Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-04-12
MRS. LEIGH'S GUyERNEsS.


naughty Miss Marlton. They had been
leading bellies, two years before, IN society,
and rumor had said were competitors fof
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 a
situation as rsery-gOverness IN the
pretty village of Seaverge, on the shore
of Long Island Sound. To go out, In
this haIf-menial condition in New York,
where SO many knew her, she felt to be
impossible; but here, in this quiet and
secluded place. she was not likely to
meet former acquaintances, she thought.
in time I shall forget" she SAID to her
self, ''as | shall be forgotten"
But, the very summer after she went
to Seaverge, an enterprising innkeeper
put up a spacious hotel, directly by the
water, and laid out around it some fifty
acres of ornamental ground. Immediate
Iy, Seaverge became not only fashion
able resort. but an aristOcratlc one as
well, for the two are not always the same.
And here, one morning, when out on an
errand, Grace came suddenly on her old
rival, Who was driving along one of the
couLtry roads, in a phaeton, behind a
pair of handsome ponies, and with foot
man, in livery and cockade, IN the rum
BILE.
II wonder if she will speak TO me-"
thought Grace, her first impulse being to
turn away. But she bad brave soul;
and so, after moments hesitation, she
looked full at Miss Marion.
The latter saw Grace, and evidently rec
ognized her, for her face flushed, even
through lis abundant coat of powder;
but she did not bow; on the contrary, she
stared as if the two had never met before.
Il might have known it," said Grace
bitterly; ''our worlds now are different.
But what an insolent stare! | am sure if
she had been a poor governess and the
heiress | could not have treated her So"
She had known, always, that Miss Mari
ton hated her. Nor was the reason far
to seek, The latter had come out year
earlier than Grace, and young Mortimer,
during that first winter, had been quite
attentive. But, when Grace took society
by storm, twelvemOnth after, Miss
Marlton lost her half-won conquest.
"She is having her revenge now" thought
Grace, with renewed bitterness. Il dom
suppose he ever thinks of me. All, well,
why should he? | am only poor COVER
ness, and, since his father is dead, he Is
one of the richest young men, they say,
In America" She ended with q sigh,
that broke, moment after, into half
contemptuous laugh.
"What do you think l heard?" said
Mrs. Leigh to her husband the next day
at luncheon. cit is that young Stuyves-
ant Mortimer is to marry Miss Marlton."
"What the daughter of the great rail
road operatOr?" replied MIR. Leigh. swell,
it's great catch, even for her. Railroad
shares you know, my dear, have queer
habit often of becoming next door to
worthless; but MOrtimer's fortune,
made in railroads, has been transferred
to government bonds and ether first class
securities, and is as safe as gold itself"
'They say" returned the wife, ''that
this young Mortimer is one of the hand
soonest of men and great SWELL"
"Ahm replied her husband "Wel,
don't know him, even in bu siness. In
fact, socially, the Mortimers have always
moved in higher sphere than the Leighs.
He's been in Europe, you know for a year
and more, hand in glove, Pm told with the
best people there"
G.aoe heard this conversation with q
beating heart, for she always lunched
with Mr.. and Mrs. Leigh; their lunch was
in fact her dinner. She had not heard be
fore of her old lovers absence IN Europe.
and only knew of his fathers death from
paragraph in the newspaper. Naturally,
she could not help being moved at this
news. But her lip curled with contem pt
as she recalled the fact that he had de-
serted her the moment she became poor
She slept bat little that night, natur
ally. The children were especially try
ing next day, for the prolonged heat was
telling on their tempers. So, after les
sons were over, Grace started for walk
following the little brook, on its shady
side, as it would to the sea. It was pref
ty streamlet, widening at places to quite
a small river, and in places full of water
lilies. Turning a corner Grace came sud
denly on Miss Marlton, sitting in 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 Gracs's step, the pampered play
thing sprang up and began to bark furi
cusly at her. Az the same instance Mis-:
Marlton detected our heroine, and open
ing her large Levy eyes, stared again, thu:
time even more superelliously than thu
day before. Grace hurried on Is fast a:
she could, her cheeks hot with mortified
ton and anger. But her haste was no
sufficient to carry her out of sight an'
hearing, before she saw manly form
which she knew only too well-and hearC
a voice that made every pulse of her bod.
thrill. 1t was Stuyvesant Mortimer, wh'
had suddenly appeared from grove OF
the other side of the stream, and TO whom
Miss Marlton called to come and row he
home, turning her boat, as she spoke, TO
ward him.
How Grace got back to the house, tina
afternoon she never knew. She mus
almost have flown, for she was all out o
breath when she arrived. She was glat
when night enabled her to escape from
the children again. She spent long hour
fighting down her misery. Eyes Their
was no doubt" she said to herself. "Onl,
the closest intimacy, only an approaching
marriage, could explain her tone AM
manner: it was that of ownership; and j
was that of only too willing service.
And again she said to herself: "Oh how
despise him!' And then: How 1 despis
myself. for being affected by it at all.''
The next day broke more sultry thai
ever. Mrs. Leigh, who was klnd-heart
ed woman in her way, noticed Grace's ex
hausted air, and attributing it to the hea
and the confined school-room, sUggeste,
that the children should take 8 holiday.
They look little peaked, poor things
themselves" she said Il have bee
promising them picnic all summer dow
on Briery Beach. Suppose you all bundl
OF together in the donkey cart and spen
the day there. I will have nice lunc
put up for you. The road for most o
the way lies through shady lanes. Yo
will be the hettar off for Il my dear rna,