Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-06-17
MY WICKED PRIDE.

Iswept down the long drawing-room
at Mrs. Sinclair's splendid house, and
took my place at the piano there, as
proud woman-aye, and as handsome a
woman-as any present that night, if l
was only ''poor governessl' had heard
some scornful voice utter those words as
1 passed, and my heart was full OF
wounded pride and pain, full almost to
bursting. 1t wasn't the hurt pride
though that was hard to bear that /
cared for most; it was the thought that
the love of my life was wasted and lost.
that was the pang that was killing me-.
Of course, being only governess, it was
my duty 10 play and sing, and .amuse my
employers guests, even though my heart
was breaking. 1t was we'll that was
so proud l thought or | might have been
wanting in my duty that night. To sit
still, and hear them talk of him my be-
loved-and discuss his approaching mar.
ria4e with another woman, n rich heircss
-ah, it needed proud heart and strong
will, to bear that ana make no sign.
never had played better in my lite, and
the songs sang were as gay and merry as
If my heart had never known a care
There was great mirror just before me
that reflected all the room, and in it |
could see him, the false traitor who had
dared to triile with me, wooing the richer
woman, who was to be his BRIDE, soft,
pretty, gentle little creature, who looked
at him with such adoring es es as very near
wrung from me u groan OF anguish and
despair. knew, when saw that glance,
that l had heard the tuth--,his iar, rich
woman was to be his WIG, he had only
mused himself with the poor governess.
AS flowers, when crushed, give forth their
sweetest perfumes, so 1, being tortured at
heart almost beyond endurance, had rich-
er color, brighter eyes, more vivid beauty
than had ever been mine in the happy
time when he had told me he adored me.
But did care for that2 No. hated
the beauty that was SO useless and so vain,
that it could not charm and hold the one
loved. Better a thousand times 70 have
been insignificant and plain; then though
l might have loved him vainly, still, at
least he would not have mot ked me. But
such was my pride that would have died
rather than let him see that cared. He
had thought TO trihe with me-but l re-
solved to make him believe that it was l
who mad been trifing. avoided him all
that evening. They released me from the
piano now, and then, poor governess
though l was, he tried to speak to me, but
was always engaged, for pretty, well
dressed girl may have partners enough,
even though she be poor. At last, in the
conservatory, whittier l had gone to lay
aside the mask for a moment and give
vent to my grief and pain, he found me.
My avoidance had displeased him. ALI!
my dear, / comprehended afterwards
when it was too late. And be spoke
coldly:
You are in demand this evening,
Agnes. have tried to speak to you in
vain. Mr.. Roberts is very attentive, obs
serve, and you seem to welcome his a.ten-
tions. Is it with the intention of ann6y>
ing me that you act thus?"
Whom the gods would destroy they
first make mad. Why the great gods
should have had any grpdge against poor
me ! know not, but certainly was mad,
and in that madness dies troycd my peace