West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-11-27

stabbed Mr.. Brown TO the heart.
when do you wish me TO leave, sirP''
looking al him with a quivering smile.
"Oh, any time; suit yourself-your
own convenience" stamnered Mr..
Brown.
do you want me TO get the girls
ready, sir?" she asked, trying TO speak
cheerfully.
"n you will be so good" he an
swered. Her quiet resignation made
him utterly wretched. He would rath-
or have seen her hysterical or indignant
a thousand times over.
81 will see to il. sir"
And he then left the room, feeling
like n criminal. But as he reached the
study, he happened TO think that Flora
and Annie were yet to be told of the
impending change. He would go back
and ask the little governcsS TO tell them
for him, for he was sure of open re.
bellion.
He pushed open the door of the sit.
ting-room again, but started back con
science stricken, for Miss Piper, with
her face buried in her arms, was kneel-
ing by the sofa, while "A melancholy
sound of sobbing and crying, pitiful 10
hear. filed the room.
My dear Miss Piper" no said, for
lornly, / am so sorry"
She started up, and tried to wipe
away her tears with the sock which she
still held.
Excuse me, sir" she faltered. 81
i couldn't help it. / am so fond of the
girls, you know, and I'd begun to feel
SO much at home here"
MIR. Brown walked up and down the
room, with his hands clasped behind
him and his head on his breast, for sew
eral moments without speaking. The
sobs in the poor little woman's voice
struck him to the heart. He was turn
ing her out of her only home. And she
had lone her duty toward the girls,
certainly.
Suppose you stay here, Miss Piper"
he said, suddenly. You can keep
house for me, anyhow"
A deep flush dyed the pale face of
the little g%overness.
"Oh no, l couldn't indeed" she
cried. in a horror-stricken tone. at
would be impossible"
You might-stay as my wife. Miss
Piper" cried poor Mr.. Brown, desper.
ately.
III MIR. Brown, you don't mean it.,
You're Just sorry for me, I'm sure"
cried Miss Piper, the thought flashing
through her mind, however, that per
haps it . love, and not pity, after all,
and he had only Just discovered the
state OF his heart as he was about to
lose her. She had read of such things
in novels. Why should it not be so in
her case as wellP
'1-l-don't know-it is the only
way you can stay" stammered Mr..
Brown, in n confused manner
"Well. if you think it best" MUIR
INJURED the b~lushing little g~overness.
Il m sure I'll try to make you happy"
- don't doubt that" said MIR.
Brown.
n thus it was that the minister's
second marriage came about.
need hardly say that Miss Anastasia
was furious. No words could adequate
Nv describe her surprise and chagr'n.
The very course she had taken with n
view to installing herself i'm the parson.
age had installed Miss Piper there. All
her plans had come to naught. Her
castles in the air had fallen to the
ground with a crash. Her visits to the
parsonage ceased entirely. She no
longer considered it necessary to adj
wise and counsel Mr.. Brown.
The minister never found cause to re-
greet his second marriage. The little
governess proved a devoted, dutiful
wife and a faithful step-mother::a and she
never dreamed on what a slender thread
her happiness had hung. nor could
imagine why it was that Miss Anastas' a
Bowen treated her as a mortal enemy.
-DemOTeSt MOnttLU.