Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-09-26
LOVE IS STRANGE;
ONLY GOvERNEss.

be able to throw down her mending that
beautiful summer day and 60 out on the
lawn where a merry party were playing |
crouuet. She was only the nursery gov
erness at the Trevors', and it was not |
usual for her to be invited to meet their
guests, but to-day they wanted her to help
mako up set.
Col. Field. a handsome man of six or
seven-and-thirty, was idly knocking the
balls about when Charita arrived. Helooked
up and met her dark eyes with glance of
Trevor, the fourteen-year-old daughter of
the house.
The young ladies, Adela Brighton and
Victoria Wallace, who pretended to be
leaders in the society of the town, looked
scornfully at the newcomer and made
spiteful remark in her hearing that made
the blood rush to her cheeks.
The game commenced, however, and in
the spirit of the contest ill-nature was for
gotten. It resulted in a signal defeat OF
Miss Wallace's side, owing to Charita 8
excellent play. This was too much for the
heiress and she flung down her mallet IN
anger. :,
'sMiss Brown cheated that last stroke"
she broke out. 81 might have known what
to expect playing with nursery governess.
That's what / get for playing with a
servant"
Charita interrupted her with quiet dig
nifty.
81 will not trouble you with my society
any longer, but return to my duties. Only
you may possibly regret the passionate
words you have used," as she walked away
with downcast eyes.
Leila Trevor turned on Miss Wallace,
angrily stamping her little foot.
"Charita isn't servant at all. Her
father is the clergyman ; and she can speak
Italian, and sing Spanish songs, and play
beautifully on the piano. And she is
lady born; and she only came to help Mrs.
Brett because her father had the bronchitis,
or some such horrid thing in his throat,
and couldn't preach any more; and they
were poor. And love Charita-and"-
"And you are noble little partisan"
said Colonel Field, kindly, stroking her
curls; sand 1 admire you for standing up
for the absent"
Victorine Wallace walked haughtily
away; Miss Brighton followed her. And
SO the little party broke up.
1t was twilight when Colonel Field wend-
his slow way down the glen path to
ertain little nook where he often smoked
his vesper cigar.
And Just in the densest tangle of the
sobbing. He paused and glanced around
him. Something purple cleaned through
the tree trunks-Charita Browns faded
cashmere gown; and then he saw that she
was sitting in natural seat formed by the
festooned branches of a monster wild grape
vine, her forehead resting against the moss
enamelled trunk of tree, while her flushed
cheeks were wet with tears.
'Miss Brown" he said, gently.
Like frightened lawn she sprang up.
sob, Col. Field what-what must you
think of me?" she cried.
"That you are true lady-a true her
oine," he answered, promptly.
"What am to do?" she said, appealing
ly. "Mrs. Trevor has been reproving me
for being, as she says, impertinent to her
guest, Miss Wallace"
Gas far as l can judge" said the Col
onel, quietly, call the impertinence was on
the other side.'
''And I am discharged" said Charita.-
"Perhaps it was my own fault for saying
that would live in no house where / was
not treated like lady"
"You were indisputably right" said Col
Field.
But papa and mamma-and the little
ones at home" uttered Charita piteously.
''May 1 60 home with you?' said the
Colonel, flinging his cigar into thicket of
sweetbriar. "Will you introduce me to
your father 1t is just possible that I may
be of use to him.
sFWho would have thought it?' sale
Mrs. Brown, with tears in the mild, haze
eyes which we're SO like Charita's. "Ant
your papa is so delighted, Chatty. 1t il
Just the business he likes, this revision o.
these old Oriental manuscripts for the
volume which Colonel Fields brother il
just about publishing. And the salary il
most muuifcent; for whole year, tool My
darling Chatty, it seems as if Heaven hal
at last heard our prayers. And now yor
can stay at home and practice your music
and help me with the housekeeping and tht
childrens clothes, for l have missed you
oh! so much"
And Charita's face was as bright as he
mothers as she answered, "Oh, mama
won't it be nice?'
Colonel Field brought the Syriac manu-
script the next day to the good old clergy
mans study. He came frequently. Proba
bly, it was necessary, in order to facilitate
the progress of the new volume on Orienta
Art, which his brother was bringing OUT
But he always stopped for little pleasan
talk with Chatty and her mother, in til,
sitting-room, before he went home.
One day Mrs. Trevor announced that sh
was going up to the rectory to try and &c
Charita to come back.
Leila laughed "Why, didn't you hea
she's going to be married to Col. Field?''
sNonsensev' said Victoriue Wallace
turning little pale.
sBut it's true," insisted the child
''Next week! It's to be very quiet wed
ding, and they are to sail for Europe i'm
mediately. Isn't it funny; the idea G
Charita Brown being married to Col. Field
when all the other girls were pulling cap
for him?''
Victorine looked keenly at Leila, bu
could gain no information from her artles
face as to whether the remark was intende
to be personal or not.
''Colonel Field must have taken leave {
his Senses" said Mrs. Trevor, in surprise
'.And, of course" spitefully added Mis-
Wallace, ''a girl who is always trying s
desperately to get married as Chart
Brown did, cannot help succeeding at las
'1'm not so sure about that" sal
Leila, buttering fresh slice Of bread. @
know lots of girls who have tried harder t
get married than Charita Brown did, VIII
haven't succeeded yet"
And this time Miss Victorine Wallac
thought it best TO make no answer at all.