Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-19
Gales aud Sketthes.
NO fRESPASSING.

| last Wlen Sle came Oh IL Dui sHo Ano
it by heart already. For the last month
she had read it every day. and every day
meekly turned into the dusty road and
made the long detour needed to get past
Mr.. Hale's ground and into his next neigh
boris. Five minutes walk through that
beautiful park would have brought her to
Mrs. Alexander's hedge. and saved a
modicum of strength and temper sorely
needed for her trials as day governess to
the three little Alexapders. But she had
never ventured on the liberty. though she
had wanted to every day, and the impulse
had grown greater since she had asked
Mrs. Alexander il it was quite Impossible.
There's never soul about, and it's an
eighth of a mile certainly TO the house.
don't believe any one would ever see me.
and if they did, | could tell them | was
YOUR eoverness'' For it seemed to the
Young girl a sufficient distinction to be
that to Mrs. RUFUS Alexander. leading
lady of the pretty town where her sum-
mer home was located.
II would not venture il if were you,
Mrs. Alexander answered, kindly. She
was ALWAYS kind to her governess, despite
her wealth and her Mayfiower blood, and
she had special liking tor this bright
faced. eager girl. ..Mr Hale is very par
ticular. He is newcomer here, and dis
posed TO make every one respect his
rights" Ii had been on the lady's lips to
call him parvenu, but she would not throw
scorn at her neighbOr before her governess.
why, Miss Bennett" Harry Alexand-
er had added, as she turned away, "do
YOU know that last summer his gardener
| ordered my mother off the grounds? OF
course MIR. Hale excused it afterward-
said the man had his orders to make no
discrimination but fancy-my mother "
and Harry's accent was more than the
| words.
Little Miss Bennett bowed her head be-
| fore the rights of good democrat who
had made all his money in the last 20
wears, and was therefore more ariStOcratic
and exclusive than an English nobleman
would have been with respect to his pos
sessions Half the village would have
been grateful had Mr.. Hale allowed a
foot path to traverse his splendid
park but of course an American
cannot make concessions to the low
er classes, and he stood on his rights and
dignties. But to-day Ruth paused. She
was late for her lessons; She had fingered
to put the last new touches to pretty
new dress she wore, and there was thun-
der storm coming. Should she run the
risk of offending Mrs. Alexander and spoil
inc her dress, or should she trespass? No
one was in sight as she looked about, and
a near roll of thunder helped her to de-
cision. She stepped through the little gate
which all these days had Knocked her in
vita,ion to forbidden ground, and hurried
across the lawn. In the distance she could
see the stately house, the leaplng fountains
and bright flowers. She kept her eve on
that, fearing some servant on the watch.
She never looked the other way, and so,
when step suddenly came beside her,
she started in conscience smtteD guilt.
"Are you aware, madam said a clear
cut voice, that you are on private grounds
She looked up. A stout, bald, man
stood beside her, man whom her pro-
phetic soul assured her was Mr. Hale He
had deigned to touch his hat but not out
of respect for her. she was sure. He
salued rather his own dignity and sense
of the proprieties. He had pompous air
as Of one who feared his simple PERSONAL
ity not impressive enough, and the nea
perfection of his costume made more
prominent his commonplace features.
Yes sir" she answered meekly; "bu
I'm doing my best to get out of them"
You came in by the lower gate Yot
saw the sign, of course?" he went on, il
the same majestic tones.
Eyes, but | was in a hurry. and /
was afraid it was going to rain. I'm Mrs
Alexanders governess." She ventured ;
glance at him as she SAID this, but it evi
IDENTIFY made no impression. IL bee
your pardon; and | can 90 back, sup
pose. | thought that for once - and
didn't want to spoil my dress" she fin
ished impetuously, as great drop of rail-
fell on her hand
She looked up with ewes whose appea
might have softened him. 1t seemed tt
her a very ample excuse, but there was
no relenting in his face. In his own mind
indeed he was making a concession. A,
she was his neighbours governess, he
would not carry the matter farther, and Sc
he siff1v said, as he stood back to let heI
retrace her steps;
I. am sure l-or Mrs. Alexander-will
be much obliged for your unexpected con,
sheraton" Miss Bennett answered a.
she took up her skirts and prepared tc
beat digniiied retreat.
There was no use in hurrying; she wa.
sure TO he caught in the storm now, anC
SO she turned and swept Mr.. Hale pro
found reverence, whose disdain he coulC
not understand. But there was a dmnes:
in her eyes as she raised them to his
After all she was only child. and 81
far the world had smiled into her pretty
face and treated her indulgentlv. Tha
was not Mr.. Hale's attitude but as she
walked away something-perhaps the
pride of self-asserion over this intrudiue
governess, perhaps the thought OF those
eyes-made him relent. In five minutes il
would be pouring, and he was not quite
brute. He stepped forward and called
MADAM -
Miss Bennett heard, hurried her step.
an instant and then stopped. She woult
like to be proud to the bitter end. and an,
way, she could not 90 back till she wa
told
Mr.. Hale had to take half dozen more
steps before he was near enough to say
As it is raining, Miss, if it will shorter
your walk, have no objection to thi
once"
"Oh, | shall not do it again" Ruth
cried: I'D sooner go through the wilder
ness
But that is not the shortest way" he