The Opelousas courier., 1889-02-16
THE GOVERNESS.

I went to live with my aunt, Leonors
Seymour, when my father died. That
was half a dozen years ago, but my
trouble seems as fresh now as it did then.
My father married a simple country
girl, but a more beautiful woman I never
saw. Father belonged to a proud race
of people, old as the Conqueror, and
reaching back to the Plantagnets. When
he brought my mother home to Elsmers
Hall, Aunt Seymour met her SO haughtily,
and led her such a life, that my father
500 took her away to Italy. There she
died two years after I was born.
Father and / were all in all to each
other. He was my companion, guide,
teacher, and playmate. I was only 10
when he died, and I was left to the ten
der mercies of my aunt.
/ was a Seymour and could not be put to
drudge, SO she determined I should be a
goyerness. I had an advertisement in
serted in the paper, and in about a week
an answer appeared in the person of
Harry Engleield. He was well pleased
with me, and a week later I was installed
in his luxurious home on the coast of
Wales.
1t was a pleasant place. From my win
dow I could see the white caps Of the
ocean and the bright ave glancing in
thesunshine like diamonds. I was hap
pier than ! had been since poor papa
died. ID
Mr.. Engleield was a kind, pleasant
man, about 35 years of age, and well
preserved. My pupils were his two
daughters, May and Kate, aged respec-
lively Is and 10 years. Mr.. Englefield
was a widower, his wife having been
dead three years. I commenced my
duties at once. e My pupils loved me,
and WI got on pleasantly. / began to
think my lines were cast in pleasant
places, but an enemy was at hand in
the person of Mr.. Englefeld's cousin
and housekeeper, Helen Leroy.
She was about 81 years of age, hand
some and imperious as a queen-a dead
~ enemy to those whom she Rated. She,
treated me well, but still a feeling of
dislike was plainly visible. My pupils
made wonderful progress, and I was
happy. saw very little of Mr.. Engle-
field.
One morning after / had been there
about three weeks he came into the
school room, saying he had come ITO see
what progress the children were max
ing.n He spent a half hour or more
with us, and / caught myself wondering
often when he would come again.
The next evening he came up and told
us to lay aside Jul books, and come for a
drive. It was a beautiful evening, and
u way lay through q lovely country.
On either hand rose lofty mountains,
clothed with magnificent trees. Before
us lay the ocean in all its grandeur, its
white caps tossing and breaking on the
rocks with a sound like thunder. / sat
quietly drinking in the wild beauty of
the scene.
"You seem to enjoy the scene, Miss
Seymour" said Mr.. Englefeld.
II do, Mr.. Englefeld, / have a great
love for wild scenery, and this is the
most beautiful view I have ever SEEM"
1t is q lovely view, but you should
see the ocean when a storm is upon it,
he answered.
81 would like it, ] said, ssbut ( hope
no storm will arise just to please me-
had hardly uttered the words when
a loud peal Of thunder sounded in our
ears. a storm came on with a terrible
violence. The thunder reared and the
winds howled like demons. The ocean
was . magnificent sight. AIS far IS the
eye could see the white foam and
spray rose and fell heavily and we were
wet through and through.
"a am sorry you are 80 wet, Miss sey-
mour. Won will take your death Of
cold, Z said Mr. Englefeld, in an anxious
voice.
do not fear for me, l l replied 81
little wetting viii not hurt me-
We reached the house and i retired to
change my wet clothes. Miss Lcroy came
up to my room, and said sneeringly
80 ron got q wetting for your pains,
did you2 an glad / did not do. ANY
fool could hare seen y was going ID
rain.