The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-10-11
THE HALF-CASTE
AN OLD GovERNEss's TALE
FOUNDED ON FACT.
BY MISS MuLocK.

had not gone far in and out of the
tangled walks of the shrubbery when l
found that Zillah had slipped away. l
saw her at q distance standing under q
..al Portugal laurel, seemingly doing
nothing but meditate-a new occupa-
ton for her; so l left her tc it, and PEN
etrated deeper into what my old French
governess would have called the bocage.
My feet sunk deep in fern amidst which
! plunged, trying to gather agreat arm
full of that and of wild flowers; for l
had, and have still the babyish propen-
sity of wishing to pluck everything. I
see, and never can conquer the delight
of vegetation. In that oblivion of
child-like content I was happy-hap-
pier than l had been for a long time.
The ferns nearly hid me, when I heard
q stirring in the bushes behind, which l
took for some harmless animal which l
had disturbed. However, hares, foxes,
OF even squirrels do not usually give a
loud "Ahem!" in the perfectly human
tone which followed. At first had ter
rors Of some stray keeper, who might
possibly shoot me for a rabbit or a
poacher, till l recollected that l was
not in England but in Ireland, where
unjust landlords are regarded as the
more convenient game.
"Ahem!" reiterated the mysterious
voice-"aheml Is it you, my angelo"
more thoroughly dumfounded! OF
course the adjective was not meant for
me. Impossible! Still it was unpleas-
ant to come into such nea contact with
a cas- of philandering. Mere philan-
dering it must be, for this was no hon
est village-tryste, the mans accent be-
ing refined and quite English. Besides,
little as l knew of love-making, it
struck me that in any serious attach
ment people would never address one
another by the silly title of "my angel"
1t must be some idle Irritation going on
among the strolling v%isitants whom we
occasionally met on the beach, and who
gate which led to these grounds.
To put an end to any more confden-
tial disclosures from this Unseen gen.
tleman, I likewise said "Afam!" as
loudly as 1 could, and Immediately
called aloud for Zillah. Whereupon
there was a hasty rustling in the bush
es, which, however soon subsidized, and
the place became quite still again,
without my ever having caught sight
of the very complimentary individual
who had in this extempore manner, adj
dressed me as his sangel." Certain
ly,"I thought, II must have been as
invisible to him as he to me, or he never
would have done it."
Zillah joined me quickly. She looked
half frightened, and said she feared
something vas the ma\r-''had l seen
anything9"
AT first l was on the point of telling
her all, but somehow it now appeared
a rather ridiculous position for a gov
erness to be placed into have shouted
for assistance on being addressed by
mistake by an unknown admirer; and
besides | did not wish to put any love-
notions into the girls head; they come
quite soon enough of their own accord.
So l merely said l had been startled by
hearing voices in the bushes-that per-
haps we were intruders on the domain,
n bad better not stay longer.
yet the place seems retired and des-
olate," said l, as we walked down the
tangled walk that led to the beach, I'll
lab evidently unwilling to go home.
do you ever meet any strangers about
here5:"
She answered briefly, mo"
Did you see any Ii tonight"
"Yes,"-giyen with a slight Eesita-
ton.
who was it?"
"a man, l think-at a distance.
did he speak to your"
"No.n
I give these questions and answers
verbatim, to silow-what | believed
then, and believe now, that so far as 1
questioned, Ziilah answered me truth
fully. | should be sorry to think that
either at that time or any other she had
told me a willful lie.
But this adventure left an uncomfort-
able sensation on my mind-not from
any doubt of Zillah herself, for she APP
peared still too much of a child, and too
awkward and unattractive, for mt to
fear her engaging in love-atfairs, clan
destine or otherwise. for some time tc
come. Nevertheless, after this evening
always contrived that we should take
u twilight strolls in company, and
that | should never lose sight of her for
more than a few minutes together. Yet
even with this precaution | proved to be
avery simple and short-sighted govern.
ess after all.
We had been at Hollywood a whole
month, and [ began to wonder when we
should return home, as Zillah was quite
well, indeed more blooming than | had
ever seen her. Mr.. LIE Peer made him.
self visible once or twice, at rare inter.
vals: he had always business in Dub.
hn," or country visits to pay" His
son acted as regent in his ABSENCE
always supposed by his desire; never.
theiess ! often noticed that these two
lights Of the family never shone togeth'
er, and the fathers expected arrival was
the signal of Mr.. Augustus non-ap.
pearance for some days. Nor did the
girls ever allude to their brother. ]
thought family quarrels might perhaps
have lessoned them in this, and so was
not surprised.
1t was certainly a relief to all when
the head of the family again departed
We usually kept his letters for him, he
not being very anxious about them; for
which Indifference, as | afterward CON.
pretended, he might have good reasons
once there came a letter. knew from
Whom-marked in the corner, "If alb.
sent to be opened by Miss Pryor.
Greatly surprised was l to find it con.
talneda bank.note. apparently hurried.
~ ENCLOSED, with this brief line:
III Zillah requires more let me know
at once. She must have every luxury
needful for her health. "A. So
The initials certainly meant his name
Andrew Sutherland-nor could | be
mistaken in the hand. Yet it seemed
verv odd. as | had no idea that he held
over her more than anominal guardian
ship, just undertaken out of charity to
the orphan, and from his having slight.
ly known her father. At least so Mr.,
LIE Poer told me. The only solution
could find for his sending Zillah the
money was the simple one of it's being
gift, springing from the generosity OF
a heart whose goodness l knew but toe
well.
However, to be quite sure, 1 called
Caroline into counsel; thinking, silly as
she was, she might know something OF
the matter. But she only Uttered, look.
ed mysteriously important, and would
speak clearly on no point. except THAT
we had a perfect right to use the money
pa always did; and that she wanted a
new bonnet very badly indeed"
A day or two after, Mr.. LIE Poer, re.
turning Unexpectedly, took the note in.
to his own possession. saying. smiling.
ly, that it was all right and l heard
no more.
But if I had not been the very sim.
plest woman in the world I should Ger.
tainly have suspected that things were
not "all right Nevertheless, [ do not
now wonder at my blindness. How
could i think otherwise than we'll of a
man whom l innocently supposed to be
friend of Mr.. Sutherland?
- 49,