The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-12-04
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and Flock galop. Then she put on
her shabby black evening gown, and
stuck spray OF white flowers into
her golden hair, and waited patiently for
summons, hoping she would wait in
vain. 1t very soon came, and with roll
of music under her arm, and a flush on
her innocent frightened face and scared,
almost hunted expression in her eyes,
she descended and timidly opened the
the drawing door, and there stood still
for a moment, staring in astonishment at
the scene before her. There sat the
heiress, with an eager, pleased expression
on her face, and leaning over her, talk
ing and laughing, and more hand
some than ever, and sunburnt and SOL
dierly-looking was Alic Granger. There
was no mistaking him. The color rushed
to Maggie's face as if to say a hurried
goodbye, and then left it altogether.
She recovered self-possession, however,
and walked with what she fattered her
self was great dignity towards the pi-
ano. She felt rather than saw him
raise his head and look at her, and the
next moment he was by her side.
Maggie-ny dear Maggiel Why,
fancy you being here; where did you
come from? 1 have been trying to find
you out for months"
81 thought "-and then she did
not know how to 60 on, so added, al.
most piteously, "1 am the governess
here" J
care you'll Oh, I see, that is the
reason l have not seen you before, ]
suppose"
"Do you really know Miss Dunlopw
the heiress asked, coming up and speak
ing in her coolest manner.
Maggie wished sincerely she could
sink into her shoes and bury herself.
"Why, of course I do; we have been
playfellows ever since we were born
haven't we, Maggie~ o."
And Maggie, feeling that she was
backed up, answered bravely:
"Oh, indeed! How Interestingly
Then turning to Maggie: "Will you
be so good as to begin waltz, Mis- Duu-
lop? This was to be our dance, I think"
to Alic, and she glides off with him tri-
umphantly. .,
BE came to her directly after the dance
was over.
al went down to Perlock to try and
find out where you had gone to" he
said, "but nobody knew"
at didn't matter" she said huskiiy,
letting her fingers wander vaguely over
the keys to make believe she wasn't very
much interested in whathe said.
eyes, it did-it mattered great deal.
Why, I've got box full of curiosities
for you-clubs to fight with, little
heather god or two, and a statue of Bud
dab and all sorts of things. l told you
I should bring you. them home. Do
you live here-I mean in this house"
He said the last words under. his
breath, for the heiress came up, and the
next minute he was carried off to dance
with Mrs Somebody, at the other end of
the room, but not before Maggie had
nodded a reply to him. Soon after that
Miss Patterson came up to the piano,
and saying she wished 20 play herself,
and that Maggie looked tired, dismissed
her without being able to get even an
other look at Alic.
The next morning, to Maggie's very
great surprise, Miss Patterson came into
the school-room before the children had
assembled.
"Miss Dunlop" she said, stiffly, "I
should like to know where you say you
met Mr.. Granger%
"At PerlocE. His uncle lived next
door to my mother. He is very old
friend, indeed"
"Thank you. I merely wished to in
quire, because, of course, you must be
aware that it is not usual for a person in
your position to make herself remarkable
by having long confidence talks with any
gentleman who may visit the house"
~ don't know what you mean, Miss
PattersonW Maggie said Indignantly.
But Miss Patterson had swept out
of the room without deigning to reply.
Then Maggie went to her own little
room, the one place she had in the
world entirely to herself, and cried
till her eyes were red and her head
ached.
The lessons did not progress thatmorn-
Ing. Maggie was thinking of Allc, who
was no doubt strolling about the COM
mon, listening to the band and making
love to the heiress. The children were
more than usually stupid, too, and all
the world seemed upside down, and all
its ways turned crooked. Suddenly, at
about II o'clock, just when Maggie was
in the middle of expounding, as best she
could, the eccentricities of the French
grammar, there was knock at the
school-room door.
"Come ill.," she said.
The door opened. and there stood be-
fore her astonished eyes the form of Alic
Granger, and behind him was a man
evidently his servant-with box on his
shoulders
Gall right, Tim, put it down; that's
right; now be off. There, I've brought
the curiosties round, Maggie; I thoug ght
you'd like to see them"
cob! What will Mrs. Marshall and
Miss Patterson say" said Maggie in con-
sternation.
Nothing to you for the next half
L.