The weekly messenger., 1889-06-01
Miss Pinkney, Governess.
BY WILLIAM BROWN.

more, to rally his dcmoralized troops,
Federal and Confederate met at the
front of two opposing lines, during a
charge. A ball from the formers pistol
laid the latter at his feet, a dying man.
Even amid the roar and fury of the bat
tie, tn, dumb appeal in the Confederate
eve held and overcame his foe.
He bent over the fallen man, who was
trying to draw something from his bos-
ON. The Federal assisted him, and the
stifrening fingers resigned TO the north
ern soldier small velvet case, then wet
with his own lifc's blood. With final
effort, the dying man raised his head,
and ga>ped;
"Scnd it-home."
A 9urgling Groan concluded the seu-
tence. and ne sank into lnSensibiity.
The fighting drew near The Federal was
obliged to remount and ride away. After
the battle, he examined the velvet case.
1t inclo,cd the features # 4 pretty little
girl, some five or six years old, painted
on ivory, with the words ''F0r dear
papa written underneath. On the other
side was the fathers official title. His
regiment was not named, neither was
there any further clew to his identity.
After that. for weeks, the Federal
tried faithfully, by such means as he
could use, II discover the dead man
friends But under the hindrance i'm
posed by the cXigcacc' of war, his ef-
| forts were futile. Time lc,scncd his in
tercSt, and h finally ceased to try.
| Peace came at lust After the grand re-
! view at Washington. he returned home.
For many years the velvcs case and its
fatal stain lay unnoticed in his old
army trunk, now relocated, with other
cherished, yet Useless mcmentoS of the
war, to an old store room in the attic
# hi, home in New York.
"Wcll, girls, wcll have to try the old
"arrct fer costumes" said Laura Hinton,
the daughter of the house. There Is
old family trumpery that's been ac-
cumulaiing there since great grand
mothers time.
A Martha Washington tea party-then
quite fashionabc-wa the en"rossing
local vagary in that vicinity. Rcvolu-
tionary relics were at Il social premium.
Several young ladies' were discussing the
all-absorbing theme. After Laura re-
mark, raid upon the family store room
was at once organized, and in few
minutes the old attic resOunded with
more of life and merriment than had
fallen to its share in years.
What can this bc?' cried Laura, fish
ing from an old trunk an oval, velvet
case, with faded brown stains thereon.
"I'll bet it's a picture. This is fathers
old army trunk; that accounts for there
being nothing scrviccabe inside"
The case was opened and passed
around. those who had looked, at once
resuming the more attractive search fol
by-gone finery. Suddenly there was {
fain. cry from Miss PinNney, the
governcss, to whom the case had been
handed. She stood, gazing at the
miniature inside, with blanching face.
As the girls looked up, wonderingly, she
sank upon an old chest, as though about,
to faint.
Dear Miss Pinkney," said Laura
sprlnging to her side. ''what can be the
natter Here, let me take the old pic
,ure."
But Miss Pinkney clung to the case
while slowly regaining comrosure. Then
looking around upon ii, girls, she saiC
weakly, yet with dignity:
"Plr,ion n, Laura should like t,
show this picture to Major Hinton.
this is one of his old army mementos
you will understand my own interest il
it, when - TIA. my-I-that | ono
saw it bef ,re it could have come int
lis possession
Miss Pinllney, though still pale, haC
quite regaincd her self-pos,ession. Sh'
quietly pocketei the relic, and, with
polite apology to the girls, went dowl