The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-03-11
BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY.


he was the new curate. was not very happy,
for had charge Of four tiresome girls just
getting into those most objectionable ages
eleven to sixteen; and was only twenty my
self. Sometimes felt as IL could not cope
with them; and was OBJ iged to be stern,
prim and old-rnaidish to try to keep up their
respect. When tie sun shone and the flowers
doomed, longed to sing and dance in the
fullness OF youth and health; FOR was only
girl after all. nl ie
/ dare say ought to have liked teaching;
but did not; hated it, and was miserable.
Those four GIRLS tormentcd me; they we're not
.lovable, and yearned after the little ones In
the nursery. My employers we're kind, l think;
but q governess is rarely very happy, and
was young and ionely--an orphan and alone In
the world. had no relatives, save an uncle
I'm Australia, who sometimes wrote to me and
Occasionally sent me ve-pound note.
Mr.. Ponsonby was our Rector-an old cler-
gyman Of the humdrum style, and the greater
share OF whose work fell to the hands OF neo-
phytes, who came and went I'm succession. We
that Is, l aud my Oldest pupil Caroline
used to teach in the Sunday-school. Mrs.
Thomson liked her girls to be useful; and, as
Caroline was only sixteen, she wished me to
help her to teach by taking part of her class
/ was vexed at this, for did not teach all the
weekl And yet grew to like the work. The
solemn-faced, innocent little rustics were a
weekly relief, in their very simplicity and awe
struck respect for teacher from the airs and
graces of the young ladies In the schoolroom.
On the unday 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-eyedinnocen who stood
sdemurely before me, and who, as firmly be-
lieved, was counting the bright buttons on my
jacket instead Of lstening. Suddenly raised
my eyes and saw strange face. !. 1t was quiet,
grave and intellectual. / stopped and hest
tated. The stranger, seeing that he had put
me out, moved aside, and at that moment Mr..
Ponsonby came up to him.
~ must Introduce the teachers to your he
said. "Mr. Clitheroe, this is Miss Hodgson, who
has the first class. :" .-----
A few. words were interchaugcd; then they
''This is Miss Carolina Thomson, of the
Grange said the Rector, who Is SO kind as to
help us; and. this-this is-hum-eh-Miss-
Miss gave s lstt'iif
Morley" said, quietly, to help him out of
- 80, yes, Miss Morley l' he said. aaO
sl,A formal bow then followed, and they passed
After this I saw Mr.. Cltheroe very often; he
became the greatest comfort to me, though he
did not know II. Hissermons went to my heart.
G adually my lie grew more tolerable to me-
Poor foolish little thing began to look for
ward to Sunday, to cherish his words and looks,
to think, am afraid, more of the preacher than
of the message he delivered. In nearly year
had hardly spoken to him dozen times but
] often fancied that his eyes rested kindly and
inquiringiy on me: Then came our school
treat; aud, as Mr.. Thomson was the Squire,
. and gave the feast in his grounds, dressed
myself on that bright day. 1t was only plain
muslin gown that wore; but, with q blue rib
bon In my hair and nosegay IN my dress, 1
could see that looked nice. The day went
on; Mr.. Clitheroe lever came near me-never
spoke to me-. He had talked and laughed,
played with the children, joined In the games,
and helped with the refreshments; but he took
no heed OF me, who was doing all this, also.
My hopes-though what had hoped i knew
be a blank day. Mr.. Clitheroe took not the
. slightest notice Of me; 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 9 / felt sad, and
the tears came into my eyes He might have
: Presently tall figure appeared beside me,
and voice that thrilled me said 5ffftt
Tired, Miss Morleyi You have worked too
- "what q glorious walk we hadl He drew
all my simple story out of me, and told him
all my "disagrecables" and troubles. Hewas
: 80 kind; he chcered me- he made me look on
the sunny side, and he spoke of himself also.
In fact, as we sat there chatting, forgot
that was governess-forgot that was on
eartns III oOtne one calleu MIN away, and Il did
not speak TO him again that day.
came back to mundane things sharply
enough when stupid little Caroline came sim
: pering up and began to tease me about him,
notwithstanding my sharp rebuke.
i saw more OF Mr.. Clitheroe after that, and
he and always seemed-at least fancied So
to haye kind OF tacit svmpathy between us.
could no longer conceal the secret from my
self that 1 loved him, but scarce dared to hope
my love was returned. One day letter was
brought to me In q strange, and yet strangely
familiar, hand, bearing only our village post
, mark Ny heart throbbed, my color came and
went-the more go as caught Caroline's eyes
fixed upon me with an expression of amuse-
ment. / felt that was betraying myself, and,
with . mighty effort, laid the letter face
downward upon the table.
e-"Go on, Caroline" l said: "dou't stop like
that" And Schiller was resumed, though 1t
was as much as could do to translate him
decently.
The fret frssmomentI had opened the let
ter and read:
: DEAR MISS MoRL4Y:-Parion me II seem
abrupt but love you. adore you. You are
beautiful as an angel. you are lovely al q rose.
y oniy 1.-Two Tor you. cannot exist any longer
without you. love yesDst ~ own kfes Give
me hope; say 'yes;' that you feel some inter-
est in me-that may fly to your feet and there
pour out my devotion. Dearest Miss Morley,
write to me. answer me; tell me you will be
my bride. In longing suspense,
X.xA A