Middletown transcript., 1881-07-29

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and was tired of all, and he had moth
ing to do but to be played to, and sung
to, and smiled upon, and enchanted
generally. So before the end Of fort
night Miss Lansing began to think of
her bridal dress and the number of her
bridesmaids, She had the future settled
beautifully.
Carrie must go to school, and that
odious governess tramp about her busi-
ness, she and Mr.. Hartnett would
make the grand tour, and mamma
would stay and keep house. How de-
lightful it all was how the girls would
envy her how she should dazzle So
ciety with her diamonds, and velvets,
and laces, and beauty, and her stately
husband and Eleanor's tapering fing-
ers flashed over the piano keys, and
her violet eyes shOne with starry light
upon the bewitched gentleman by her
side.
y
Miss Vance, the governess, was going
away. The August roses were seeming
the blue twilight air that futtered into
Mrs. Lansing's room as she glided in
like ghost to announce that fact.
Mrs. Lansing looked up from her
book. Had the governess always been
as thin and pale as shadow, or had
she grown so of late Perhaps it was
her mourning dress and dark hair that
caused it by contrast, but in the fading
August light her face was perfectly
bloodlesS.
" Going away p Mrs. Lansing said
'dear me . A sudden resolution, is it
not. Miss Vance p
A gentleman, smoking cigar down
among the cinnamon roses underneath
the window, stopped suddenly-and
well, listened.
No. have been thinking of it for
some time. | should like to leave next
week, IL quite COIlNeulcIl'
''Oh certainly, Miss Vance," Mrs.
Lansing said, cordially, "at any time
you please. You merely forestall what
would have taken place in any case. 1
shall pay you off day after tomorrow,
and you can leave when you please"
Miss Vance bowed and glided from
the room. Mrs. Lansing looked over
at the corner where her daughter lay
half asleep on the lounge.
s'There, Eleanor, we are rid of the
governess you dislike so much, even
before you are Mrs. Hartnett. You
must have Carrie sent to school imme-
diately after you are married. 1 detest
the whole race of schoolmistresses." :"
$50 do l." said Eleanor, lazily
g Dieu merci she's gone. 1 thought
she would take the hint gave her yes
terday.''
The smoker among the cinnamon
roses waited to learn no more. Throw
ing away his cigar, he was starting i'm
petuously for the house, when a little
black figure, fitting down through the
twilight to the gate, caught his eye.
Striding through the dewy roses in a
moment he was by her side.
"Miss Vance, what's that about your
going away p
Miss Vance looked up, frightened
and fluttered, but firm.
II was under the window" Mr..
Hartnett said, "and l overheard. I
won't have it you must stay. Do you
hear, Miss Vance,
Must p flashing up at his impera-
tive tone "neust, Mr.. Haltnett. l
have yet to learn that l am not free to
go if I choose
"You're nothing of the sort. Leav-
ing Carrie out of the question, who will
break her heart to dead certainty,
what am 1 to do. Who will darn my
stockings and play me Mendelssohn's
songs without words, and cultivate my
roses and sew on missing shirt buttons
if you go. What do you want to go for
anyway y? thought you were as happy
as queen here, Sybilla.
Her lips trembled, her eyelids fut-
tered, and something fell.
"Crying p Mr.. Hartnett said, taking
her hand. "Don't go, Sybilla l am
going to be married.
The tears fell faster. She hated her.
self for it, but they loould come. Oh
why need he tell her that She struggled
to draw away her hands.
"Let me go, Mr.. Hartnett. l want
to go in the house
Not until you say you will stay
& will not stay"
But 1 want you so much. l love
you so dearly. l am to be married, and
l want you to be my wife. Won't you
stay q
Mr.. Hartnett !''-she could just
gasp the name, her breath was taken
away.
He laughed.
You thought it was Eleanor and
you were jealous, and that tells the
whole story. Don't you suppose l can ,
see into a milestone, Miss Vance =?
You '0M stay, won't you ~
The lamp was lit in the parlor. Mrs.
Lansing sat sewing, Miss Lansing sat
reading Carrie on the carpet played
with her doll, when the door opened {
and Mr.. Hartnett entered, with Miss
Vance leaning on his arm. Going !
straight up to Mrs. Lansing, he stopped
before her.
Miss Vance has revoked her t
decision, madam he said, blandly /
6 she is not going to leave. In three !
weeks from to-day am to be married,
and allow me to present my promised
wife p l
Imagine that tableau-words are in |
adequate. Neither Mrs. OF Miss Lans- {
ing tainted, though both were livid
/