Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-03-20

smooth, white drive rolling away be-
You'd under the shady beeches.
81 must, must control myself"
she murmured, leaning for moment
against the lichen-covered stone gate
pillar. "But, oh, how hard it is!
And how hoped to find it 50. And
yet how doubly hard it makes it to
bearw
Slowly she went on, winding in
and out the wide, shady drive until
the house was reached. And every
step revealed how lightly time had
touched the place. The new owners
and made no changes. Every seat,
arbor, and statue were the same, and
unchanged as to position.
Two children on the shady stone
porch sat on the same ornamental
settee she had always used, And at
the sight of her one of them jumped
up.
81 s'pect you're our new governess.
Do you want to see mammal"
eyes," answered Lucille, with a
great eXertion at steadying her voice.
And the child at once disappeared
into the house, leaving his sister star
ing shyly at the stranger.
A pleasant-faced lady soon appear
ed in the doorway.
"Will you walk in, please: 1t is
very warm without"
Lucille did so, more by sense of
feeling than sight, for memories were
overpowering.
"You come in answer to the adver-
tisement, Miss"
"Lathrop," said Lncille, family,
and pushing aside her veil with re-
luctance, as she remembered her
tear-stained face.
But the darkness of the room only
revealed its excessive pallor, nothing
more.
81 would be pleased to secure the
position; and, can teach music,
French, German, and, with a little
study, Latin. But | am a-stranger
here, and my references are from
places and people so distant that did
not know whether you would be will
ing to accept them"
Two keen, bright eyes had been
searching her face as she spoke, and
their owner was making up her mind
in a hurried, decisive manner charac-
teristic of her.
81 think would be willing. Are
you fond of children?"
eyes, madam"
"And have taught before?"
For three years, in family from
whom bring a recommendation"
A few more questions and answers
followed; and then, almost before
Lucille realized it, she was engaged,
shown to her room, and a boy dis.
patched to the village for her trunk
"Can it be possible, or am l only
dreaming~ she murmured, sinking
into the chair by the window, in the
very room that had belonged to hel
governess. "Father, mother, do you
} know that | am at home? Home
Oh, what a bitter mockery! | must
go away again.! | can never beal
it!n
But she did bear it, and soon learn
, ed to love those who now called il
home.
Mrs. Morton was widow, with 8
frank, impulsive heart, that was soor
won by the stranger; and the child
rem fell promptly in love with theil
new governess, who never grew tireC
strolling about fairgrounds with them
, and telling the most wonderful storie.
of how another little girl had once
lived there and done so and so.
1t was life nearer happy than any
she had lived for ten years; and many
many times the truth hung to hel
lips when talking with Mrs. Morton
But she never spoke it.
"SuGh piece of newsW said tina
lady, coming in one day with an oper
, letter in her hand. "My brother i:
coming home"
} "Yes?" said Lucille, with polite
interest. "The one you call you
: favorite? Is he coming to visi
you?"
: "Visit me? Why, this is hi
: housew laughed Mrs. Morton, throw
i ing down the garden hat. "AnC
, with such a lovely home as this, HI
: leaves me to do as l please here, anC
goes roaming around the world afte
! a girl he loved years ago. This wa
| her home. Why, Miss Lathrop-'
: ooh, it is nothing" interrupted