The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-10-02
ONLY A. GOVERNESS,

OIHA ~ wv v IJ1ON 1LSoSo
She was only q governcss in George
Wilbraham's house. A pretty, lady
like, quiet, little creature, whom his
two motherlcss children dearly loved,
and before long their father was in
danger of following their example.
Mrs. Vano saw that. She was a
widow; handsome, poor, and with
eyes that wero unusually keen for all
that concerned the wealthy widower.
For he was her cousin, and she had
kept house for him since his wifo's
death with the intention of ultimately
consoling him for his bereavement.
That girl is dangerous" she thought.
''Shc must be got rid of at once"
Moro easily said than done, however.
The children loved their gen.lc friend
and play-fellow, and their father made
no secret of the pleasures hor presence
and sweet companionship afforded
him. While as for Lily-though she
was "only governess"-it was plain
made her blue eyes moro bright and
her smiles more frequent. Was it since
Mr.. Wilbraham returnedP Well, YES
everything was surely plcasanter under
the masters sway. He was so good,
so kind. And he, surely his life was
lonely. She wondered how would he
over
And at that thought she stopped and
kissed a red rosebud that she held,
. .npl, Which he had given her.
s That instant voice fell on her ear
and firm hand grasped her arm.
= I'Do you kiss the flower for its own
sakeP asked the voice, ''or for tho
giver's?"
Poor Lily started guiltily.
, "Ihe-the givcr, MADAME" she falt-
..ored. al do not understands
MIR. Wilbraham gave you that rose.
He is my betrothed husband. l will
never give him up. His fancy for YOU
can only result in your dishonor; for
though you may steal his heart from
mo, you cannot win his hand. That is
engaged to me, and l will claim it,"
Lily, with white face and great,
'dilatcd eyes, now, suddenly, with one
sharp cry OF pain, fell down fainting at
Lher onemy's feet.
ooh, madam, what must you think
of mo- she cried, with burst of pas
81, onate sorrow. ooh, l must loavo
this place! Oh, let me go ut oncer
"J hall place no conslraint upon
won NV dear" she said. Il sec that
can trnst our honor"
Mr., Win, 'aham had said that he
should not be Nomc that night, and the
noor oirl'S one anxiety was to leave
Without a@ain see ing him. So, when
her preparations wei . done, she stole
down tic garden to biz. the place where
she had dreamed such HI, >ppys dreams a
last goodbye. 1t WAS bu. clock'
AS she stood near the ros.> "uSnoS'
brushing away tho fast-coming 'e"rS'
Mrs. Vane joined her hurriedly. .u
''Miss De"n," she said, "my co, 'slh
s returning. saw him from my w, u,
dow slowly riding up tho lane. You
must not meet him. You can slip out by
the back way as he enters at tho front.
-ou can walk to the station-it is not
lore than mile" ct was moro than
two miles, but Mrs Vane was not
trammelled by any painful reverence
for the truth.) Here is your money,
and tomorrow will send your trunk.
VIII you do this, or"-with q look of
insulting suspicion-''will you stay
and try and steal from me my hus- !
bandp"
The young girls fair faced flushed
and she threw back her head with a
proud gesture.
"You insult me, madam" she said,
with dignity. 81 have shown no in
clination to do you wrong" Then she
hastened away.
Little AMMO was playing by tho
garden gate. She caught her in her
arms and kissed her.
;Iiood-byo, little darlingr' she cried
and set her down again. Next minute
tho gate swung to and tho governoss
had gone.
"Without an explanationr" Mr..
Wilbraham said. II cannot under
stand 1t, Helen. Surely she told you
whyp"
Something about lover believe"
said Mrs. Vano, indifforently. "You
know she'was very pretty girl and
young"
Mr.. Wilbraham turned away with a
clouded brow and sauntered into tho
garden.
81 could have sworn sho cared for
me-" he muttered, "and all the while
she was engaged to somo fellow. This
night l should have asked her to be my
wife. Curse such false coquettesW
ID he stumbled against something on
!. 10 grass. "Hullo! what's thisP"
Annie, his own little fve-year-old
Annie, seemingly quite broken-hearted
md in tears. ....-. ~.
"Oh, papa" she sobbed, on seeing,
MIN, "she's dorm. Miss Lily's dorm"
lie took the little ono into his arms
and soothed hor.
said he.
"Auntie Helen did scold her, papa,
tause she tissed do littlo Power you
dave hor, ! hoard hor. And sho tissed
iae and tried-.and she's dorm, she's