Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-01-17
Gales ano Sketfbes.
FRANK RsDcsAvE's WIFE.
By GEORGE r. SINS.

wife, snuttered, "Oh, nothing and went
on reading letter which had arrived that
morning from England, and had been
handed TO him as he came down to break
fast in the comfortable coffee room OF a
hotel in Rome. The contents could not
have been altogether pleasant for. as he
read II. the young aristocrat's handsome
face grew more and more serious in its
expression.
The Hon. Frank Redgrave had done a
very foolish thing. Being just two-and-
twenty, the heir TO Q title as old as the
Conquest. and IN estates Of considerable
magnitude. he had fallen in love with a
charming girl. who was governess at q
ladies' school next door % the house
where Frank visited friend who crammed
with an armv tutor.
Frank was IS in those days. and Nellie
Vane was year younger. Poor Nellie's
position was not happy one, and there is
no wonder that she surrendered herself
willingly TO the delicious novelty Of being
loved bv some one. She had been sent
from India 10 be pupil az the sch"ol
where she was then governess. Her
mother had died soon afterward, and her
father. an officer in the Indian army, had
six months later been killed in frontier
war When his affairs were investigated
1t was found that his estate would not sat
isfy his creditors. and among the bills left
unpaid was years account for the edu-
cation. boarding and lodging of his orphan
daughter.
Nellie Vane was IA when she found her
self in this terrible position-an orphan,
and penniless, and utterly at the mercy OF
prim and starchy schoolmistress, who
looked upon her as bad debt.
But primness and starchiness are not al
ways the signs Of bad heart, and Miss
Morton. the lady in question, could not
make up her mind to turn the poor child
adrift. She saw an opportunity of max
ing her useful. SoNellie's education was
completed, and in return for her board
and lodging she was expected to be house.
keeper, governess, secretary and Miss
Morton's right hand generally.
The girl was grateful. and tried to do
her best. She became invaluable in the
school. but thousand little things made
her feel her dependent position. When
the handsome young gentleman next door
made the first shy advances, by exchang-
ing glances and smiling at her from the
window overlooking the school garden,
Nellie's romantic nature was appealed to
mt once.
1t is not given to prosaic and matter-of-
fact mortals TO understand these over the
garden-wall flrtaiions. or to explain how
they ripen into love. We only know that
many are the instances on record of such
n romantic beginning to a lifelong de-
vOtion.
Frank Redgrave fell over head and ears
in love with the pretty young governess
next door. and his passion was returned.
The lynx eye of Miss Morton was cum
ningly defied; letters were exchang ed,
and-well. to make long story short.
Frank managed one or two stolen inter
views, and soon had Nellie Vane's prom
Use to be his wife.
A year afterward. when innumerable
letters had been exchanged by the CONN.,
vance Of friendly housemaid. doubtless
influenced by Franks generous tips. the
crisis came. II was very shocking, no
doubt. but Nellie had no mother. no friend
in whom she could contde, and no legal
guardian. So having no ones consent
but her own to obtain. when Frank said:
Twill you be my wfeP" she said /:
Yes" and went out one day, ostensbly
to make small purchase. but really to be
married.
She came straight back with Frank
from the church. The young couple re-
quested to see Miss Morton and were
shown into the drawing-room, from which
they departed in half an hour. on their
bridal tour. leaving the unhappy school,
mistress in a doubt as to whether she
al far I,-
sterics. Frank had plenty of money. He
idolized his little wife. and the sensation
of liberty was to her like new life They
went abroad, and the first fortnight was
like a story out of The Arabian Nights"
to the poor little governess.
She never thought to ask Frank any
thing about himself. She only knew that
he was the truest. dearest. handsomest
fellow in the world. and that she had
never been so happy before.
Frank forgot everything in the first real
ization Of loves young dream. and moth
ing happened to cloud their happiness un-
ill the receipt of the letter over which
Frank sat porting in the coftee-room of the
great hotel in Rome.
Nellie watched her young husbands
face grow darker and darker AS he read
'What is it. darling?" she asked him.
as he folded it and put it in his pocket
with sigh.
= Nothing. my DEAR he answered grave
ly; nothing particular. Iwrote to my
mother week ago. telling her of our
marriage. and this is our answer.
"Oh. Frank" cried Nellie. lit must he
very cruel answer to make you look SO
miserable"
'My mother is proud woman. Nellie"
he said gently. "She and my father
wished me to marry some one else. They
do not know you, and fancy you are some
adventures who has entrapped me-"
He did not mean to say it. He was dis
traught. and the words escaped him.
IAN adventures who has entrapped
your said Nellie. repeating the words
slowly. rs if to gather their full force.
"Oh. Frank. how wicked how cruel -
They were up in their own rooms now.
Don't mind what they say. my pet. :"
he whispered. coming to where the girl
sat. and putting his arm round her waist.
81 know what noble. good little heart
] have won. and no one shall come be-
tween us and our love-"
They were but boy or girl. in the first
fortnight of fools paradise. Her hus-
bands re-assuring words and kiss
brought the sunshine back to the Young
brides face. and an hour later. as they
drove through the famous CITY gazing