The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-10-02
THE HALF-CASTE.
AN OLD GOVEREESS'S TALE
FOUNDED ON FACT.
BY MISS NIULOCK.
BY MISS NIULOCK.

BY MISS NIULOCK.
L never take long in dressing, and
soon went down, rather quietly per-
maps; for l was meditating with pain
ON how much this passionate child
/ might yet have TO suffer in the world.
beheye l have rather a light step; at
an events was once told so. Certainly
dId not intend to come into the parlOr
SJeaIthlly or pTyiugly; in fact, l never
Jhought of its occupants at all. On en-
leHHg- what was my amaZement to see
standing at the WindOw-Lieutenan
Augustus and-my Zillah! He was EN-
Dracmg-in plain English. kissing her.
Now, l am no pTude in such things;
l nave OttentImeS known a harmless
tather-lIke or brOther-like embrace be-
tween Two, who, quite certain of each
other feelings, gave and received the
same in all frank affection and simplic-
lJy. but generally am very particular:
more so than most women. | often
used to think that, were | man. l
would wish, III the sweet day of my be-
trothal, to know for certain that mine
was the first lovers kiss ever pressed
on the dear lips which l then sealed as
wholly my own.
But in this case, at one glance. even
II l had not caught the silly phrase,
My angel."-the same I heard in the
wood lah. that wood. Il or anv one
would have detected the truth. It came
upon me like a thUndeTbOlt: but know
lnE Lillah's disposition. l had lust wit
enough to glide back unseen. and re-en-
ter, taking loudly at the door. Upon
which l found the lieutenant tapping
his boots careleSSly. and ZilIIh shrink
ing into a corner like a frightened hare.
He went off very sOOn-he said to an
engagement at Belfast, and we started
Tor our ramble. l noticed that Zillah
walked alongside of Caroline, as If she
could not approach or look at me.
know not whether l was most
shocked at my poor girl, or puzzled to
think what possible attraction this
young man could find in such a mere
chIlG-SO plain and aWkward-lOOoking
too. That he could be lin love" with
her, even in the lowest sense of that
phrase. seemed all but an impOSSibilitv.
and If not in love, what possible pur-
pose could he have III WOOing or want
ing to marry her? for / was simple
enough to suppose that all wOHiug must
necessarily be in earnest.
lialf-bewildered with cOuiectures.
fears and doubts as to what course |
must pursue, did l walk on beside Ma
tiida, who, having quarreled with her
sister, kept close to me. She went chat
teTiug on about some miSdOingS of Car
Oliue. At last my attention was caught
by hearing Zillah's name.
Il won't bear it always" said the
angry child; III only bear it till Zillah
comes of age"
Bear what?"
why. that Carry should always have
Two new frocks to my one. It's a
sLameI'
But what has that to say to ZiIIah's
coming of aget'
Don't you know. Miss Pryor?-Oh.
of course you don't, for Carry wouldn't
let me tell you; but l Will" she added
maliCiOusIy.
l hardly knew whether I was right or
wrong III not stopping the girls tongue,
but [ could not do it.
DO you know she added in a sly
whisper, Garry says we shall all be
very rich when Zillah comes of age. Pa
and ma kept it very secret: but Garry
found it out, and told it to brother Au-
gustus and to me-"
Told what?' said I, forgetful that l
was pryiug into a family secret, and
stung into curiosity by the mention Of
Augustus.
That Zillah will then be very rich,
as her father left her all he had; and
uncle Henry was a great nabOb, because
he married an Indian princess and got
all her money. Now. you see" she con-
tinued with a cunning smile. shocking
on that young face. I'VE must be very
civil to Zillah, and of course she will
give US all her money. Eh, you under
stand?'
l stood aghast. In a moment all
came clear upon me; the secret of Mr..
Sutherland's guardianship-Of his letter
to me intercepted-Of the money lately
sent-Of Mr.. lie Peers anxiety concern
ing his niece's life. and his desire to
keep her hidden from the world, lest
she might come to a knowledge of her
position. The whole was a tissue of
crimes. And, deepest crime of all, l
now guessed why Lieutenant Augustus
wished, unknown TO his father, to en-
trap her still childish affections, marry
her, and secure all to himself.
never knew much of the world and
its wickedness; l believed all men were
like my father or Mr.. Sutherland. This
discovery for the time quite diZZied my
faculties. l have not the slightest rec
OllectiOn of anything more that passed
on that seaside walk, except that, com
ing in at the door of the cottage, I
heard Zillah say in anxious tones,
"What ails Miss Pryor, I wOndeTI" |
had wisdom enough to answer, IN 9th
ing, my dears.' and sent them all to
bed.
shall you be long after us?" asked
Zillah, who, as l said, was my chamber
companion.
AN hour or two, I replied, turning
away
| went and sat alone in the little par
lOr. trying to collect my thoughts. To
anv gOverueSs the discovery of a clan
destine and unworthy lOve-affair among
her pupils would be most painful, but
my discoveries were all horror together.
The more | thought it over, the more
my agOnized pity for Zillah overcame
nv grief for her erdeceitfumesS. Love is
always so weak, and giTlish love at fif-
teen such a fascinating dream. What
ever I thought of the lieutenant, he was
very attractive to most people. lie was,
besides. the first young man Zlllah had
ever made acquaintance with, and the
first human being except myself who
had treated her with kindness. But
what opportunities could they have had
to become lovers? | recOllected ZIllah'S
wandeFings, evening after evening, in
the grounds of the deserted estate. She
must have met him there. Poor girl!
l could well imagine what 1t must be to
be wooed under the glamour of summer
twilight and beautiful solitude No
wonder Zillah's heart was stolen awayi
Thinking of this now, l feel [ am
wrong in saving heart of what at best
could have been mere fancy Wom-
EMS natures are different; but some
women have been gravely, mOurnfully,
fatally in earnest, even at sixteen.
However. in earnest or not, she must
be snatched from this marriage at all
risks. There could be no doubt of that
But to whom should l apply for aid?
Not to Mlr. lie Poer certainly. The
Door orphan seemed trembling between
tie grasp OF either villain, father and