The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-09-26
ALL BUT TRIUMPHANT.

ALL BUT TRIUMPHANT.
She was only governess in George
Wilford's house, and nursery gov
crness at that.
A pretty, lady-like, quiet little crea-
turc, whom his two motherlcss little
children dearly loved.
Between you and me. dear reader,
before their father had been home from
his travels many months, he was in
danger of following their example.
Mrs. Vane saw that. She was a
widow; handsome, naughty, poor. and
with pair of fine black eyes that
were unusually wide awake for all that
concerned the wealthy widower. For
he was her cousin, and she had kept
house for him since his wife's death
two years ago-with the decided inten-
ton of ultimately supplying her place
and consoling him for his bereave-
ment
She watched him now with cloud
ed face as he sat at the open win
dow, paying less attention 10 the morn
ing paper in his hand than to the mer-
~ group in the garden, whose silvery
voices and happy laughter reached him
where he sat.
"How happy they seem, and how
fond the children are of herr' he said
at last, pursuing his own thoughts.
'But why does she always wear blackP
DO you know for whom she is in mourn
ing. Helen?'
"Her mother, 1 believe" Mrs. Vane
answered with supreme indifference.
''She is an orphan. Goyernesses gen.
orally are orphans it seems to me.
And she tried to quiet her own fears
by rejecting:
at is only natural that he should
take pleasure in watching his own
children. Surely it cannot be this
grip"
But it was ''this GIRL" in spite of
her. She thought she would put it to
the test. and so went quietly out of the
room and sent the hcusemaid to sum
mon Lily Deane to her presence.
"You are so skillful at this kind of
work, Mrs. Deane," she said as she
held up torn and costly lace before
the blushing, futtering GIRL" should
be glad if you would mend it as soon
as possible"
And she looked with strong disfavor
at the fluttering form and rosy blush.
She had seen George MILFORD accost
the girl as she came in from the gar
den, and she knew what the bushes
meant.
She made no remark, however; but
when she went down again to the room
where she had left her cousin, she
found him standing aimlessly in the
middle of the room, as if uncertain
what to he about.
1.-THE garden has lost its attraction"
she thought. and her black eyes flash
ed. This girl must be got rid OF, and
at once"
More easily said than done, however.
The children loved their gentle friend
and gentle play-fellow, and their faith
err made no secret of the pleasure her
presence and sweet companionship af-
fordcd him.
While as for Lily-though she was
s'only q governess"-it was plain that
an unwonted sense of happiness made
her blue eyes more bright and her
smiles more frequent. She never
thought of questioning why.
The little simple soul basked in its
atmosphere of love and joy, as birds
and flowers do. and thought about the
cause of it as little.
The stately house had grown to be a
happy home to her.
Was it since Mr.. MILFORD returned?
Well, yes-everything was surely pleas.
anter under the masters sway. He
was so good, so kind, so gentle to her
self; so considerable towards everyone.
ALI, but his wife must have been a hap.
py woman! How sad that she should
have died, and left her lovely babies,
her dear husband! And he, too-sc
young. scarcely thirty-surely his life
was lonely. She wondered now would
And at that thought she put up two
little white hands to her face, that sud
denly burned vivid crimson.
What is it to me?" she murmured
with an unconscious sigh. "But if he
should, suppose it would be Mrs.
Vane. And ] should have to 90.
could not stay then, although the chill.
dren love me, and IL love them so.'
Tears dimmed her blue eyes suddenly.
"After all, what is it to meP" she
sighed. 'Only he is so good-so very
good to mellow can / choose but wish
him happinessP"
And she stopped and kissed red
rosebud that she held, and which he
had given her.
|. That instant voice fell on her ear
o~l firm, hand ha,. nrn,
"Do you kiss the flower for its owl
sake" asked the voice. ''or for the
giver's?"
Poor Lily started guilty.
The-the giver, madame" she fal
tered. 81 do not nderstand-"
..Mr. MILFORD gave you that rose.
saw him. He Is my betrothed hus.
band. Miss Deane, take you for {
foolish, thoughtless girl, rather than {
wicked or heartless one. [ have re
solved to appeal to your sense of RICH
your honor. Mr.. Milford is engaged
to me. love him and will never give
him up. His fancy for you can only
result in your dishonor, for though you
may steal his heart from me and MAKE
me wretched, you cannot win his hand
That is engaged to me, and l viii
claim it."
Lily, with white face and great di
lated eyes, now suddenly, with ont
sharp cry of pain, fell down faintinf
at her enemy's feet.
The blow had been SO sudden. Will
cruel. pitiless hand Mrs. Vane hac
placed her face to face with the secre
| of her own unconscious heart.
She knew. in that moments anguish
that she loved George MILFORD, and tina
he was the promised husband of an
| other.
Farewell, love! Farewell, hope
Farewell, peaceful home, in which sh,
found brief deceitful happiness! /
l seemed, at first, as If she had said fare