Morris tribune., 1880-07-29
BUELAH'S. LOVERS
BY MARY REED CRowRIL.

DOn4AA ~ AV nN0
BY MARY REED CROwEIL.
Beulah had managed to arrange for an
hours relief from her arduous duties,
and in her own room, with locked door,
was walking to and fro, restlessly up and
down, now with quick, nervous steps,
now slowly, thoughtfully, but always
with that same restlessness and utter un-
peacetulness that was new experience
to her.
The great house was very quiet, for
Mrs. Sartoris had gone to her room for
her usual after-lunch siesta. The chill
dren-Fay and Mignon, and Jack, were
OFT, In the sweet June weather in charge
of the nursery maid, attached to their lit
tie highnesses. Fay and Mignon, aged 4
and 3 respectively.
And Mr.. Alsagel was-Beulah did not
know where. as pacing the velvet carpet
of the elegant rooms, that Mrs. Sartoris
did not think any to good for her chill.
dren's resident goveruess, Beulah's cheeks
famed or paled as she thought of him.
He was the "Uncle Berthe whom the
children alternately adored and torment
ed. He was the handsome bachelor broth
er of pretty Mrs. Sartoris, come to precide
over West Lawn since Mr.. Sartoris's
death, three years before. A itch, mas
terful, elegant man, who had fallen des-
derately in love with the governess,
and-'.ad been accepted by her twenty
four hours before.
Beulah had locked her door daring, for
the first time in twentv-four hours-yes,
for the first time since Berthe Alsager
had first shown his ardent admiration,
three months before-to look matters
straight in the face.
And she saw two undeniable facts in
that unshrinking gaze. One, that new
er again in all her life would such won
derful good fortune come to her as this
that Alsager had laid with pleadings and
kisses, at her feet twenty-fours before.
To be so rich, 80 influential socially, to
lead such luxurious life, not one girl
one poor, obscure girl-in ten thousand
would ever have had such a chance. Be-
sides, he was handsome and young, and
she liked him remarkably we'll.
But then that other fact-that when
Vernon had sailed, one year before, lie
had taken her solemn promise to be fond
of HIM, when he returned, loyal and true,
ready to be claimed by HIM.
When he returned-June "a; and to-
| day it was June %. a,s.
What was she to do?
She could not take counsel of her OWE
heart, because already, its true, honest
love had been set up in defiance against
ease and riches.
| 1t she had been true to her own heart
true to her womanhood, BERTHE Alsager'I
declaration would never have left his lips
but it was enough that che had no
been true to them, and now she Was in {
place where there was to be a terrible
| fight between ambition and affection.
Tomorrow, Vernon would be there, a
West Lawn. He was not a man to tax,
her detection easily or quietly, nor tn,
sort of lover who could, or preferred to
conceal his happiness from all eyes.
A:sager would learn in half an hou
how she had played fast and loose witt
them both; Vernon would understand
her treachery to him: and which of then
would forgive herr Rather, whose anger
whose ill-wishes, would she prefer to en-
duref
So this pretty, ambitious Beulah walk
ed up and down, up and down, her brai
whirllng between the two forces strivin
for conquest.
One word from her to either of ther
would settle it all. One word to Alsage
telling him she had been mistaken in he
own feelings-givlng up her pleasar
position as govern ess; with its congenis
duties, its salary OF $500 year-goin
!, away out of the luxury she enjoyed wit
every finer of her beng. OF course, sh
conld do all this, and thereby ''settle"
all with BERTHE Alsager.
i And-meet Pierce Vernon on his home
coming, alas not as leal and true as whe
he left her, but still leal and true enoug
, to have overcome ambition for his des
SAKE.
What should she do?
And, as if in answer, she heard ht
name called from the lawn below, an
she saw Mr.. Alsager standing in til
shade looking up at her windows, await
ing her answer to his summons.
"Come down, Beulah, for little Will
] want you in the library. Will you
please2"
An, he was handsome and bonny I
: see, and he could give her so much, {
much she had all her life hoped for an
desired with all her souli And her hea
: gave little, prideful thrill at sight {
: him, but not the same fierce, passionat
: sensation that always thropbed ov'
: her when Pierce Vernon looked upo
her.
Yes, she would go down to him; an
> some sudden, overpeweriDg impuls
: came to her, to tell him all about it-a
about everything-and let him decide.
: It was weak in her, beyond doubt; bl
: she was 80 dismayed at the tumultuor
!, tempest in which she found herself tn,
any escape was welcome.
Almost miraculously, it seemed to he
all the agitation and dismay lett he
their places being filled by curiou
calm expectancy; and SO, passionless, re
olute, she went down TO the impatiel
; lover, walking to and fro in the librar
who went straight up to her and took h
in his arms, with an air of glad propri
torship that told how he loved her.
"My own darling! How / want 20
Beulah--how / want to have you ju
here, where you are now, where you b
long,my swectl''
And, when he pressed his kisses, war
and lingering, on her lips. Beulah trie
. to free herself from his close embrace.
{ "Do I brighten you? / don't mean I
dear" he said, tenderly. "Or-don't u
' love me?''
: II want to tell -you something first
t she said, In little gasps Of shrinking di
may, now that the crisis had come.
9 he smiled, and looked indulgentiy
her solemn eyes.
s.You may tell anything you like"
il said, except you don't love me. I thin
d however, ] can guess. You are afrai
4 NAV be, Won have not been quite "a