Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-09-17

IOrtnlgnC With you, ma ckere, so you must
make the best Of it,
"a TO- might! I shall hold you garri-
Esoned for the summer. But tell me-did
you see Fred, and introduce yourselfp"
my dear, he seemed to know me. I
found your carriage waiting; he presented
himself in due form; accepted the goods
the gods gave, and asked no further ques-
| tions.'
Mrs. We're burst into ripple of repres-
sible laughter.
"Flossie,'' she exclaimed, ''he has taken
you for the children's governess. What
will he say when he learns the TRUTH"
And she repeated the conversation as it
had occurred before leaving the house. A
sudden idea seemed to seize upon her lis
! tener. :s8
''Let us keep it up, Nannie,'' she pro-
posed gleefully. 'sWe can tease him to
our hearts content. will sink my iden-
ltity in that of Miss Houghton, and perse-
cute him with my attentions
| For moment the sisters heart misgave
her, but after all, what real harm could it
do her? and so it was agreed, and next
morning the children we're duly presented
to their new governess.
They had anticipated her advent some-
what as reign of terror. They now won
dered, as the days wore on, why they had
always heretofore been deprived of such
luxury,
For two hours they were closeted 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 circum-
stances.
For two hours, then. it was their daily
prison-but such prison! Candies and
story-books we're generously distributed,
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 cap
tain's pay might go, and whether by any
amount of stretching, and any improbable
bachelor sacrifices, it might be enabled to
supply two, when heretofore it had been
considered wholly inadequate for one.
81 have sworn I would never marry an
heiress," he said to himself, when the
household had glided on without changing
for some three weeks, ''lest the world
would consider me that despicable thing, a
fortune-hunter, or that the woman herself
might one day misjudge me; and I have
sworn never to marry poor woman, be-
cause it would entail too much mutual
sacrifice. And yet, and yet, wonder if
her happy?''
| He had found, in these three weeks, the
morning hours of the children's task the
longest of the day.
He had insisted that the governess look
ed pale, and prescribed for her ride. She
had no opportunity. as she had laughingly
declared, to prosecute him with her atten-
lions, but rather, as time wore on, to show
them with certain shyness, new and for
eign to the girls nature.
Meantime the conspirators sat in the Ii
brary, scanning. with perplexed. brows, a
letter open before them. H
1t announced Miss Houghton's arrival
on the evening of that day.
What was to be done2 The arch-con-
spirator solved the question.
'sSay you are displeased with me, and
will return to New York tonight. The
new governess will arrive. His leave ex-
pires in week. After he goes will re.
turn"
every we'll, Victor Hugo, my DEAR"
retorted Mrs. We're, "as to the pithiness
of your sentences; but fear it won't flow
| as smoothly as you imagine.
''What does this mean?'' questioned
Captain Osgood, few hours later, of his
sister. 81 hear the carriage is ordered for
The O'Clock train to take Miss Houghton
to the depot"
"She is not quite my idea of a COVER
ness" meekly and tremblingly answered
Mrs. We're, quailing before his pale face
and flashing eye. 4.
He cast upon her the first look of con-
tempt he had ever given her, and turned
i away Just in time to catch the futter of a
white dress upon the lawn. Straight hv
went towards it.
! II did not mean TO 10 abrupt, Miss
49,