St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-09-24

l determined to come Immediately and
take you by surprise. intend to spend
at least fortnight with you, so you
must make the best of it.
ga fortnight ! shall hold you garri-
soned for the summer. But tell me-
did you see Fred and introduce your
self %
"My dear, he seemed to know me. /
found the carriage waiting; he present.
ed himself in due form. l accepted the
goods the gods gave, and asked no
further questions"
Mrs. We're burst into a ripple of ire
pressible laughter.
"Flossie," she exclaimed, che has
mistaken you for the children's govern
ess. What will he say when he learns
the truth ?"
And she repeated the conversation
as it had occurred before his leaving
the house. A sudden idea seemed to
seize upon her listener.
Let us keep it up, Nannie," she pro-
posed gleefully. "We can tease him to
our hearts content. l will sink my
identity in that of Miss Houghton, and
persecute him with my attentions"
For a moment the sisters heart mis-
gave her, but after all, what real harm
could it do2 and so it was arranged,
and next morning the children were
duly presented to their new gOverness.
They had anticipated her advent
somewhat as reign of terror. They
now wondered, as the days wore on,
why they had always heretofore been
deprived of such luxury.
For twn hnOrS thaU yvara ol0Satnd
each morning in Miss Houghton's own
pretty morning room-the prettiest
room in the house mamma had given
her; but strange to say, brother Fred
seemed to consider it quite the proper
thing, under the circumstances.
For two hours, then, it was their
prison-but such a prison Candies and
story books were generously distribut-
ed, with but one prohibition, that when
Uncle Fred questioned them about
their studies, they should not divulge
to him the fact that they were growing
fat and lazy.
But Uncle Fred was too absorbed in
his own thoughts to watch the children.
For the first time in his life, he began
to make serious calculations as to how
far q captains pay might go, and
whether by any amount of stretching,
and any improbable bachelor sacrifices,
it might be enabled to support two,
when heretofore it had been considered
wholly inadequate for one.
81 have sworn | would never marry
an heiress," be said to himself when
the household had glided on without
changing for some three weeks, ''lest
the world would consider me that des-
picable thing, fortune hunter, or that
the woman might one day misiudge
me; and ! have sworn never to marry
a poor woman, because it would entail
too much mutual sacrifice. And yet,
and yet, / wonder if she loves mel
wonder if could make her happy ~
He had found in these three weeks,
the two morning hours of the children's
tasks the longest of the day.
He had insisted that the governess
looked pale, and prescribed for her a
daily ride. She had had no opportuni-
ty, as she had laughingly declared, to
persecute him with her attentions, but
rather, as time wore on, to show them
with certain shyness, new and foreign
to the girls nature.
Meantime the conspiratOrs sat in the
library, scanning with perplexed brOws
letter open before them.
1t announced Miss Houghton's arri-
val on the evening of that day.
What was to be done? The arch
conspirator solved the question.
"Say you are displeased with me,
and l will return to New York tonight.
The new governess will arrive. His
leave expires in a week. After he goes
1 will return"
every like Victor Hugo, my DEAR
retorted Mrs. We're, Gas to the pithiness
of your sentences, but fear it won't
flow as smoothly as you imagine"
"What does this meanq" questioned
Captain Osgood few hours later, of his
sister. 81 hear the carriage is ordered
for the Z o'clock train to take Miss
Houghton to the depot"
''She is not quite my idea of gov
erness," meekly and tremblingly an
swered Mrs. We're, quailing before his
pale face and flashing eye.
He cast upon her the first look of con-
tempt he had given her, and turned
away just in time to catch the tlutter
of a white dress upon the lawn. Straight
way he went toward it.
81 did not mean to be abrupt, Miss
Houghton," he began, when with quick
strides he had gained her side, "but ]
hear that you must find another home.
Would you accept one if offered you
one unworthy your beauty and your
grace, but guarded by a mans honest
love? l love you, darling! Will you be
my wife, and share soldiers life-a
soldiers fortunes 2"
The rich color flushed into the girls
cheeks, as she met the clear, frank
gaze of the soul-lit eyes.
All, she had only meant to play, but
she too had been burned by the fires
fierce flame.
'You offer me this from pity, Captain
Osgood," she said, in low, trembling
tones. "I appreciate your noble gen
erosity, but l must not accept it."
'From pity qn he questioned. "DO
men pity thus? Look in my eyes-dO
you read pity there Listen to my
yoice-is it pity moves it ?-Let my
past speak for my future. Has pity ac-
tuated it? Oh, my love, tell me that
you love me, and you shall never know
more what it is to stand alone in the
world.n
"Your sister has not discharged me,
Captain Osgood. 1 have discharged
myself" she said with sudden resolu-
| tion.
And then, standing before him, she
told him all the story. His face as he
listened, grew deathly white.
When the last word had left her lips,
he turned and strobe toward the house,
leaving her standing motionless and