The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-02-06
THE GOVERNESS.


curtains closely drawn, and a loud but
not unpleasant voice called ont
This way, please -
A drive over o rough road brought
them 10 commodious residence, sur
rounded by grounds ample enough for n
park As it was late she was shown at
once to a room.
She arose early the next morning
awakened by the brightness Of the at
mosphers and the sweet singing Of the
birds,
She had given her name as Kate Con
over, and had come to accept the posi-
ton Of goyerness in the family.
Presently tho lady Of the house
knocked and entered the room. Evi-
IDENTIFY sho was much pleased with the
new arrival, for her eyes rested upon a
sweet, frank face, a graceful, compact
form and an attire as neat as It was
sensible.
"a hardly expected to find you 80
young Mrs. Cameron said,
"No2' asked Miss Conoyer. still
you will find me proficient.
"Oh, to DO sure" Mrs, Cameron hur-
riedly said please walk down to
breakfast"
The breakfast room reached, she said
miss Conover-- -Brice Rutherford, my
nephew"
The namo startled tho young lady SO
much that her self possession almost
failed her She bowed in recognition of
the introduction, and then turned her
attention 10 the two children who were
to be under her charge.
During the morning meal she cast sew
eral furtive glances at Brice Ruther-
ford, not quito sure whether he was the
man who had driven her from the sta
ton or not. BE was reticent then-he
seemed to be reticent now. He was
young, handsome, refined, with per
haps rather an exalted opinion Of him
self.
1t was not remarkable that during the
summer he began to take considerable
interest in the pretty little governess
He was thrown almost daily in her go
ciety, and her frankness was especially
charming to him, because he was not
much disposed to be frank himself.
His interest at last assumed more
fervent shape, and finally led him to
make a declaration Of love. a look Of
triumph crossed her face but it escaped
his notice, for she was seated in the
shadow.
"This isn't unexpected" she replied,
'but"--
Brice Rutherford frowned at the re-
mark and waited for her to conclude 1t.
"You see, you don't know anything
about me, she said, starting in afresh.
"Oh, but | hatter myself do" was
his reply. "l never act without proper
consideration
"lmean rs stomy-my-antecendents, TO
Miss Couoyer said. "Aa to my-my-
purposes
81 don't care abour your antecedents,
he interrupted "And as for your pur
poses, l hope one Of them will be to make
me as happy rs you canr
"Oh, to be sure" replied She,
well, am glad that we understand
each other, and
"But don't know that we do" inter
rupted she, in turn, II know that yoJ
proposed to me, but cannot recall tina
accepted you"
"Ohr he calculated, with crest
I fallen look
Miss Conoyer laughed softly and said
4 am willing to hold your offer unde
advisement."
"That will not satisfy me" he re
piled
"But it must, rejoined she. "Ithinl
1 am according you a great deal"
"Well, maybe you are" he said, witt
a grimace "a can't say that I'm eE
cessiyely grateful"
"Il give you my answer in Septem
ber," Miss Conover replied. THAT ism
far of, you know"
"Well, no, it isn't" assented he, an,
that closed the conversation.
In the early part OF September busi
ness took him into the city, and be wa
absent a week When he returned t
his aunt's country seat he found tina
the pretty little governess was no longo
there. Ho was almost dumfounded
"Where is she?' he asked,
II don't know" replied Mrs. Cameron
Among her friends, no doubt
"She il coming backf'
mo, much 10 my regret and the dis
appointment Of tho children"
Brico Rutherford stared at the caTpe
"Did she leave a message for me?' Il
asked.
"a letter, at least, replied Mrs Can
eron 81 notice that there is one on hC
bureau directed to you.
He hurried up stairs In manner uy
in keeping with his habitual dignit!
When he opened the envelope he W;
surprised 70 find one Of his own letter
in it, although he had never written {
her. A look Of CONSERVATION sprea
over his face as he read it,
In his boyhood he had had a lit
sweetheart, named Rose Ralstou, ltwi
stipulated between the parents Of bot
that the two should be- married whe
they were old enough
He was sent to school on the CUutineu
where no staid until he had attaine
his majority He then wrote home d
clining TO renew tho attachment Of b
boyhood, or to carry out the stipulation
Indeed, so emphatic was nc, that one
two sentences were uukind, because ~
7 called for
He stared at tho letter in a dazad wa
"How did Miss Con0ver got hold Of it
he asked himself And what was b.
object in redirecting it 20 me? Shopror
isad to give me her decision"--
He broke the line Of his thought wi
p a sharp exclamation
Eve solved the mystery, " hemuttere
Kate Conoyer is Rose Ralston, She
- a little Girt, and fancies that she's g
p even with me.
/ He closed his coniectures with an e
preston which was near profanity.
"Aunt Rachel, he said, when be hl
reioined his aunt, edo you know tn
Miss Couover Is Rose RalstonY
& "lmpo@ibleI exclaimed Miss Cal
= eron.
"But, aunt, she is
n Did she say Eof
No Do You think her coming he
was-was -plaunedF
"Why, no, Brice It came about
accident She didn't know YOU We
Iaaa