The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1882-09-23

as she went cheerfully about her household
duties day after day. He will neve,
dream that l have given him the only Gift
had III the world to give and that l shall
never take it back. Plenty of girls marry
every day; but not all of them are as am
as poor, little, ugly Marjory Sebright! ]
shall never marry; but Will love him until
i am dead, and then for ever and ever"
| And Marjory Sebright honestly believed
| 'hat she was content to have it SO. Per.
| Laps, 1t was because Mr.. Lamont, like Bob.
| was so different from other men-was SO
| grave and steady and worked so hard. never
seeming to think of girls, or love-making.
or rmarria9e at all Perhaps, she felt uncon.
| sc.ousiy that 60 long as he was free he be.
ionged in truth to her; and beyond that she
did not care or dare to look
But 1t is certain that the secret which had
just been SO abruptly revealed to her, q
stranger, at the very moment of her arrival
among Humphreys friends, fell upon her
like shock; and she tried vainly to realize
that it was true.
The dog-cart was whirling along the
sparkling sunshine barred roads, between
dense rows of trees, in and ont of the white
branches of which the birds flew at its ap-
proach, shaking down the snow in feathery
showers
Captain Bragleigh had relapsed into ST.
lence, having convinced himself by an OK
haustive look through Miss Sebright's thick
veil that ''the little governess" was not
worth captivating. Floss was asleep. And
Alarjory, sitting stifiiy upright her hands
ciencLed, her eyes yearning sadly towards
the home she had left that morning for the
first time was free to tell herself over and
over again that Humphrey Lamont, whom
she had worshipped III silence for five long,
sweet years, had. given his love to the
golded-hairel chiIn by her side, who would
one day, no doubt. become his wife.
She was still striving to make the words
SQUAD real and natural in her own mind
when the horses turned in at the gates OF
Gable End.
If GIariory had been hopeful at the sta
ton as to her chances of being CONSIDERABLY
'.rated in her new position, Mrs. Dering'
P!easaHt greeting left her no doubt, what
ever, on the subject.
1he lady herself led the way to the gov
erness's room-a bright, pretty chamber
hung with gray-and-blue chintz,. where a
b'e generous fire was blazing OF the hearth,
belofe which an easy-chair and tiny tea
'ao!e were drawn up in a highly inviting
manner
a door led from this room 20 the school
room on the ether side Of which was
rlosss bedroom
MISS Floss, elated by the prospect Of IT.
t-e chaAge-all her governesses had been
'3'riihSs' for the first week of their en-
Ea5ement-ke dancing in and out, still IN
her iurs, and would have made tea for Miss
hehTTStA hnd helped her to unpack, but that
sic WAS tondly kissed and turned out By
her mother.
Go and lie down for an hour, my little
Floss" sad the widow, as the child disap-
ieafed, pouting and banging tho door be-
hind he
Forgive her." she pleaded to the new
Governess, who was laying aside her jacket
and hat. ''ohe has good deal to upset
Ter JUS now" And then, smiling kindly
You will Ike to rest and have tea by your
self, dare say, before dressing for dinner?
hope however, you will make up your
mind 10 feel at home with us at once You
see, we are not very formidable people ~
this with an airy little-laugh.
"ilr. Lamont told Bob how kind | should
find YOU" returned Marjory simply, as she
went back to the ire Il hope Miss Der
ing will let me be her friend as we'll as her
gorerness."
'Oh, call her Floss. pray, my dear Miss
Sebright.' ~ said the little widow, who was
curiously eying the appearance of the
young stranger as she warmed her hands at
the blaze.
Marjory was tail and shapely Her arch
ugly face was lit up by brown eyes and
crowned by crisp ripples of brown hair,
which were brushed up from the nape of the
neck and piled in thick putfs on top of her
small head.
She wore the very purple stuff gown and
the Puritan collar and cuffs which had one
day excited Humphrey I.amont's admiration;
and altogether. Mrs. Dering decided, with
sigh of relief the governess was sufficiently
picturesque-looking not to spoil the artistic
setting in which she was thenceforth to
play her part.
''She looks clever" thought Clarissa Der
to many men she would prove
dangerous, plain rs she is. Women Of that
stamp often do greater mischief than half
your acknowledged beauties. But"
MerjOry turned at that moment, feeling
warm and little more composed. and u
grateful smile frightened her shy face.
"She is good, concluded Clarissa Dering
abruptly, as, moved by sudden impulse,
she stood on tip-toe and kissed the girls
blooming cheek-''a true sweet woman
And of course Humphrey Lamont had
never been able to discover it? So much
the better for us. But what blind fools
men are, after all. And isn't it hard, for a
woman. with half q grain of wit, to retain the
respect for their superiority, when
she has herself been considered a beauty in
her day and has reached my age?"
tions for Miss Sebrght's comfort, and ex-
planning that they would be quite alone that
evening, the lady took herself and went to
seek counsel Of her brother.
CHAPTER TX.