Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-10-11
MISS CUTHBERT'S BIRTH
DAY.
From Harper's Bazaar.

Miss Cuthbert, are you an ole
maid?'
The governess looked up in sur.
prise from the columns of figures she
had been correcting, and met the puz.
zled blue eyes of little May Fleming
sWhy do you ask me that question,
May?'
The child flushed and hung hel
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 absurd, for you
were only a governess, and an old
maid besides; and Bertha said
Never mind what Bertha said
Your mamma and sisters would MOI
like you repeat what you happen tc
hear them remark. Your slate is cor
rect she added, 'and you can &C
now
Have said anything bad, Miss
Cuthbert? and the blue eyes grew
abashed and wistful as they noted the
unwonted flush on the governess''
cheek.
No, dear, certainly not : and she
smiled down in Mays doubtful face
as she gave her the kiss of dismissal
But the smile faded as soon as the
small observer vanished, and tossing
her scattered books together, thu
governess fastened out of the sunny
dusty school-room, and up to her owl
| apartment.
1t was a wonderful September day
magnificent in clearness and color
following fields and crimsoning wood
lands were stepped in magic sunshine
Down below her, in the garden, the
flowers glowed like jewels, and fal
away in misty, glittering distance
hills, forests, and ocean were bound
ed by purple sky. Was it tears ir
Amy Cuthbert's eyes that made the
sunlight seem misty? Impatiently
she dashed them away, but still they
gathered and fell slowly, blurring the
bright day.
Only a goYerness Well, had she
not become accustomed to being only
a governess during nine weary years
of lonely struggle with the world
And an old maid besides-yes, sure
ly that, for this day even now declin
ing to its close must be counted al
her thirtieth birthday. But that, too
was no new thought. Why should {
girls careless, sighting speech wounc
her so?
DO hope and romance never die il
| a woman's hearth Sitting with
clasped hands and bent head, the
governess reviewed the two months
that had elapsed since the morning
when Bertha Fleming, smiling sauci
ly at her sister over the top of an out
spread newspaper, had inquired,
Say, AL, which of your New Yorl
Adonlses do you think IS in thi'
neighborhood? p
How can tell p and the golden
haired Miss Fleming went on care
lessly asserting her worsteds.
Il suppose you could tell by reading
this paper,but I'll save you the troub
lie. It's nobody less than Mr.. Car
Kenneth, the young and gifted ar
tist.' Now as you didn't catch hin
last season, aren't you glad pas coun
try-seat is located in this romantic
spot? Oh, don't trouble yourself t.
| blush, All
| Blush, indeed You are too i'm
pertinent. II were your governess
| | would teach you better manners
| Good manners don't run in on
family was the serene response
when reach your age I'll begin t.
cultivate them
| But go on about Mr.. Kenneth in
terposed Mrs. Fleming-a matronl
lady, who loved her ease too we'll t
interfere with the little passages a
arms between her daughters. SIS h
alone here?'
| 'No,mamma; there are other artist
mentioned. One is that dried-up MI
| Finnis, he's so fond Of
| 'Who, by.the-way, is an artist Q
great merit remarked Miss Alice
with much asperity.
| well, well, my dears, we must hav
Mr.. Kenneth here to dinner. He is
charming young gentleman, and
great favorite of mine. And WEI
invite his friend, of course
| So it had happened that the tw
artists had been guests at the Elem
ings' for an evening, which prove,
an introduction to much pleasant so
cial intercourse. Having been pre-
pared to see in Mr.. Kenneth only
handsome, fashionable, self consciou
| devotee of art, the governess ha,
been astonished to meet one VIII
seemed scarcely more than boy
with all the ardor and enthusiasm 0
young life flushing his cheek and fir
ing his glance, who yet possessed tina
subtitle refinement, delicacy, AM
dreaminess which mark the true ar
fist. Taking her usual place as qui
ct, unobserved member of the famil,
circle, she noted with increasing won
der the simplicity and frankness o
manner of this much praised youny
painter, this pet of society, who sa
In the centre of a group of children
his face alight with interest and mer
riment, talking as vivaciously as if h
were but child himself.
| That had been the beginning. From
that evening the sober governess, wh'
had thought her romance dead. ha'
become conscious of new elemen
| in her eventless life. Had it bee
only the language of Carl Kenneth
dark eyes, that had so often sough
her retired corner, or had it been th
novelty of receiving numberless littl
attentions to which she was all IN
used, that had first gladdened the du
days? How was it that the barrier
of reserve and pride had been levele
so completely by this strangers gen
tie courtesy? How had she manage
to forget that she was only govern
ess, and he the heir of millions ?--sh
woman past her heyday of life, b
in the very prime and glory of youth
An, what a foolish dream! An
now. awakened by that careless sha