Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-06-21


forth Miss Dane was constantly called
upon for advice in matters of taste.
Occasionally she was requested to try
on some article of dress, hat, or a
mantle. in order that might the better
but be struck with the extreme becOm-
mgness of these things to her.
She herself was quite aware of this;
and Imore than once saw her cheek flush
and her eye brighten as she glanced in
the mirror at her own reflection when
thus arrayed.
Poor girlr my aunt said. cit seems
really pity that such attractions should
not be set off by the advantages of dress,
in which, after all, [ am inclined to
think half the effect of beauty lies.
Despite her humble origin, Sophie Dane
certainly looks born lady"
What sympathy and liking I had for
Miss Dane-and she was not one who
appeared to care much for either-soon
| received a severe check, the occasion of
which was as follows:
Suddenly entering my room one eve
ming, / was surprised to see the COVER
ness standing before my dressing table,
absorbed in reading letter. She start
ed, flushed, and hastily thrust it into her
pocket; then said, with what appeared
only q natural embarrassment:
please excuse me, Miss Christine;
but in passing your room it looked so
quiet that [ thought l might venture to
slip in and read a letter from my moth
| er.
! I should not for a moment have doubt
! ed her, but that in my hasty glance at
/ the letter [ thought it looked like one
which [ had that evening received from
Robert, and had carelessly left lying
| about. [ could not be certain, however,
and said nothing at the time, and next
morning the letter was discovered be-
| hind the dressing table where it appear
ed accidently to have slipped.
''Christine." said my Uncle Forces
ter, cheerfully, one day at dinner, you
must look your best tomorrow, Robert
will be here then, you know"
| The words struck coldly upon my
heart. So long as Robert was at dis
lance, my fate had not appeared to me
| SO obvious; but now, to think that [ was
so soon to be in his presence, so soon the
wife of the man whom | knew [ did not
and could not lOye-sent q chill to my
heart And Phil -why was it, ask
ed myself, that Philips image would
constantly intrude whenever | thought
of my future husband
! The following day, however, brought
q letter, which caused among us quite
q cOmmotion.
| Robert and his mother were at Paris,
he being in too feeble state of health
to risk the passage across the Channel;
and his mother proposed that [ should
proceed to Paris, in care of some friend
and there let the marriage take place
They would make all preparations for
my reception, and we could then pro-
ceed to Italy for the winter
Of course, in considering this propos-
al, the first thing to be done was to dis
cGss the matter with my family.
Accordingly, my aunt and N ysef, &C
companied by the children, whom she
was now unwilling to leave in charge of
Miss Dane, at once proceeded to my
home in the country.
The goyerness had permission to visit
her family during our absence, but this
she declined, preferring, she said, to
wait for the regular holidays.
I confess that before leaving I took
care to secure my apartments and per-
sonal effects from any further possible
meddling of her
Our absence lasted not quite a week.
At solemn family conclave it was de-
eided that [ should go to Paris, under
care of Uncle Marcus himself, accom-.
panied by Aunt Forester; and there
upon we fastened back to London, to
carry out this plan.
1t was late in the evening when we ar.
rived, and the chiIdren's first inquiry
was for their goyerness.
Miss Dane went away the same day
you left" was the servants answer
''She took her trunks with her, and said
she would be back as soon as ever she
was informed of your return ma'ma. y
II suppose" said my aunt, that she
found it lonely, Or fancied that we would
stay longer than we did"
''Oh, no, mama, she didn't seem to
be very lonesome! She was coming and
going all the time, and quite lively-like."
Preparations for our journey immedi-
ately commenced. My first care was to
get my travelling paraphernalia in order;
but, upon opening the closet wherein it
had been left, I discovered it to be miss
ING.
Further search disclosed the fact that
several of my handsomest dresses, with
most of my choice lingerie, had also dis
appeared. l instantly gave utterance to
my convictions.
"Sophie Dane has done this!''
My aunt would not at first believe it,
She was inclined to suspect the servants,
Int oOn captnd +O dncpotob a ,,oacCo Oro m,
Sophie's home to inquire after her. The
man returned, reporting that Miss Dane
had not been home, nor had her family
the least idea of where she was.
eve won't allow this mishap to de.
lay u.s." Uncle Marcus said. 'sOrder
another travelling dress. Christine; and
for the rest, [ will see thatyou are prop
erly provided in Paris. When our af-
fairs are settled, l will inquire after this
clever governess Of my sister-in-law."
u.