The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1889-02-20
Continued from last week.
THE HALF-CASTE.
AN OLD G0vERNESS's TALE---
FOUNDED ON FACT.
BY MISS UNLOCK.

Now, am no prude in such things;
/ have oftentimes known a harmless
father-like or brother-like embrace be-
tween two, who, quite certain of each
others feelings, gave and received the
same in all frank affection and simplic-
ity. But generally am very particular;
more so than most women. / often
used to think that, were Il man,
would wish, i'll the sweet day of my be-
trothal, to know for certain that mine
was the first lovers kiss ever pressed
on the dear lips which l then sealed as
wholly my ownl
But in this case, at one glance, even
if | had not caught the silly phrase,
my angell"-the same heard IN the
wood tab, that woodl)-I or any one
would have detected the truth. 1t came
upon me like thunderbolt; but know
ing Zillah's disposition, had just wit
enough to glide back unseen, and re-en-
ter, talking loudly at the door. Upon
which found the lieutenant tapping
his boots carelessly, and Zillah shrink
ing into corner like frightened hare.
lie went off very soon-he said, to an
engagement at Belfast, and we started
for our ramble. l noticed that Zillah
walked alongside of Caroline, as if she
could not approach or look at me.
/ know not whether l was most
shocked at my poor girl, or puzzled to
think what possible attraction this
young man could find in such mere
child-so plain and notwithstanding
too. That he could be Tin love" with
her, even in the lowest sense of that
phrase. seemed all but an impossibility,
and if not in love, what possible pur-
pose could he have in wooing or want
ing to marry her?-for / was simple
enough to suppose that all wooing must
necessarily be in earnest.
Half-bewildered with conjectures,
fears and doubts as to what course l
must pursue, did | walk ON beside Ma
tilda. who, having quarreled with her
sister. kept close to me. She went chat
tering on about some misdoings of Car
oline. At last my attention was caught
by hearing Zillah's name.
II won't bear it always said the
angry child; I'm only bear it till Zillah
comes of age
Bear whats:n
"Why, that Garry should always have
two new frocks to my one. IT'S
shamelo
"But what has that to say TO Zillah's
coming of age2o
Don't you know, Miss Pryor?-oh,
of course you don't, for Carry wouldn't
let me tell you; but | willlN she added
maliciously.
l hardly knew whether | was right or
wrong in not stopping the girls tongue,
but | could not do it.
do you know, she added in sly
whisper, Garry says we shall all be
very rich when Zillah comes of age. Pa
and ma kept it very secret; but Garry
found it out. and told il to brother Au-
gusLns anu TO me-"
Told what?n said I, forgetful that /
was prying into family secret, and
stung into curiosity by the mention of
Augustus.
.That Ziflah will then be very rich,
as her father left her all he had; and
uncle Henry was great nabob, because
he married an Indian princess and got
all her money. Now, YOU see,n she con-
tinued with cunning smile, shocking
on that young face, ''we must be very
civil to Zillah, and of course she will
give us all her money. Eth, you under-
StandYv
| stood aghast. In moment all
came clear upon me; the secret of Mr..
Sutherland's guardianship-of his letter
to me intercepted-of the money lately
sent--of Mr.. LIE Peers anxiety concern
ing his niece's life, and his desire to
keep her hidden from the world, lest
she might come to knowledge of her
position. The whole was tissue of
crimes. And, deepest crime of ALL /
now guessed why Lieutenant Augustus
wished, unknown to his father, to en-
trap her still childish affections, marry
her, and secure all to himself.
never knew much of the world and
its wickedness; believed all men were
like my father or Mr.. Sutherland. This
discovery for the time quite dizzied my
faculties. l have not the slightest rec
election of anything more that passed
on that seaside walk, except that, COM
ing in at the door of the cottage, l
heard Zillah say in anxious tones,
what ais Miss Pryor, wonderY" /
had wisdom enough to answer, Moth
ing, my dearsl" and sent them all to
bed.
Shall you be long after uspn asked
Zillah, who, as said, was my chamber
companion.
IAN hour or two" replied, turning
away.
went and sat alone in the little par
Tor, trying to collect my thoughts. To
any governesS the discovery of clan
destine and unworthy loye-affair among
her pupils would be most painful, but
my discoveries We're all horror together.
The more thought it over, the more
my agonized pity for Zillah overcame
my grief for her deceitfulness. Love is
always so weak, and girlish love at fif-
teen such fascinating dream. What
ever thought of the lieutenant, he was
very attractive TO most people. lie was,
besides, the first young man Zilah had
ever made acquaintance with, and the
first human being except myself who
had treated her with Kindness But
what opportunities could they have had |
to become lovers? Irecollected Zillah's |
wanderings, evening after evening, in |
the grounds of the deserted estate. She
must have met him there. Poor grill |
could well imagine what it must be to
be w0oed under the glamour of summer |
twilight and beautiful solitude. No |
wonder Zillah's heart was stolen away |
Thinking of this now, / feel | am 1
wrong in saying heart of what at best |
could have been mere fancy Wom- |
ems natures are different; but some |
women have been gravely, mournfully, |
fatally in earnest, even at sixteen.
However. in earnest or not, she must |
be snatched from this marriage at all |
risks. There could be no doubt of that.
But to whom should | apply for aid?
poor orphan seemed trembling Between
the grasp of either villain, father and
son. Whatever must be done for her
/ must do myself of my own judy
ment. and on my own responsibility. /
Itwas very hard strait for me. In
my necessity instinctively turned to
my best friend in the world. and--as j
suddenly remembered-Zillah's too,
determined to write and explain all to
Mr.. Sutherland.
How well | remember that hour The
little parlor quite still and qniet, except
for the faint sound of the waves rolling
in; for it was rather a wild night, and
our small one-storied cottage stood by
itself in @ solitary part of the beach.
How well remember myself! sitting
with the pen in my hand, uncertain
how to begin; for felt awkward, ney
er having written to him since l was .
child.
first almost forgot what / had to
write about. While miising, was
startled by noise like the opening OF
q window. Now, as l explained, our
house was all one fat, and we could
easily step from any window to the
beach. In eonsiderableal armI hurried