Wichita eagle., 1886-10-02

0itlOn.
Uninteresting days crawling laggardly one
after the other; how sick she was Of the
drudgery-the thankless Office of teaching
But she could not starve-she dared not die
and, though life had been ono miserable mis-
take from the beginning, and all her brightest
hopes had been crushed, she plodded on al
her nonotonous duties in q dull, apathetic
way, which showed all energy and spirit had
died out of her.
One delicious afternoon in May found
Desiree Le Strange at q house in Harley
street, listlessly turning the leaves Of the
leather-bound books which told how COVER
nesses were wanted, very highly accom-
plished, for very small salaries.
"A steady, conscientious lady," she read
presently, "fond of the country and quiet
life, wanted for two delicate girls of g. Ap-
Ply Lady Vessels, Cranforth Grange, Wor-
ccstershire."
"Wesseis! Wessels!" murmurcd Desiree;
"any relation, 1 wonder, to the Daniel Wes-
GELS once knew!" and she at once made up
her mind to try for tho situation.
+
Cranforth Grange was a many y-gablcd
granite-blocl1ed mansion, standing on a
slightly wooded cminence in a richly TIM
bered, undulating park. The avenue, which
led up from the main road, was a good mile
long and shaded by tall beech trees meeting
in an arch overhead; and winding through
the grounds, now flashing in the sun
light, now hiding midst the shadows of the
dropping silver willows, flowed the beautiful
Pinkthorne river, bordered with plumy ferns
and tangled briars, with hero and there q
f,1,,vy,p IF brilliant v-hO<1odandvo~o Tho xri1d
ducks loved this river, and the swans seemed
never weary of sailing on its surface; yellow
water lilies hoated like miniature islands here
and there, and the prettiest rustic bridges
spanred it in parts where the waters were
tolerably narrow. AT the far end, under the
thickest shades Of the willows, nestled an old
boat house, all creeper-smothered and rush.
sentineled
81
1t was gala day for the whole village-a
day of rejoicing when Judge Vessels came
home to Cranforth Grange. The bells rang
merrily, the banners waved to and fro "Wel-
come, Welcome" in the soft spring breeze,
and now the carriage dashed up the long
beech avenue, and presently, in twinkling
it seemed, the children were springing into
their fathers arms and smothering him with
kisses. Kindly, generously, the years had
dealt with Daniel Vessels; perfectly happy,
too, he looked to-day with the arms of his fair
haired twins twined about his neck and his
left hand resting on his wife's shoulder
Desiree, in the background, watched the joy
Gus meeting between husband and wife, father
and children, and felt sudden choky sensa-
ton rise in her throat, an odd, sharp, sick
ening pain seize her heart, almost taking her
breath away, and prayed that she might not
faint-that she might not make scene"
"Miss LIE Strange-our governess," said
Lady Vessels presently.
And then-oh, how like dream it seemed.
meeting the bearded face and shaking the
large, firm hand of Sir Daniel Vessels.
a minute more and the judge, with his
wife and children, were in the library, where
a CHEEKY log fire plazed, and Desiree found
herself mounting the wide oak staircase to
her solitary schoolroom. But for her own
folly, she told herself, she might have been
queen of this household to-day. How un-
bearable tho thought was-how maddening!
For whole year she had striven to do her
duty, and had learned to love pretty, gentle
Lady Vessels, his wife: but she could not
meet the judge daily and not betray herself
not let him and others see how acutely she
felt her position. True, lie had not appeared
10 recognize her; but sooner or later he would
discover that Desiree LIE Strange.
who flung back his love one autumn eve years
ago, and the Dcsiree LIE Strange Of to-day
were tho same. Chance had brought her
here under his ROOF. Supposing by chance
she died tonight, who would miss her?
And then, mechanically, almost like one
,f -
the room and unlocked the little medicine
chest which stood Cn sideboard. Her eye
ran over the bottles, and boxes, and china
pots.
1t was very small bottle she at last took
Up, labeled "Chloroforll."
II have had toothache and headache" she
with an odd smile "Perhaps this
'4ill make me sleep"
Her own ellemy, even to tho last" thought
he judge, looking at Desiree LIE Strange's
beautiful dead face with a shadow on his
own.
For the features which had not struck him
in life spoke plainly enough in death
told him pathctically, better than a thou
and words, that this was the Desiree he had
once loved-the girl who had almost broken
lis heart by the Old stone bridge
He had been very busy all thesc years-so
lusy that the memory of the wears pretty
laughter had gradually grown faint ana dim.
Yet looking at the dead face now, SO lovely
md placid in its last sleep, a mist slowly
gathered in his eyes-for he had loved her
once with all his heart and soul-and he was
,rieved to the depth of his being that her
lays should have ended thus. Philadelphia
rali