The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1892-05-14
Original,1
Miriam Burns laid the paper aside

Miriam Burns laid the paper aside
slowly and deliberated. There was no
apparent reason why the situation
would not suit her, and she it. She
was well qualified, in an educational
way, for the trust the place prom.
ised. She had, also, no ties to bind her
to the country town in which she had
been born and reared. She sighed a
little when her memory ran back on
the Observation-Disclosures, but in the
end she, like brave little woman as
she was, put aside sentiment for busi-
ness and posted an application for Mr..
Harmony's position.
Miriam had had a lover during the
first days of school teaching, hand.
some, worthy young man named Ruth
erford-George Rutherford. She had
yet the half penny and the photograph
and the treasured lock of hair he had
given her when he left for the west
four years before, and bundle of let
ters in her writing desk bore suspicious
evidences of frequent handling and
some traces of tears To be sure her
better judgment told her that he was
unworthy OF remembrance, but she
kept on loving him, just the same.
Three years ago had come long let
ter from George, asking her to name a
day when he could meet her on half
way ground and be married. She had
answered it, and then, six months aft
erward, she had written again, but she
awaited a response to either.
Rutherford. she knew, was not dead.
She had heard of him, through other
channels, once since. He was prosper
ing and supposedly happy, in his west
ern home. This was her romance, and
although she had driven all thoughts
OF the recreant from her heart, as he
was at present, she treasured his
memory as in the days gone by. She
had his mementoes collected in care
fully secured nook in her writing desk.
On the inner lid of her treasure box she
had written:
1T is not my nature to forget, there
fore cannot; it is not my wish to for
get, therefore l will not. You will find
me ever the same.'
She had found the extract somewhere
and it had pleased her. She had put
it where it would be perpetual re-
minder.
Mr.. Harmony's reply came in day
or two, in stiff, Grabbed handwriting.
He wanted her references. She sent
them. They included testimonials
from all er neighbors and an enthusi-
astic ommendation from the school
board, which even if it had refused
her her old position and elected a niece
OF one of the directors to her place,
nevertheless recognized her good quail
ties and felt happy at an opportunity
to show their appreciation. The result
OF the allied exhibit was that Miriam
became Mr.. Harmony's governess
Children the little school ol-teacher had
always loved, and Mamie and Anna.
the two placed in her charge, speedily
reciprocated her affection. The nur-
sery came to be the retreat from all
unhappy reflections and, Mr.. Harmony
treating her respectfully, though never
over-cordially, she grew to be as happy
as circumstances would permit.
Mr.. Harmony was man of business,
bound up in his commercial pursuits.
He had grown especially unresponsive
to social demands since his wife's
death, five years before, plunging
deeper than ever into his business per-
plexities as a cure for his sorrow.
Miriam's first six months were spent
in his service without her securing
much more than a nod from him and a
half grudged good morning" He
loved his children, however and as he
saw their devotion to their governess
ne came to study her. Investigation
confirmed the judgment of his girls.
He found daily evidences of her excel
lencies, when he came to loois for them.