The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-11-13

bnt . shadow had been thrown over
Mr. Browns peaceful lie. ais sou]
was iilled With despair unuttcrable ~
the thought Of that conversation he
must have with Miss Piper. The mere
possibility Of her shedding tears made
shudder run through his frame. Ia
could not make up bis mind 70 speak
% her. and day after day passed. until
y lacked only two weeks IL the time
when the seminary was TO open. Then
at last he spoke.
lie came into the sittingroom. whore
she sat darning his socks BY tho light
o. student lamp, tho girls having
gone 70 bed. She looked up In sur
prise as he entered. for he seldom left
his study until midnight; but not the
iaintcst intuition had she OF the blow
which was TO fall upon her.
Miss Piper" began the poor man,
feeling profoundly wrctched. ILL
have decided 10 make q change"
"A change!' The sock Mss Pipef
was darning fell from her hand She
began to tremble. and her face t1rncd
deadly pale.
Yes Miss Anastasia thinks and
Of course lit is all for the best YOU
know-Flora and Annie ought 10 90 "a
school," faltered the minister.
"And you wish TO give me notice. !
suppose, sir" said the little goyerness,
in q tremulous, aggrieved tone. that
stabbed Mr.. Brown to the heart
"When do you wish me TO leave, sirP''
looking at him with quiycring smile.
"Oh, any time; suit yoursclf--youR
own convenience, stammered Mr..
Brown.
{" DO you want me to get the girls
ready. sir?' she asked. trying to speak
cheerfully.
III you will be SO good" he an.
swered Her quiet resignation made
him utterly wretchcd lie would rath-
er have seen her hysterical or indignant
. thousand times over.
:" will see to il. SIR"
And he then left the room, feeling
like criminal. But as he reached the
study, he happened to think that Flora
and Annie We're yet to be told OF the
impending change He would 20 back
and ask the little goycrness 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 bacl: con-
science stricken. for Miss Piper, with
her face buried in her arms, was kncel-
ing BY the sofa, while melancholy
sound Of sobbIng and crying. pitiful to
hear. filed the room.
MY dear Miss Piper" be said. for
Iornly, am 50 sorry
She started up. aud tried to wipe
away her tears with the sock which she
still held.
Excuse me. sir" she faltered, IL
] couldn't help il am 20 fond OF the
girls, you know. and I'd begun to feel
so much ut home here"
Mr.. Brown walked up and down the
room. with his hands clasped behind
him and his head on his breast, for sew
cral moments without speaking. The
sobs in the poor little woman voice
struck him to the heart. He was turn
Ing her out of her only home. And she
had done 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 goycrness-
'Oh no, couldn't. indeed" she
cried. in . horror-stricken tone. 1T
would be impossible"
4 You might-stay as my wife. Miss
Piper" cried poor Dir. Brown. dcsper-
atcly.
..Oh. Mr., Brown. you don't mean Il!
You're Just sorry for me. I'm sure
cried Miss Piper. the thought flashing
through her mind. however that per-
haps Il scGs 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 il not be 50 IN
her case as well?
f-I-don't know-it Is the only
way You can stay" stammered Mr..
Brown, in . confused manner.
s'Wcll II you think it best" MUIR
INJURED the blushing little governess.
I'm sure I'll try TO make you happy"
- don't doubt that said Mr..
Brown.
And thus II was that the minister's
second marriage came about
! need hardly say that Miss Anastasia
was furious. No words could adequate
" describe her surprise and chagrn-
The very course she had taken with
view to installing herself in 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 crash. Her visits to the
parsonage ceased entirely. She no
longer considered il necessary 70 adj
wise and counsel Mr.. Brown.
The minister never found cause 20 ~
greet his second marriage. The little |
govcrness proved devoted, dutiful !
wife and a faithful stcp-mother. and she /,
never dreamed on what slender thread |
her happiness had hung. nor could |
imagine why II was that Miss Anastasia
Bowen treated her as mortal enemy. 1
ny e&lorcsr 5 Monthly.