The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-04-12
Miriam Burns laid the paper aside

apparent reason why the situation
would not suit her, and sho it. She
rvas well qualified, in an educational
s way, for the trust the place prom
Used. She had, also, no ties to bind her
to the country town in which she had
been born and reared. She sighed q
little when her memory ran back on
the at-might-have-been, but in the
end she, like brave little woman as
she was, put aside sentiment for bust
mess and posted an application for Mr.
Harmony's position.
isSDiiriam had had 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 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 mementocs collected in care
fully secured nook in her writing desk.
lstMr. Harmony's reply came in day
or two in q stiff, grabbed handwriting
He wanted her references. She sent
them. They included testimonials
from all Ter neighbors and an enthusi-
y astic recommendation from the school
board, which even if it had refused.
her her old position and elected niece
of one of the directors to her place,
nevertheless recognized her good quail
ties and felt happy at an opportunity
3 to show their appreciation. The result
of the allied exhibit was that Miriam
\ became Mr.. Harmony's governess.
a. Children the little school-teacher had
always loved, and Mamie and Anna,
the two placed in her charge, speedily
4 Teciprocated 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.
de had grown especially unrcsponsivc
to social demands since his wife's
death, five years before, plunging
deeper than ever into his business per-
plexities as cure for his sorrow.
Miriam's first six months were spent
Il in his service without her securing
much more than nod from him and a
half grudged good morning." He
loved his children, however, and as he
saw their devotion to their governess
he came to study her. Investigation
onfirmed the judgment of his girls
He found daily evidences of her excel
4 lencies, when he came to look for them.
He began to admire her the more he
knew of her, and before the year was
out he developed friendship for her
which might have grown to love had
not the memory of his dead wife inter-
$fered. He had dearly loved that sweet
4 faced, golden-haired angel, and time
had dimmed but little his reverence for
her memory.
But Mr.. Harmony was a business
man and looked at everything in lif
from its practicability. He knew tht
present state of affairs at the house
could not continue indefinitely. Miss
Burns might take it into her practical
head to get married, and he knew that
HE could never supply her place as sat
ssfactorily with his children. Mr.. Har-
mcny argued the matter over carefully
In his own mind and came to a deter
animation.
Mr.. Harmony would like to see you
in the parlor, Miss Burns" said Mary.
the maid of all work, q morning or SO
inter Hes waiting there for you
now
Mr.. Harmony was standing with his
back to the door when she entered, but
shastily facing about he said:
Good morning, Miss Burns" mo-
tioning her at the same general deflec-
aIon of his head included in the saluta-
tion to seat:
II have sent for you," .>he continued
Yes" she said, simply wondering
lhow. she would take the parting from
tho children.
You have now .been=with us for a
wear, Miss Burns"
Yes" as she acknowledgement over the
love which had grown up in her heart
kor her charges
ff3@6s You have, 1 must confess, more
3kEhan gratified me by your attention to
aaty two daughters. They have grown
}46---to In fact. loyeyou. think. nr