The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-10-18
From Harper's Bazaar.
MISS CUTHBERT'S BIRTHDAY,

"sSS Wv thO6it " Vii 1IDHI
Miss Cuthbert, are you an old
maid%' The governess looked up in sur
prise from the columns of figures she had
been correcting, and met the puzzled
blue eyes of little May Fleming.
Why do you ask me that question,
The child flushed and hung her head
Nothing; only last night when YOU
and Mr.. Kenneth came in the gate, we
were all on the piazza, and mamma said
Mr.. Kenneth seemed very-something
French; and Alice said that was too alb
surd, for you were only a governess,
and an old maid besides; and Bertha
said"
Never mind what Bertha said. Your
mamma and sisters would not like YOU
to repeat what you happen to hear them
say. Your slate is correct" she added,
and you may 60"
!" Have | said anything bad, Miss
CuthbertY and the blue eyes grew
abashed and wistful as they noted the
unwonted flush on the governess' face.
No, dear, certainly not" and she
smiled down III Mays doubtful face as
she gave kiss of dismissal.
But the smile faded as soon as the
small observer vanished, and tossing her
scattered books together, the governess
fastened out of the sunny, dusty school
room, and up to her own apartment.
1t was wonderful September day,
magnificent in clearness and color. Vel
lowing fields and crimsoning woodlands
were stepped in magic sunshine. Down
below her, in the garden, the flowers
glowed like jewels, and far away in misty,
gllttering distance, hills, forests, and
ocean were bounded by a purple sky.
Was it tears in Amy Cuthbert's ewes
that made the sunlight seem misty? In
patiently she dashed them away. but
still they gathered and fell slowly, blur
ring the bright day.
Only governess, Well, she had not
become accustomed to being only a gov
erness during nine weary years of lonely
struggle with the world? And an old
maid besides-yes, surely that, for this
day even now declining to its close must
be counted as the thirtieth birthday.
But that, too, was no new thought. WHY
should girls careless, sighting speech
wound her so?
DO hope and romance never die in
woman's heart? Sitting with clasped
hands and bent head, the governess re-
viewed the two months that had elapsed
since the morning when Bertha Fleming,
smiling sauclly at her sister over the top
OF an outspread newspaper, had inc uired:
Say, Al, which of your New York
Adonises do you think is in the neigh
borhood?"
How can | tell?" and the golden
haired Miss Fleming went on carelesslv
asserting her worsted..
. suppose you could tell by reading
this paper, but III save you the trouble.
It's nobody less than Mr.. Carl Kenneth,
the young and gifted artist Now as
you didn't catch him last season, aren't
you glad pas country-seat is located in
this romantic spot? Oh, don't trouble
yourself to blush, All
Blush, indeed You are too i'm
pertinent. If | were your governess, |
would teach you better manners"
Good manners don't run in our
family, was the serene response.
When | reach your age I'll begin to
cultivate them"
But go on about Mr.. Kenneth in
terposed Mrs. Fleming matronly
lady, who loved her ease too well to in
terfere with the little passages at arms
between her daughters. as he alone
here?"
No, mamma; there are three other
artists mentioned. One is that dried-up
Mr.. Finnis, he's so fond Of"
'Who by the way, is an artist of great
merit" remarked Miss Alice, with much
asperity.
Well, well, my dears, we must have
Mr. Kenneth here to dinner. He is a
very charming young gentleman, and
great tayorite of mine. And we will in
vite his friend, of course"
50 1t had happened that the two artists
had been guests at the Flemings' for an
evening, which proved an introduction
to much pleasant social intercourse.
Having been prepared to see in Mr..
Kenneth only handsome, fashionable,
self-conscious devotee of art, the COVER
ness had been astonished to meet one
who seemed scarcely more than a boy.
with all the ardor and enthusiasm of
young life flushing his cheek and firing
his glance, who yet possessed that sub
tie refinement, delicacy. and dreaminess
which mark the true artist. Taking her
usual place as Il quiet, unobserved mem
Der OF the family circle, she noted with
increasing wonder the simplicity and
franknesS of manner of this much-praised
young painter, this pet of society, who
sat IN the center of a group of children.
his face alight with interest and merri
ment, talking as viyaciously As if he were
child himself.
That had been the beginning. From
that evening the sober governess. who
had Thoughts her romance dead, had be-
come conscious of new element in her
eventless life. Had it been only the
language of Cal Kenneth's dark ewes
that had so orten sought her retired cor
ner, or had it been the novelty of receiv-
ing numberlesS little attentions to which
she was all unused, that had first glad
dened the dull days? How was it that
the barriers of reserve and pride had
been leveled 50 completely by this
strangers gentle courtesy? How had !
she managed to forget that she was
only & governess, and he the heir of (
ions?-she Il woman past the heydey /
OF life, he in the very prime and glory
of youth?
All, what foolish dream, And now, /
aroused by that careless shaft of ridi- .
cule, she must pay the cost of her folly .
III these bitter tears, falling on face
that burned at the remembrance of her
presumptuous fancies. Young Mr.. Ken
meth had been good and chivalrous 10
her, as it was his nature to be to every
woman. Perhaps he had been kinder to
her out of pity. And she well-thank
heaven, no one would ever hear of it. /