The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-02-26
MRS. BARLOW'S GOVERNESS.
by HELEN SUTHERLAND.

BY HELEN SUTHERLAND.
Judith Allan stood alone at the solitary
window OF her aunt's dingy little parlor,
and pressing her forehead against the cold
glass she followed with melancholy eyes the
monotonous drlp of the rain drops, as they
fell from the leaden pipe into the puddles on
the pavement below.
Life within to Judith was no brighter
than it was exteriorly, and her sweet face,
Intensified in its pallor by the mourning
dress she wore, seemed pleading dumbly for
little OF the sunshine of happiness sternly
denied her by present circumstances and
surroundings.
Two months had passed since Mr.. Allan's
sudden death occurred, leaving Judith an
orphan, penniless as to income, and the re-
mainder of the few hundred dollars brought
by the sale of furniture and personal effects
was all that now lay between her and de-
pendence. Every effort hitherto made to
obtain employment had failed, and possess
ing no influential friends to assist in the
search. success seemed well-nigh hopeless.
In answer to her last advertisement for a
position as governess, she had been sum-
moned to an interview three days previous,
and dismissed with the promise of reply
through the mail at an early date; but none
had come and Judith's faith in promises
was so suddenly weakened by repeated disap-
pointments that she had entirely ceased to
The gloomy meditations of the young girl
were suddenly broken in upon by the en-
trance of troop of untidy children, noisily
auarreIing for the possession of letter that
was held at arm's length above their heads
by the tallest of the party.
MA said might give it to hertz
NO, she told me TOP
ssCousln Judy, here's letter for you"
was the refrain which reused Judith from
her apathy. with shock that sent the blood
bounding through her veins and proved
hope to be but sleeping in her heart-not
dead, as she believed.
Miss Allan eagerly broke the seal, and
with sigh of deep thankfulness read that
her proffered services were accepted, and
she was to start the following afternoon for
the country place of A, so mills from
the city limits Mrs Barlow's coachman
would meet her at the station, SO she need
feel no concern for the transporting of her
self and little leather trunk at the end of the
railroad journey.
Restful, health giving, dreamless sleep fell
upon the poor girls weary soul that night
for the first time in many weeks, and not the
faintest care or misgiving troubled her mind
for the future; she had taken her fortune
into her own hand; the fear of dependence
was removed, and life had ceased to be a
burden.
Judith reached the depot just in time to
enter the car before it started, and one rapid
glance at the many passengers proved herself
to be the only lady present; so, quietly tax
ing the nearest seat 10 the door, she turned
her back to the other passengers, and soon
became oblivious of them and all surround
ings in the absorbing interest of her own
thoughts.
The city was many miles behind when
Judith finally lifted her eyes, and as she did
so, encountered those of two young men, re-
aected by the mirror in front of her; they
were several seats back, and, judging from
dress and Announcements, were evidently
bent on a hunting expedition. Turning her
head Immediately, Judith opened book she
had brought for entertainment and began to
read; the story failed to hold her attention,
however, and raising her face again after a
short interval, she once more met the gaze
of the two pair of eyes behind her. Thor
oughly annoyed and provoked at herself
and the strangers, Miss Allen resolutely
returned to the book on her lap,
and persistently kept her thoughts fixed
upon it until the stations that were called
warned her she was nearing her journey end.
All at once thick darkness enveioped the
car, and cloud of smoke entered her open
window that was almost suffocatlng In Its
density; the wood being warped and the
catch stiff. Judith rose to her feet to lend hel
efforts more strength at remedying the evil,
when, as she did so, hand suddenly rested
on her shoulder, a beard touched her cheek,
and kiss dropped silently on her forehead
the window went down with crash, and the
next instant the opening and closing of the
door and q rush of cold air and smoke
through the car proved that some one of the
passengers had made q hasty exit. Overcome
with contendlng emotions, surprise, alarm
and passionate indignation, Judith sank bscf
into her seat with locked hands and rigit
Iips fairly stunned with the daring indignlty
she had Just receiyed. Her hrst Impulse wa
to burst into tears, but exerting strong sell
control, she quickly tied heavy veil Owe
her agitated face. and remained SO quieti,
composed that the returning light gave NJ
evidence to her fellow-travelers OF the tn
multi of excitement hidden underneath tina
calm exterior.
FINALLY the whistle sounded, the porter
lusty voice called Station A, and Judith
with book and umbrella in her hand, 50
waiting impatiently for the train to stop. 1
burning desire possessed her to glance ono
again in the little mirror, though she dreade
doing so lest either OF the young men benin
her had disappeared. Surely no true-heart
ed man would ever offer a woman such a
insult, and these two certainly seemed ger
tlemen. As she rose to leave the car, lrr'
sistibly impelled she lifted her eyes to th
glass and saw to her infinite relief both sea
occupied as before; one OF the young me
seemed absorbed in book, and the oths
was 1ntently reading newspaper, by whic
his face was entirely concealed.
Mira BarloEs coachman not having
rived. Miss Allan walked up and down Il
platform in the cool afternoon breeze, unit
her excitement was somewhat abated, thoue
She felt that the wounded pride and humi
iation would remain in her heart till Il
day of her death.
The intensity OF her hatred for the u
known author of the injury positively q
palled her, and she fervently prayed tn
further knowledge of the offender mig
never in any way be given.
Untying her heavy veil that the VIII
might fan her hot cheeks. Judith sudden
discovered with dismay that one OF her 81
rings was missing; 1t was tiny onyx fuchl