Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-01-28
MRS. LEIGHs GOvERNESs.

MRS. LEIGHS GOVERNESS.
1t was cruel moment, when Grace
Courtenay, after her change of for
tune, first met her former rival, the
rich and naughty Miss Marlton.
They had been leading bellies, two
years before, in society, and rumor
had said we're competitors for the
hand of young Stuyvesant Mortimer,
the sole heir of the great 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 situation
as nursery-governess, in the pretty
village of Seaverge. on the shore of
Long Island Sound. To get out, in
this halfmenial condition, in New
York, where 80 many knew her, she
felt to be impossible but here, in this
quiet and secluded place, she was not
likely to meet former acquaintance,
she thought. "In tine shall forget"
she said to herself, "as l shall be for
gotten"
But, the very summer after she
went to Seaverge, an enterprising inn
keeper put up spacious hotel, direct
ly by the water, and laid out around
it some fifty acres of ornamental
ground. Immediately, Seaverge be-
came not only a fashionable resort,
but an aristocratic 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 country roads, in phaeton
behind a pair of handsome ponies
and with a footman, in livery and
cockade, in the rumble.
81 wonder if she will speak to me, u
thought Grace, her first impulse being
to turn away. But she had brave
soul and so, after moments hesita.
ton, she looked full at Miss Marlton.
The latter saw Grace, and evident
ly recognized her, for her face flushed
even through its abundant coat of
powder but she did not bow; on the
contrary, she stared as if the two had
never met before.
II might have known it," said
Grace, bitterly "our worlds now are
different. But what an insOlent stare
l am sure, if she had been poor
governess, and the heiress, / coult
not have treated her So"
Nor could she. This thought dwelt
more and more, in Grace's mind, al
she unused, that afternoon, in hel
favorite nook by the little river bach
of the Leigh grounds, spot she al
ways resorted to for quiet and com
posure when she had been overtasked
or worried, or agitated. Yes, sh'
was, more and more, surprised. Fo
Grace had one of those rare nature
that rise above wealth and false posi-
ton. She had, even in her happie
days, liked people for themselves, ant
not for what they had. If, In som
secret corner of her heart, almost un
known to herself, she had cherished
preference for Stuyvesant Mortimer
it was not because of the millions h
was expected to inherit, but becaus
of what she supposed to be his gener
osity of heart and his Unborn nobilit
of character. Alas this illusion
like many another, had been dissipat
ed by experience; for, from the da..
of her fathers death, she had neve
seen young Mortimer, though, befor
that, he was the most assiduous Q
lovers.
She had known, always, that Mis-
Marlton hated her. Nor was tn
reason far to seek. The latter ha
"come out" year earlier than Grace
and young Mortimer, during that frs
winter, had been quite attentive
But, when Grace took society b.
storm, a twelvemonth after, Mis-
Marlton lost her halfwon conques
"She is having her revenge now,
thought Grace with renewed bitter
ness. II don't suppose he ever think
of me. All we'll, why should hef
am only poor governess, and. sine
he fsther In dead ho In ona Of III