Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1883-02-03


lady-sister for high birth and aristo-
cratic ':repose'' of bearing. These had
far greater value in the eyes of both
than msre vulgar fortune, and they
would more readily have welcomed to
their exclusive circle o lady in Miss
Haggeity's position than the purely
monied scion of "shoddy" millionaire.
Therefore, in this patricien family
Miss Haggerty was in no danger Of
Sights or insults because of her inferior
station. On the contrary, she was the
instructress of Mrs. Lords children,
and treated more as delightful guest
than as hired dependent.
AS to the "delightiulness" of her
society, there could be no question.
Who but Miss Haggerty could evoke
such soul stirring harmony from those
responsive keys +? Who, so well as she,
could grasp the mcst subtle thought of
poet or philosopher, and give to it its
finestinterpretation through the medium
of such low and thrillingly modulated
voice Who else could possibly be so
useful to Mrs. Lord when giving enter
tairments to her "dear five hundred
friends as this accomplished governess.
with her high-born, easy grace, gliding
from room to room, from guest to guest,
with her brilliant powers of entertain
ing, and ever-ready tact in using them.
"Blood will tell,' declared Mrs.
Lord, for, at least, the hundredth time.
81 never saw such perfect charm of
manner as Kate Haggerty possesses.
There is something in it more sugges-
tive of the court circles OF Europe than
of poor, obscure governess. am
sure shouldn't know what to do with
out her !"
Perhaps it never occurred to Mrs.
Lord to dream that her cool-headed,
unimpressible brother might come to
have the same opinion ; or quite likely,
if it did, the idea would not have
troubled her, since Miss Haggerty, in
all save wealth, which Mrs. Lord was
too thoroughly well-born to care for,
was unexceptionable as any lady in the
land.
At all events as time wore on the
governess became more indispensable
to both sister and brother, and her
quiet, gliding grace and singularly
fascinating countenance came slowly to
usurp the place in the latter's heart
hitherto held sacred to the memory OF
Flora Blake.
Fred Marburg, being a man of the
world, was not likely to pledge himself
too hastily to any one of Ewes beguil-
ing daughters; yet, like all men who
reverence the sacred name of '.mother,"
he had his womanly ideal, and Flora
Blake had come nearer to filling this
than any other woman he had ever
known.
Had she been here now her lovely
character, shining forth in every line
ament of an innocent, and winningly-
fair face, might have held his heart
against the dangerous charms to which
he was hourly exposed. But far away,
as she was, in her quiet home among
the hills, the memory of the past sum-
mer and the part her sweet face had in
it was gradually fading like dream
from his mind in the warm dawn of a
new experience.
Before Fred. Marburg knew it, his
long -unyielding heart had surrendered
to this graceful siren and was beating
with quickened pulse at the lightest
sound of her low thrilling voice. But
what wonder? She was one of those
rare women who, apparently uncon-
scious OF their own magnetic power.
seem born to exert it with strange sue
cess over all with whom they come in
contact.
1t was warm, lovely night in Octo-
ber when Fred first seriously admitted
to himself that he was conquered. His
sister was away, giving herself and the
children late holiday at the old
family homestead in New England, SO,
for week past, Miss Haggeity's only
task had been the pleasant one of max
ing home attractive to the lonely young
bachelor who was left in her charge.
No ohe understood that art better
than herself, and the highest proof
of her success lay in the fact that
at this very moment the handsome
object of her tender care was restlessly
pacing his chamber floor, trying man
fully to put away temptation that was
Juggling at. his heart-the temptation to
ask her, at once to become his wife.
Life with her would be sweeter than
the poems which she read to him, with
such world OF meaning in her flexible
LIQUID tones-he had no doubt Of that.
And the question of her poverty he
Lever though of-for he had wealth
enough for both. But somehow Flora
Blake's sad eyes arose before his mind
to night and he felt strangely troubled
by them. -
To be sure, there had been no direct
pledges of love between them only