The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-03-16
IDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA, THURSDAY MARCH Is. 1882

Mrs. Courtney's heart had beaten
with proud triumph when she received
the invitation to the ball, and above all
to dine en- famille with Lady Powis pre-
viously, for her social position scarcely
entitled her to such an honor. She was
aghast with amazement when che saw
her son entering the room bearing on
his arm the hardy adventures" But
her humiliation was truly pitiful when
Lady Powis, taking the hand of tho
lovely and smiling bride, led her to
them, saying:
"Mrs. and Colonel Courtney, allow
me to present to you one who, until
lately, was my dearly loved niece, Lady
Gertrude Gordon, but who is now the
wife of your son, and consequently
your daughter -inlaw."
,"Good heavens p exclaimed Cecil,
"what mystery is this q
Grace, or rather Lady Gertrude,
broke into merry peal of silvery
laughter.
"Noy," said she, gleefully, "this
denouement is simply charming; have
l not played my part well ? and has not
dear auntie kept my secret and carried
out my plans ezcellentlyP This is, 1
am sure, most romantic marriage, and
believe will be as happy as romantic, .
said she, turning fondly to her hus-
band.
"But, my darling" said he, with pain
full embarrassment, 81 cannot under.
stand this at all. Have pity and
explain"
think 1 had better do that" said
Lady Powis, gracefully. "My niece,
like myself, is of romantic disposition.
She was the belle of the season, and her
beauty and wealth brought her many
admirers; but she refused them all.
She told me often that she wished to be
loved for herself alone, and not for her
wealth and title. You," said she, turn
ing to Colonel and Mrs Courtney, chad
but just returned with your son here
from long residence abroad
when we saw you at q concert. Ger
trude saw you then for the first tiLle,"
continued she, addressing Cecil, "and
on returning home she remarked,
'Auntie, if ever marry it must be such
man as that The next day came
Mrs. Courtney's letter, asking me, as
an old acquaintance, if I could recon-
mend her governess. Suddenly Ger
trude declared her intention of playip ..
the part and accepting the engagement.
Now, auntie,' said she, Il will see if
there is man in the world who can
love Gertrude Gordon for herself alone.
1t was stipulated that she should never
be invited into the drawing-room, to
prevent her recognition by any who
had seen her in her own character.
How far her plan has succeeded is seen
by the fact that she is now Mrs. Cecil
Courtney"
EYES," said Gertrude, turning to her
mother-in-law. "It happened that
Cecil aud met the first day of my resi-
dence with you while 1 was walking
out with Mabel after that we mot
every evening under the old elm trees
The pleasure of those happy hours
made Joyous tie duties and restraints
Of my new position, which would other
wise have proved irksome." Then ap-
pr aching Mrs. Courtney-who was
weeping tears of shame and mortifica-
tion-said, sweetly: "Pardon, dear
madame, the deception I practiced upon
you, and in mothers anxiety for the
welfare of her son 1 can cheerfully ex,
cuse your apparent harshness to me. l
have no mother; let mo find ona now
The naughty lady bowed her head,
murmuring:
"You overpower me with your good.
ness; l am not worthy of it,"
Gertrude kissed her affectionately,
and then passing to the colonel, said
~ see l need not plead here for q
fathers kiss"
"Good heavensl no. I'd no idea
there was such beauty in my house,
Oh l should have taken the young gen.
tleman's part and let him marry you,
governess orno governess;" and he took
her in his arms and saluted her
heartily.
She then approached her husband
with timidity new to her, saying:
"And Cecil-can he, toe, forgive my
deception?".
He bent forward, and raised her Jew.
eled hand to his lips, saying:
Forgive My darling, what have I
to forgive? Rather, what have done
to deserve such love, such goodness
With the devotion of my life will re-
pay your love, my darling, my wife!"
The ball was a splendid affair, and
the lovely bride far outshone all the
beautiful girls preset. Great was the
surprise that the belle of the season
should have suddenly gone abroad to
return with young and handsome hus-
band. But though gossip was busy for
awhile, the affair remained mystery
and was soon forgotten.
To very few indeed was it ever
known that the lovely wife of Cecil
Courtney was ever his sisters governess.