Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-10-23
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THE STORY OF A GOvERNssS,
AN EPISODE OF LIFE


/ am confident Mr.. Wiggings neve
had told so long story in my pres
ence, as he did when | announced
my intention of answering an alver
tisement for governess.
He and his wife were opposed L
my leaving them, and this story wa,
concerning young girl who went al
governess and died from overwork
The station master, as we drew
up, babe US make haste, If we didn'
want to be left, and soon the las
words were spoken and | was alone
felt utterly desolate and friend
less as sank back in my seat. l was
an orphan with few friends, and
was going out as governess.
| In my depressed state, that morn
ing, the name OF my new employer
seemed more inspiring and aristo
cratic than ever before. sClaude
Huntingdon
l felt instinctively that he would
be tall, pompous, elderly man, with
piercing, coal black eyes, and fierce
whiskers colored to jctty hue. And
'Christabelle,' the daughter - how
could I-plain Eva Norris, make my.
self useful and agreeable to Christa
belle Huntington.
He had mentioned in his last letter
that Elfrida Winthrop, his cousin and
ward, was an inmate of his house
he thought it would be pleasant for
me to know that | WIS to have a
young lady companion.
At the next station a half. drunken
man came into the train.
He was dressed like gentleman,
and probably was one when sober -
He came up to the seat where ! was,
and paused before it, as if intending
to sit himself beside me- But | had
only time to give one frightened
glance, when the blue. eyed handsome
stranger opposite left his seat, and
laying his hand on the mans shout.
| der said:
Take my seat, colonel, am tired
of sitting
And half compelled by the firm
hand upon his shoulder, the tipsy
colonel sank into a vacant seat.
One look of gratitude | gave m,
unknown friend, who walked for.
ward and stood few minutes by the
door, and then passed out on the
platform.
l thought mo one lett the train but
myself at the wayside station and
as there was one carriage in sight
an elegant ph;eton, fancied it might
have been sent for me; but one
glance at the drivers face dispelleO
the presumptuous belief
He looked over me, as if | were ar
incorporeal substance, through which
landscapes might be enjoyed.
But even as l looked, he leaped
down, and opened the carriage door
and at that moment l heard light
quick step behind me, and glancine
around, there stood my handsome
blue eyed stranger.
| He lifted his hat as be approached
and said, as courteously as if | were
a queen:
Pardon me. but | think you are
Miss Norris p
/ bowed affirmatively.
ALLOW me to introduce myself as
Mr.. Huntington, your correspondent
We looked for you to morrow
Il thought you wrote for me te
come on the thirteenth
Il daresay the mistake was mine,
said he. 'My writing,I fear, might be-
improved by your judicious training.
He assisted me into the carriage
and after leaving some direction.
about having my trunk sent on i'm
medately, ne entered himself, AM
the prancing gray dashed off through
the quiet country road.
For few minutes we drove on II
silence, and then he told me abou
my pupil. He said she was an inva
lid, through an injury to her spine
received when an infant, and SO h,
did not want her to study any more
than her health wonld permit
But bis business took him away
from home a good deal, and he want
ed some one he could trust TO leave
her with.
| 1t was large mansion, of ligh
gray stone, fairly empowered in foil
age and bloom. The grounds wer.
spacious and beautiful, and as W,
drove up the long avenue, | coult
catch glimpse through openings il
the green shade, of Summer houses
fountains and statutes. AS we passed
up the long flight of white marbl,
steps into the grand hall, Mr.. Hun
tington turned to rue, and said, Will
smile:
Welcome to Huntington Manor
Miss Norris
And then, hearing servant, b,
directed him to show me to my room
| was grateful for this, for / wanted
to make some changes in my dress
before met the ladies of the family
| had only taken off my wrappings
and was bathing my face, when ,
particularly wakeful looking cir
came aud said. that Miss Christi,
wants 10 see you at once she aim
so well as common to day, and sh,
said she couldn't wait a minute
She led the way nearly the length
of the upper hall, and then opened
the door into large, pleasant room
and there, lying upon crimson sofa
was my pupil. As We entered, sh.
bad one arm around her father
neck, and he was bending over her
telling her something in low voice
/ took her mite of white hand il
mine aud bent down and kissed her
She read my face earnestly search
ingly, and then said, as if talking t,
herself:
Il think shall like her-I think
shall.
At dinner | met Miss Winthrop
She was calm.eyed Young lad :