The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-05-07
THE GOVERNESS.
A Romance in a New York Nursery

IHE UOV EhNESS. 30
A Romance in New York Nursery.
1 A short time ago Unknown mer-
chant of New York city advertised in
newspaper for nursery governess to
take special charge of an infant daugh-
ter, whose nervous condition required
peculiarly intelligent care. Among the
many answers he received was one based
apparently upon wonderful exact ap-
prehension of his want, and worded in
such combination of business method
and dignifed self confidence that it at
once decided him In his preference. The
address given him by the writer was in
Fifth avenue, where at certain hour of
certain afternoon ouly she could be seen.
This last specification sounded rather
dictatorial, under the circumstances, but
the father wished no ordinary profession
al attendant for his child. Accordingly
at the appointed time he went to the
house designated, and upon the very
stoop thereof was met by lady vailed
and attired for the street, who at once
accosted him as the principal of the ad-
vertlsement, and introduced herself as
his correspondent. She further explained
that, as he was a few minutes behind
time, she had scarcely expected to see
him, and was starting upon an errand of
business importance. While speaking
she slowly descended to the street, her
caller mechanically following, and their
conversation was concluded as they
walked side by side along the avenue.
In as few words as possible the lady ex-
planned that the house they had left was
that of friends with whom she was tenn
pora1ily a guest; that she greatly need
ed such employment as she had made
application for, and could give the high
est references as to qualification. Family
names of great responsibility were cited
this connection, the gentleman notedin
them down and then with bow, went
his own way. These references being
subsequently found answerable to all his
requirements, the merchant informed the
lady by note that his wife would be glad
to see her. In short, the engagement
was made. Not only did the wife ap-
prove it to the utmost, but the child in
the case exhibited an immediate liking for
the new conner. Nevertheless there had
been certain unwontedness about the
manner of bringing the arrangement
about, and this perhaps aroused the
curiosity of the mistress of the mansion.
At any rate it was not long before she
expressed to her husband the convic-
tion that there was some mystery about
the nursery governess. who, she had
found, spoke and wrote several Languages
and had the manners Of "perfect lady"
The gentleman thought this SO much the
better, and did not trouble himself with
sentimental conjectures. But when
somewhat later his better-half confded
to him that she thought their otherwise
admirable new acquisition acted little
strangely at times, his masculinely pro-
sale bent of mind induced him to leave
a bottle of brandy, as by accident, where
any trusted familiar of the household
might find it, and when he himself ex-
amimed it some Of the contents We're
gone. Just before this Development,
however,. female hairdresser, of great
custom on Fifth avenue, had called al the
ouse, by order, to dress the child's head
for juvenile party while the mother was
out. Upon the return of the latter the
little girls first words were: .Oh, moth
En- naming the hairdresser) knows
Miss -"the governess). At once the
mothers curiosity was stimulated afresh,
and she took measures to have the hair
dresser ,6come again, when the two
might meet in her presence. No sooner,
however, had the summoned adept in
fashionable coifures entered the
mansion on that occasion than the
mysterious nursery governess betook
herself to her own apartments, and, up
on being subsequently sought, was found
to have packed up all her few wardrobe
belongings and departed from the house
without word of adieu. And who was
she's The chatte1ing little hairdresser,
through her own professional famili-
arity with family matters in the avenue,
did, indeed, know all about her. A
few years ago she conducted one of the
most fashionable female seminaries on
Fifth avenue. And had among her
scholars the daughters of a number of
the wealthiest househslds up town. OF
distinguished Irish birth, with her father
an eminent clergyman in the church of
England, her brother general in the
British army, and many of her relatives,
titled people, she had come to this coun-
trv by reason of some domestic inielici-
ties never very definitely explained to
her friends here, though the sequel msy
have thrown some light upon them
Here she established her school, as al
ready noted, babe fair for time to be-
come wealthy by 1t, and then lost all
school. friends, everything by betraying
herself as an irreolaimable drunkardl In
the House of which she had given the ad.
dress in answering the advertisement
were plying former friends, who allowed
her to do SO, and they were compassionate