The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-04-12
THE GOVERNESS.


1t was a cruel moment when Mis-:
Courtenay after her change of fortune
first met her former rival, the rich
and naughty Miss Marlton. They
had been leading bellies, two years be
fore, in society, and rumor had said
were competitors for the hand Of
young Stuyvesant Mortimer, the sole
heir of the banker of that name. But
Grace's father had failed and then
died, leaving his family destitute.
She was glad, in this emergency, to
accept situation as nursery-gover.
ness in the pretty village of Seaverge,
on the shore of Long Island Sound.
To go ont, in this half-menial con-
dition in New York, where so many
knew her, she felt to be impossible
but here, in this quiet and secluded
place, she was notlilely to meet form
er acquaintances, she thought. 'In
time shall forget" she said to her
self, ''as shall be forgotten.
But, the very summer after she went
to Seaverge, an enterprising innkeep-
er put up spacious hotel, directly by
the water, and laid out around it
some fifty acres of ornamental ground.
Immediately, Sewerage became not only
a fashionable resort, but an aristocratic
one as well, for the two are not al
ways the same. And here, one morn
ing, when out ON an erramd, Grace
came suddenly on her old rival, who
was driving along one of the country
roads, in a phaeton, behind pair of
handsome ponies, and with footman,
in livery and cockade, in the rumble
Il wonder if she will speak to me,
thought Grace, her first impulse being
to turn away. But she had a brave
soul; and SO, after moments hesita-
ton, she looked full at Miss Marlton.
The latter saw Grace, and evidently
recognized her, for her face flushed,
even through its abundant coat of
powder; but she did not bow; on the
contrary, she stared as if the two had
never met before.
81 might have known it." said Grace
bitterly; .'our worlds now are differ
ent. But what an insolent starei |
am sure if she had been a poor gov
erness and 1 the heiress L could not
have treated her So"
She had known, always, that Miss
Marlton hated her. Nor was the rea-
son far to seek. The latter had come
out a year earlier than Grace, and
young Mortimer, during the first win
ter, had been quite attentive. But,
when Grace took society by storm, a
twelvemonth later, Miss Marlton lost
her half-wOn conquest. ''She is hav-
ing her revenge nov," thought Grace,
with renewed bitterness. II don't
suppose he ever thinks of me. All,
well, why should he? l am only a
poor governess, and, since his father
is dead, he is one of the richest men,
they say. in America" She ended with
a-sigh. that broke, moment after, into
a half-contemptuous laugh.
'What do you think heard?" said
Mrs. Leigh to her husband the next
day at luncheon. ut is that young
Mortimer is to marry Miss
Marlton."
What! the daughter cf the great
railroad OPERATOR" replied Mr.. Leigh.
'Well, it's great catch, even for her.
Railroad shares, you know, my dear,
have queer habit often of becoming
next door to worthless; but the Morti-
more fortune, made in railroads, has
been transferred to government bonds
and other tirst-ciass securities, and is
safe as gold itself"
They say" returned his wife. ."that
this young Mortimer is one of the
of men and great swell. J."
"Ah!" replied her husband. ''Well,
don't know him, even in business.
In fact, socially, the Mortimers have
alwas moved in higher sphere than
the Leighs. He's been in Europe, you
know, for year and more, hand in
glove. Pm told, with the best people
there"
Grace heard this conversation with
a beating heart, for she always lnnched
with Mr.. and Mrs. Leigh; their lunch
was, in fact her dinner. She had not
heard before of her old lovers ab-
sence in Europe, and only knew of his
fathers death from a paragraph in the
newspaper. Naturally, she could not
help being moved at this news. But
her lips curled with contempt as she
recalled the fact that he had deserted
her the moment she became poor.
She slept but little that night. natu-
rally. The children were especially
trying next day, for the prolonged
heat was telling on their tempers. So,
after lessons were over, Grace started
for walk, following the little brook,
on its shady side, as it wound to the
sea. 1t was pretty streamlet. wide
ming at places to quite small river.
and in places full of water lilies.
Turning a corner, Grace came sud-
denly on Miss Marlton, sitting in a boat
pretending to fish, but looking up
every moment, as if she expected some
one.
A pet dog was in the front of the
boat Hearing Grace's step, the PAM
pered plaything sprang up and began
to bark furiously at her. At the same
instant Miss Marlton detected our
heroine, and, opening her large, lazy
eyes, stared again, this time even
more superciliously than the day be-
fore. Grace hurried on as fast as she
could, her cheeks hot with mortilica-
tion and anger. But her haste was
not sufficient to carry her out of sight
and hearing, before she saw a manly
form--which she knew only too we'll
and heard voice that made every
pulse of her body thrill. 1t was Stuy-
vesant Mortimer. who had suddenly
OA Wv OSiASA
side of the stream, and to whom Miss
Marlton called to come and row her
home, turning her boat, as she spoke,
toward him.
How Grace got back to the house,
that afternoon, she never knew. She
must almost have flown, for she was
out of breath when she arrived. She
was glad when night enabled her to
escape from the children again. She
spent long hours fighting down misery.
.!Yes, there was no doubt" she said
to herself "Only the closest in
timacy, only an approaching mar
riags, could explain her tone apd
manner; it was that of ownership;
and his was that of only too willing
service" And again she said to her
self, "Oh, how despise him!' And
then: How / despise myself, for
being affected by it at all.
The next day broke more sultry
than ever. Mrs. Leigh who was q
kind-hearted woman in her way. no