The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-08-21
The GOvernesy.
"lt's the new governcss, sir |"

hold for ut least dozen years stood before
the desk in her masters study, plating the
borders of her apron with nervous, wrinklcd
fingers, and cyeing, not without awe, the
half-completed sermon upon which he was
engaged
CIcve Carrick laid down his pen and
looked up in some surprise.
"Fhc new govcrncss Winny2 what of
here" said lie. 81 hope she is not ill2"
"Well, sir, not to say iii, exactly" hest
tatcd the old woman. "but slie aint no ap-
petite Tor her food, sir, and she pines"
II iiorr the boys are kind and considcratc
to her, Winiy2" said Mr.. Currick
"Ihat they are, sir, bless their little
hearts, cried the old housekccpcr. "And
know she loves 'cm-as, indeed, how could
she help it2"
'rhcn what is the troubled"
"Ihats just what don't know, sir" said
Winny.
81 must inquire into it" said Mr. Carick.
Whats just what wish you would do,
sir" and with that old Winny curtsied her
self out of the room.
The Rev. Mr.. Carrick pushed aside the
heap of sermon papers, laid his pen on the
rack, and went straightway into the little
schoolroom, where Mary Neville was sitting
poring over child's exercise bOok.-a tall,
pale girl, with bronze brown hair clustering
In natural ripplcs over her forehead and
great hazel eyes fringed with curling lasllcs
She started nervously as her employer en-
tered.
"Miss Neville" " said the clergyman kindly
'syou arc not happy hcrc2"
Mary Neville shrank back like fawn
brought to bay.
sNo, "she cried wildly, "I am not!"
'NIay ask Why?
| Fora second the girl was silent, while the
pennons of white and rod f1uttercd alternate
ly in her check
care the children troublcsomc2" tho
young wtdowcr asked, kindly. els there
anything that can do to make your position
here pleasanter2"
Mary Neville rose to her feet and caspcd
her slender hands.
eyes, she cried out, wildly; "you can
forgive me-"
"Forgivey you, Miss Neville" repeated Mr..
Carlck in surprise, "And for what2"
"For decciving you," said the governcss.
"Oh MIR. Carrck. 1t has been on my con-
science ever since, especially since you have
been so kind. They told you that l was
graduate of Nine. Lesiardc's school, but they
never told you that was brought up there
as charity pupil; that washed dishes in
the kitchen and scrubbed floors in the gar
ret to earn my tuition. was only a servant
there-a drudge-and when at last NIme
Lesiarde discovered that had a talent for
music, and determined to educate me as a
governcss'-
''stop!" saidMr. Carrick, half smiling, "is
that all7"
ooh, sir, is it not enough2 have de-
1oived you, I howell
''Nonsense, said Mr.. Carrlck; "you are
refined lady in manner and education. MY
boys love you dearly. You have not de-
csived me, for ask no questions as to your
antecedcnts and desire no information. I
am more than pleased with the success you
have had in my chldren's education and
now let us dismiss the subject from our
minds forever"
And as Mary Neville lifted her pleading,
graceful eyes to the clergyman's face, he be-
came conscious all of sudden that his boys
governcss was beauty
At the end of the month he came once
more into the school-room.
"Aliss Neville" said he, "I want to speak
to you"
Mary flushed and grew pale, after her old
nervous fashion.
"Have I done anything wrong, sira" said
she, all in tremble.
"Yes, said the clergyman, smiling. 'sYou
have stolen my heart away Nay, smiling
Miss Neville, don't starts so guiltily; you must
be aware that you have been the sunshine of
this house ever since you entered it. l am
not a gallant young lover, like the knights of
romance, but am not an old man yet. Tell
me, Miss Neville, doyou think you can learn
to love me2"
But Miss Neville shook her head.
"You are the parish clergyman, " said she,
and nm only apoor girl. am not wor-
thy of you, Mr.. Carrick."
'Suppose you let me be Judge of that2"
said Mr.. Carrick, smiling fondly.
81 could not let you sacrifice yourself to
your own generosity" said Miss Neville.
"You refuse me them"
81 refuse you'll"
1t was scarcely week after this strange
dialogue that lawyer came to see Mr.. Car
rick's governcss, accompanied by bronzcd
and bearded man Of middle age, and after
long Interview with these unusual vistanta,
Miss Neville knocked ut her employer sstudy
door.
"Mr. Carrick," said she, with wet eye
lashes and checks crimsoned like the ripen-
ed side of nectarine, " do you know how it
is that people sometimes live like novel in
tn1S WOrldf"
81 don't understand you, Miss Now e,"
he replied.
y Because, she went hurriedly on, 81,
seem to be transformed into a heroine of ro-
nance. My uncle has just come home from
China--my uncle who has been lost to us
all for twenty years, and he is rich. Oh,
MIR. Carrick, 1t all seems like dream |"
"My child, congratulate yo,,," said the
clergyman, kindly pressing her hand.
II shall lose my boys instructress, but you
will gain newer and broader life."
But, as she turned away, there was
certain something in her wistful eyes that
made the good man rack his brains to think
If he had forgotten anything that he ought
to have said, and on the bright October
morning when she drove away from the
door in her uncle's carriage, with little
group of sympathlzing friends and ac-
quaintances gathered around the doorstep,
the same pleading look was in her eyes as
her little hand lay in the good clergyman's