The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-01-09
INTERESTING STORY.
THE | sLF-CASTE.
AN OLD G9vERnEss's TALE.
FOUNDED ON FACT.
ny MISS MUrocK.
Continued

same week. There came a letter to
Mr.. lie Poer from Mr.. Sutherland. /
could not help noticing this, as it lay on
the mantel-shelf two days before the
former returned, and | used to see it
always when | sat at meals. His--Mr.
Sutherland's l mean-was u fair. large
hand, which would have caught any
ones eye: besides, it was like old times
to see it again.
happened to be by when Mr.. LIE Poer
opened the letter. lie was so anxious
over it that he did not notice my pres
ence. Perhaps it was wrong of me to
glance toward him, but yet natural,
considering it was the letter of friend
of mine. | saw a little note inclosed,
the address of which | was almost sure
bore my name. | waited. thinking he
would give it to me. | even made
some slight movement to attract his
attention. He looked up--he actually
started-but the next moment smiled,
as only Mr.. LIE Poer could smile.
News from our friend, you see!'
said he, showing me the outside envel-
ope. lie is quite well, and-let me
consider, n-glancing over his own let
ter-"he sends his kindest remembran-
ces to you. A most worthy man is Mr..
Sutherland"
So saying he folded the epistle, and
placed it in his desk. The little note,
which he had turned seal uppermost he
quietly put unopened, into his pocket.
1t must have been my own delusion
then. Yet l was disappointed.
At the expiration of my first year as
a governess, just as | was looking with
untold eagerness to my midsummer
holidays, when | was at length to go
home to my mother-for the journey to
London was too expensive to admit of
that happiness more than once year
there happened great disaster to the
lie Poer family; no less than that terri
BILE. scourge, typhus fever. Matilda
took it first, then Caroline. then the
mother. These three were scarcely con-
valescent when Zillah caught the fever
in her turn. and had it more dangerous
ly than any of the rest. Her life was
i'll danger for many days, during which
had the sole anxiety and responsible
ty; for Mr.. lie Poer, on the first tidings
of the fever, had taken flight, and been
visible at home no more. True, he
wrote every other day most touching
letters, and | in return kept him con-
stantly informed as to the progress of
his wife and children. When Zillah
WAS taken ill, however, did not think
it necessary to send him word concern
ing her, feeling that the poor orphans
life was precious to no one. | never
was more surprised than when ON Mr.
lie Peers yenturing back and finding
Zillah i'll the crisis of her disease, his
terror and anxiety appeared uncontroll-
able.
..Good God!'' he cried, sZillah i'll?
Zillah going to die? Impossible! Why
was | not informed before? Confound
YOU, madam ''-and he turned furiously
to his still ailing wife-'did you not
think?-Are you mad-quite mad?n
declare thought he was. Mrs. Lee
Poer only sobbed in silence Mean
while the outcries oe the delirious girl
were heard in the very parlor. | had
given her my room; L thought, poor
soul, she should not die in her damp
kitchen-clOSet.
Mr.. lie Poer turned absolutely white
with terror-he who had expressed only
mild concern when his wife and daugh-
tiers were in peril. Miss Pryor said
he, hoarsely, something must be done.
The girl must be saved; ia snatch her
from the very fiend himself! Send for
advice, physicians, nurses; send to
Leeds, Liverpool-to London even.
Only, by -, she must not die!''
Poor Zillah did not die. She was
saved, for Heavens strange purposes;
though /, in my then blindness, often
and often, while sitting 10y her bedside,
thought it would be better did she slip
quietly out of the bitter world i'll which
she seemed to be only an unsightly and
tr.umpled weed. Mr.. lie Peers wonted
anxiety did not end with her GONZALES
cence. which was very slow. ''She may
die yeti" | heard him muttering to him
! self. the first day after he saw his niece.
fn IC N VI
rather undecided person. Tell me
what you think ought to be done for
Iillah's recovery | prescribed, but
with little hope that my advice would
be followed -immrtiate change to sea
air. at she'll be done!'' at once said
he. Mrs. T., Poer and the girls can
tako caro- of her; or stay-she likes you
best. Miss Pryor, are you willing to
go?''
This question perfectly COMPOUNDED
me. [ had been so lengingly antlcipat-
ing my going home-delayed. as i'll COM
mon charity | could not but delay it, on
account of the fever. Now this troub-
lie was over ] had quite counted on my
departure. That very week | had been
preparing my small wardrobe, so as to
look as nice as possible in my mothers
eyes. She had given me q hint to do so,
since she and l were to spend the vaca-
ton together at Mr.. Sutherland's coun-
try-house, and old Mr.. Sutherland was
so very particular. lLL
"Why do you hesitate?n said Mr.. Lee
Poer rather sharply. Are you thinking
of the money! You shall have any
additional salary-e50 more, if you
choose. Upon my soul, madam, you
SHALL only entreat you to CO."
would not have minded his entreat-
les. but / was touched by those Of
Zillah. who seemed terrified at the idea
of going to strange place without me.
Then, too, the additional money. not
unneeded; for Mr.. Sutherland, SO kind
ly generous i'll other things, had the
Still rarer generosity never to offer us
that. j determined to write and tell
my mother the position of affairs. Her
good Judgment would decide; or If
to Mr.. Sutherland, her trusty and only
adviser since my father died; and
was content to abide by his decis-
ion.
He did decide. He told my mother
that it was his earnest wish / should
stay little longer with Zillah LIE Poer,
whom lie called Ibis ward" Her his
tory, he said he would inform me when
we met: which must be soon, as he was
contemplating returning to India for
some years, and had something to COM
municate to me before he went away.
Mr. Sutherland returning to India!
And before his departure he must see
me-mel TWAS avery simple and nat
ural thing. as | felt afterward, but not
then. did what he desired-as indeed
had long been in the habit of doing
and accompanied Zillah.
had supposed that we should go to
some near wateringplace,- or at all
events to the Liverpool shore. Indeed
l had pointedly recommended Tanmere
where, as i stated to Mr.. lie Poer, there
was living an aunt of Mr.. Sutherland's
who would have taken lodgings or
done anything in her power for her
nephew's ward. To my surprise he OBJ
jected to this plan. After staying a
night in Liverpool, instead of crossing
to the opposite shore, as expected, he
put us all-that is, Zillah, the two girls
and myself-on board the Belfast boat,
and there we found ourselves floating
across the Irish Channel!