The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-04-23
THE GOVERNESS.
Romance in n New York Nursery

Romance in n New York Nurseryt
A short time ago well-known mcr-
chant of New York city advertised in Il
newspaper for nursery governess to
take special charge of an infant daugh-
ter, whose nervous conditions 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 q combination of business method
and dignifed self confidence that it at
once decided him in his preference. The
address given by the wri ter was In Fifth
avenue, where at certain hour of a cer-
tain afternoon only 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 a lady vailed
and attircd for the street, who at once
accosted him as the principal of the ad-
vertisement, and introduced herself as
his correspondent. She further explained
that, as he was Il few minutes behind
time, she had scarcely expected to see
him, and was starting upon an elTand 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 rs few words as possible the lady ex-
planned that the house they had left was
that of friends with whom she was tenn
porarily guest; that she greatly neek
ed such employment rs she had made
application for, and could give the high
est references rs to qualification. Family
names of great respectability were cited
in this connection, the gentleman noted
them down and then. with bow. went
his own way. These references being
subsequently found answerable to allhis
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 IN immediate liking for
the new conner. Nevertheless there had
been a 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 govcrness, who, she had
found, spoke and wrote several languages
and had the manners ola" "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
prosaic bent of mind induced him to
leave bottle of brandy, as by accident,
where any trusted familiar Of the house
hold might find it, and when next he
himself examined it some of the con-
tents were gone. Just before this de-
velopment, however, a female hair
dresser, of great custom on Fifth avenue
had called at the house, by order, to
dress the child's head for a juvenile
party while the mother was out. Upon
the return of the latter the little girls
first words were: "Oh, mother, -
(naming the hairdresser) knows Miss
=" Ohe governess). At once the
mothers curiosity was stimulated
afresh. and she took measures to have
the hairdresser come 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 apartment, and, upon
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 The chattering little hair
dresser, through her own. professional
familiarity 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 number of
the wealthiest households 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-
try by reason of some domestic infelici-
ties never very definitely explained to
her friends here, though the sequel may
have thrown some light upon them.
Here she established her school, rs al
ready noted, bade fair for u time to be
come wealthy by it, and then lost all
school, friends, everything-by betraying
herself us an irreclaimable drunkard !!
In the house of which she had given the
address in answering the advertisement
were pitying former friends, who allowed
her to do SO, and they Were compassion
ate early patrons of Eef school who had
allowed themselves to recommend her
for last employment. The latter ended
as above described, only few days ago,
and where the unhappy woman now
hides her misery and shame no one
knows. The sad story reaches print here
for the first time, all names being with
held because the family involved nat
urnlly shrink from public association in
such II matter, and Identification of the
haplcss fugitive might close to her some
future possibility Of redcmption.-Balti-