Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-04
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ONLY A GOVEKNESS


two motherless children dearly loved,
and before long their father was in
danger of following their example.
Mrs. Vane saw that. She was a
widow; handsome, poor, and with
eyes that were unusually keen for all
that concerned the wealthy widower.
For he was her cousin, and she had
kept house for him since his wife s
death with the intention of ultimately
consoIing him for his bereavement.
That girls dangerous, she thought.
."She must be got rid of at once"
More easily said than done, however.
The children loved their gentle friend
and play-fellow, and their father made
no secret of the pleasures her presence
and sweet companionship afforded
him. While as for LiIy-though she
WAS ''only q goyerness' '-it was plain
that an unwOnted sense of happiness
made her blue eyes more bright and
her smiles more frequent. Was it since
Mr.. Wilbraham returned? Well, yes
everything was surely pIeasanter under
me masters sway. He was so good,
SO kind. And he, surely his life was
lonely. She wondered how would he
ever
And at that thought she stopped and
kissed 4 red rosebud that she held,
and which he had given her.
That instant voice fell on her ear
and firm hand grasped her arm.
do you kiss the flower for its own
sake?" asked the voice, ''or for the
giver' s?'
Poor Lily started guiltilv.
''Ihe-the giver, madam" she falt-
erede L do not understand-
Mr.. Wilbraham gave you that rose.
He is my beTothed husband. [ will
never give him up. His fancy for YOU
can only result in your dishonor; for
though you may steal his heart from
me, you cannot win his hand That is
engaged to me, and [ will claim it. :"
Lily. with white face and great,
dilated eyes, now, suddenly, with one
sharp cry Of pain, fell down tainting at
her enemy's feet.
ooh, madam, what must you think
of me" she cried, with burst of pas
sionate sorrow. oh, | must leave
this place! Oh, let me go at oncer'
i shall place no constraint upon
you, my dear" she said. i see that |
can trust your honor"
Mr. Wilbraham had said that he
should not be home that night, and the
door girls one anxiety was TO leave
without again seeing him. So, when
her preparations were done, she stole
down inc garden TO bid the place where
silt had dreamed such happy dreams a
last goodbye. 1t was but 3 o'clock.
As she stood near the rose bushes.
brushing away the fast-coming tears,
Mrs. Vane joined her hurriedly.
Miss Dean" she said, my cousin
is returning. | saw him from my win
dow slowly riding MP the lane. You
must not meet him. You can slip out by
the back way as he enters at the front.
You can walk to the station-it is not
more than mile. ct was more than
two miles, but Mrs. Vane was not
trammelled by any painful reverence
for the truth.l Here is your money,
and tomorrow / will send your trunk.
Will you do this, or''-with look Of
insulting suspicion-''wilI you STAY
and try and steal from me my nus
band?"
The young girls fair faced flushed
and she threw back her head with 3
proud gesture.
You insult me, madam" she said,
with dignity. Il have shown no in
clination to do you wrong" Then she
FASTENED away.
Little Annie was playing by the
garden gate. She caught her in her
arms and kissed her.
''Good-bye, little darlingI" she cried
and set her down again. Next minute
the gate swung to and the goyerness
had gone.
Without an explanationr' Mr..
Wilbraham said. Il cannot under
stand it, Helen. Surely she told you
why?"
Something about lover, l believe, "
said Mrs. Vane, indiferently. You
know she was 4 very pretty girl and
young"
Mr.. Wilbraham turned away with 8
clouded brow and sauntered into the
garden.
81 could have sworn she cared for
me-" he muttered, land all the while
she was engaged to some fellow. This
night | should have asked her to be my
wife. Curse such false coquettesr'
and he stumbled against something on
the grass. ''Hullo! what's this?''
Annie, his own little five-year-old
Annie, seemingly quite broken-hearted
and in tears.
"Oh, papa" she sobbed, on seeing,
him, s'she's dorm. Miss Lily's dorm. y
He took the little one into his arms
and soothed her.
''Why did Miss Lily go, Annie?''
said he.
'.Auntie Helen did scold her, papa,
tause she tissed de little flower you
dave her. / heard her. And she tissed
me and tried-and she's dorm, she's
dorm
Meantime Mrs. Vane, in her rivals
empty room, was rejoicing over bel