Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-05
BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY.
HER STORY.

Si8teen and was only twenty myself Some
times felt as If l could not cope with them; and
was obliged to be stern, prim and old maidish
to try to keep up their respect When the sun
shone and the flowers doomed, longed to sing
and dance in the fulness OF youth and health;
for was only girl after all.
dare say ought to have liked teaching: but
| did not. l hated it: and was miserable
Those four girls tormented me; they were not
lovable, and yearned after the little ones in
the nursery. My employers were kind. think
but governess is rarely very happy: and was
| young and lOnely-an orphan and alone i'm the
world had no relatives. save an uncle in Aus
traila. who sometimes wrote to me, and occa-
sionaily sent me a five-pound note
| Mr.. PonsOnby was our rector-an old clergy
man OF the humdrum style, and the greater
] share OF his work fell to the hands of neOphytes
who came and went in succession We-tiiat is
| L, ana my eldest pupil, Caroline-used to teach
In the Sunday school. Mrs. Thomson liked her
girls to be useful; and. Caroline was only six
teen she wished me to help her teach by taking
part OF her class. was veXed at this, for did
not teach all the week? And yet grew to like
the work The sOlemn-iaced, innocent little
| rustics were weekly relief, in their very sim
pllcity and awe-struck respect for teacher
from the airs and graces Of the young ladies in
| the schoOl-roOm.
On the Sunday that saw Mr. Clitheroe first I
| was teaching my small scholars, when the door
opened and the rector came in. He never minded
me. and continued trying to impress some fact
on the blue-eyed innocent who stood demurely
before me, and who. as l firmly believe. was
| counting the bright buttons on my Jacket in
stead OF listening. Suddenly raised my eyes
and saw strange face. 1t was grave. quiet
and intellectual stopped and hesitated, The
stranger, seeing that he had put me out moved
aside, and at that moment Mr. POnsonby came
up to him.
Il must Introduce the teachers to you," he
said. Mr.. Clitheroe, this is Miss Hodgson, who
has the first Glass;
4 few words were exchanged; then they came
to US.
This is Miss Caroline Thomson of the
! Grange" said the rector. .'who is so kind as to
help us: and this is-this is-hum-eh-- Miss
Morley said, quietly, to help him out of
! his difficulty.
| "Oh, yes, Miss Morley" he said.
| formal bow then followed and they passed
on.
After this saw Mr.. Cltheroe verv often: he
became the greatest comfort to me, though he
did not know it. His sermons went right to
myheart. Gradually my life grew more toler-
able to me. Poor, foolish little thing, | began
TO look forward to Sunday. to cherish his words
and looks. to think. | am afraid more of the
| preacher than of the message lie delivered In
nearly year l had hardly spoken to him q
dozen times; but l often fancied that his eyes
rested kindly and inquiringiy on me. Then came
our school treat and as Mr.. Thomson was the
squire. and gave the feast on his grounds. |
dressed myself on that bright day 1t was oniv q
| plain muslin gown that Wore; but with q blue
| ribbon III my hair and a nOsegay in my dress |
could see that looked nice. The day went on:
| Mr.. ClitherOe never came near me-neyer spoke
| to me. He lad talked and laughed: PLAYED with
| the childrcn Joined in the games and helped
with the refreshments. but he took no heed OF
NE. who was doing all this also. My hopes
| though what had hoped for I knew not
dropped, and thought it was going to be
blank day. Mr. ClitherOe took not the slightest
notice of ne; and after tea | felt too lonely to
/ play. The children, fortified by tea were no
longer shy and in need of help and wandered
away into the park. | felt sad. and the tears
came into my eyes. He might have spoken a
word to me. | thought.
Presently tall figure stood beside me, and a
voice that thrilled me said:
Tired. Miss Morley? You have worked too
hard.'
What glorious walk we had. He drew all
my simple story out of me. and told him all nv
'disagreeables" and troubles. He was so kind:
he cheered me, he spoke of himself also In fact
as we sat there chatting, / forgot that l was
governess-fOrgOt that was on earth, till some
one called me away, and did not speak to him
again that day.
| came back to mundane things sharply
enough when stupid little Caroline came sinner
ing up and began to teaZe me about him. not
outstanding my sharp rebuke.
saw more OF Mr.. ClltherOe after that, and he
and always seemed-at least, fanced SOTO
nave d hlUu Oh tdCIG sympathy between |
could no longer conceal the secret from myself
that loved him. but scarce dared to hone nv
love was returned. One day letter was brought
TO me In strange. yet strangely familiar, hand.
bearing only our village post-mark. My heart
thrObbed. my color came and went-the more
so as caught CarOlines eye fixed on me with
an expression OF amusement. felt that was
betraylng myself, and with mighty effort laid
the letter face downward upon the table.
GO on. Caroline" said, ''dont stop like
yro ,oI e.
was as much as l could do to translate him de-
Gently
The first free moment had opened the letter
and read:
put love you. adore you You are beautiful as
an angel; you are lovely as rose. / only live for
S o%s vd cannot live any longer without you
'leS'.that you feel some interest In me-that
may fly to your feet AMI there pour out my devo-
ton. Dearest Miss Morley, write to me- answer
me; tell me you will be my bride. In lengthy sls-
pense, yours forever, ARTHUR CLIrHEROED
/ dropped the letter into my lap and buried
my face into my hands He loved me-he
wanted me to be his. Oh. bliss unspeakable-
oh, joy undeseryed. Was it dream? No;
there lay the precious letter. Again and again
read Tiny first love letter.
was little disappointed in the letter for all
that-t was too wild, too sentimental tanced
he would have written more soberly. more
thCughtfully. wished that he had spoken in
stead of writing; it was so formal to have to
answer him. His proposal was not as nice as
some had read Of And yet should quarrel
with my bliss, come how it might? Oh, no.
1t was with heart filled to Overlooking that
l answered him. did SO at once for nv pupils
and were going out and had chance of post
ing 1t; moreover. felt that could never send
it to him by hand. So. without waiting to
think, lest should lose my courage, wrote
my answer. 1t was not an easy task.
DEAR Mr. CLITHEROE: cannot tell you how
your letter surprised me. / feel so flattered. so
m fpnt
Die That you should ask me TO be your wife. feel
can only answer the truth, and that is that
l love you, and have loved you for a long time
''Yours MARION MoRIEY.n
This did not seem at all the kind of a note to
send so | wrote another and another, until. in
desperation, / sealed and directed tine first l
did not allow myself to think further till saw
1t safe In the post Office, and then. for very
shame, | would have gone in and asked for it
back felt had taken plunge into unknown
waters. My thoughts were in a state of chaos
was joyful, trembling and excited
fear my four girls thought me very absent
that afternoon. AS we went out, Caroline and
Amy. the two eldest. begged me to go a differ
eut way from That which had chosen; but said
must post letter