West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-07-02

new bonnet? Varens will be there,
and so much depends ON first impress
sion.
| went TO service with my mother.
but, unfortunately, Varcns was not
present, and consequently the execu-
ton my new bonnet would have effect.
ed was reserved for future time, or
forever.
In my hurry I had forgotten 20 APP
point am hour for the stranger TO cail,
and as | was obliged 10 90 out, was
I'm continual fear lest she should come
while | was away. hurried my
mother through her shopping, at the
risk of making her out of humor at her
interview with the expected music
teacher. Fortunately, however. my
mother had been TO lunch, and was i'm
her boudoir indolently discussing our
purchases when the bell rang, and a
servant came up to say that there was
a lady below who wished to see Miss
ROmsine.
Did she say what her business WASP"
inquired my mother, as | rose to de-
scend to the drawing-room.
Something about giving music les
sons, ma am, was the answer.
at is she, them | exclaimed, NOV
ing toward the door, but was arrested
by my mothers saying:
'Show her up here. y
i stood waiting TO receive her, feel
ing almost AZ anxious, thought, as the
stranger herself. The girl paused at
the door, her face tightening up as she
saw me into II brilliance which was the
most exquisite compliment that could
have been offered.
"This is the lady of whom told YOU.
MOTHER ! said
knew that my mother would notice
the quiet, perfect good breeding with
which the girl responded to her greet
ing
please be seated, Miss -" said
my mother, with as much suavity as
though she were addressing one of her
own circle. However vain and friv-
olous my mother was, she was always
polite, with that genuine kindness of
heart which is the soul of pOliteness.
My name is Kent, f." she said. Your
daughter has probably told you that /
am in search of a situation as music
teacher"
The light of her face had died away;
she was mechanically repeating the old
story.
Yes; / wish to engage teacher for
my little girl. You could teach on the
organ and piano, / presumed"
Yes; and harp and guitar, also"
And vocal mnsic?"
Yes, madam
would you mind playing little to
us on the piano therc?'
Miss Kent rose and went to the
piano. She glanced at the music lying
there, then sat down and played. Her
playing was perfection, it seemed to
me, but i knew instantly that she was
not i'm the mood; that TO play thus on
trial did not summon the soul to her
music. Her knowledge, her touch,
were incompatible, and ] hoped some
day to feel the thrill Of enthusiasm in
that touch.
''Delorme can not play like that, can
he, Mabel?" asked my mother, turning
with pleased face to me-
Al that moment n servant entered
with some cards. My mother looked
at them. and cXclaimcd
The Chapmans and Mr.. Varens! Come
down, Mabel, as quickly as possible.
Engage Miss Kent, and ask her to
make her home here, as you wished
| would like to have you come to-mor-
row, Miss Kent. For the present,
good-byc;' and she hurried from the
room
did as my mother requested.
had only 10 look i'm Miss Kent's face to
! be assured of her gratitude. / knew
| the obstacle her pride would be to our
| attempts to make her entirely our
equal, one of our family! Ny mother
| liked herr my little sister Annie was as
/ enthusiastic in her affection as possible
| lnscnsibly Miss Kent grew less re-
| served, her face had more color, more
the animation of happiness. She left
the parlors when company was an
nounced. and disliked TO return unless
/ requested to furnish music: then she
regarded il as duty, and always COM
| piled.
You have very peculiar governess,
/ Miss Romano, said the elder Miss
/ Chapman, as she stood by my side
I looking toward the far end of the
| drawing-room, where Miss Kent sat az
! the piano. surrounded bv a group of
/ our visitors. and with Marmaduke
| Narcns bending over her, turning the
/ leaves of her music with an air widely
! different from one of polite indiffer-
/ cncc.
" She is not strictly govcrness, " /
/ replied. But in what is She peculiar?"
"Sho actually acts and looks as if
| she were among equals, instead of SUI
/ pcriorS. was the contemptuous answer.
/ Welded to the temptation of reply
/ ing;
"Shc is certainly lady. II is evil
/ dent that MIR Narens thinks her one.
and lie, You know, is a gentleman"
Miss Chapman eyes scintillated with
| anger. / wondered if she were really
| engaged 10 Mr.. Varcns, a. report said.
] looked at that gentleman His tall,
| graceful form was still bending over
| Miss Kent; he did not lose an oppor-
| tunity of murmuring something i'm her
car, utterly forgetful that the watchful
/ Chapmans were present His dark face
I and gray eyes were animated and
/ pleased. Thus much | could see i'm the
! mirror which reflected both their forms.
/ ] could not distinguish the expression
/ Of Miss Kent cOuntenance fancicd
/ however. that she was distant. vet
/ sweet, that Narens found herIndescrib-
| ably fascinating, as } had done.
This was several months after
/ Miss Kent had come Co our home.
/ Mr. Narens had seen her almost
/ every time he had called
/ and he had taken occasion To- cali
I quite often. lie was fertile in expcdi-
] fr.r