twenty
fifth year my dear father died, and we were
ruined-a quiet way of expressing this, but
in time one learns to speak 90 quietly of
every pang. Mr.. Sutherland was very kind
to my mother and to me. remember, as
though it we're yesterday, one day when he
sat with US in our little parlor, and hearing
my mother calling me "Cassia, >" and laugh
ing that always put him in mind Of a Ger
tain Indian spice. "In fact" he added,
looking afectionately at my dear, gentle,
little mother, and approvingly-yes, It was
approvingly, at me-''in fact, think we
three sitting thus, with myself in the centre,
might be likened to myrrh, aloes. and cas-
sia." One similitude was untrue; for be
was not bitter, but "sweet as summer"
However, from that time he always called
me Cassia. / rather like the name and
latterly 1t was very kind Of him TO-
There, am forestalling my history again !
When was twenty-five, as said, first
went out as governess. This plan was the
result of many consultations between my
mother and myself. A hard thing was my
leaving home but fourd could thereby
earn larger and more regular salary, part
of which being put by, would some time
enable me to live altogether with my
mother. Such we're her plannings and
hopes for the future. As for my own
But it is idle to dwell upon things so long
past. God knew best, and it all comes to
the same at the end of life. 1t was through
Mr.. Sutherland that l got my first situa-
tion. He wrote my mother hurried let
ter, saying he had arranged for me to enter
family, concerning whom he would ex-
rlo oin hofnro 1oporturo Rut chmafhintr
hindered his coming; It was a public meet
ing, remember; for though still young
man, he was held in much honor among
the city merchants, and knew the affairs Of
India well from early residence there. Of
course, having these duties to fulfil, It was
natural he should not recollect my depsr-
ture so l started without seeing him, and
without knowing more of my future abode
than its name, aud that of my employer. It
was Yorkshire village, and the gentleman
whose family was going to was Mr.. LIE
Poer. My long journey was dreary-God
much and parting from my mother was at
any time sufficient grief. In those days
railways were not numerous, and ! had to
journey good way by coach. About eleven
O'Clock found myself at my destination.
one else 1t was scarcely to be expected by
''the governess." This was new and sad
"coming home" to me. was shown to
my bedroom, hearing, as passed the land.
ing, much rustlng of dresses and "squit-
tling" away of little feet.-0 thought to
apologize for that odd expression, which, /
think, learned when was quite q child,
and used to 60 angling with my father and
NJ Sutherland I vnooDc Spa m nar rinr nH
in all directions, as a shoal of minnows do
when you throw a pebble among them.)-
I asked if the family were gone to bed, and
was informed, "No;" SO I arranged my
dress and went down stairs, unconsciously
reassured by the fact that the house was
neither 80 large nor so aristocratic as my
very liberal salary had at first inclined me
to expect.
"Who shall I say, miss 2" asked the
rather untidy servant, meeting me in the
lobby, and staring with open eyes, as If a
stranger were some rare sight. "Miss
Pryor." said, thinking regretfully that l
should be henceforth that, and not "Cassia;"
and seeing the maid still stared, l added
with an effort II am the new governess. !"
So under that double announcement / ap-
peared at the parlor door. The room was
rather dark there were two candles but
one had been extinguished, and was being
hurriedly relighted as entered. At first 1
saw nothing clearly; then l perceived lit
tie pale lady sitting at one end of the table,
and two half grown-up girls, dressed in
"going- -out-to-tea" costume, seated primly
together on the sofa. There was third,
but she vanished out Of the doors as en-
tered it.
TO BE CONTINUED.
! ~