Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-03-29
Love and Service

n
Really, Miss Latimer, this is quite
unexpected | am sorry II you are not
satisfied ut Eastclitte. Perhaps If you
will suggest any change you may de-
sire"
The master of Eastcliffe was actu-
ally hesitating and stammerins IKE
an awkward schoolboy. Yet, Nora
Iatimer was not IA formidable person
to confront, as she stood before Guy
Mansfield in the pretty mornlng-room
at Eastcliife that cold, crisp February
day, and stating that duty called her
home, asked for Il release from her
engagement us governess at EastclHe'
She looked like Il fragile flower as she
stood before the big, brown-eyed man,
who was gazing upon the slight, black
robed figure, from his superior height,
vet with strange embarrassment III
his demeanor.
Are your duties here too arduous|'
he asked, abruptly.
Nora smiled,
"Arduous! They are simply a de
light" she began, eagerly; then
checked herself, and turned aside, Il
crimson blush creeping over her
nearly cheek. lit is not that, Mr..
Mansfield" she added, gravely. Your
little Flossie is a darling child, good
and obedicnt-a little sunbeam! 1t
grieves me to part with her; but
but"
Then why do you go?" he cried,
hastily. ooh, Nora-Miss Iatimer-l
beg your pardon-don't go! | am a
lonely man; FloSsie loves you; even
the housekeeper, Mrs. Stone, is deeply
attached to you, l will double your
salary"
mo. no, nor she interrupted, al.
most tiercely. You pay me more al
ready than my services are worth
This is my first attempt at being gov.
ernness, Mr.. Mansfield, and you know
l am a friendess orphan. But my old
nurse, with whom | have made my
home is quite i'll, and has written me
that she would like toto see me-"
Go and visit her, then, and return.
he cried. "Oh, Miss Latimer, you will
return?'
Her head dropped and the blood
sursed hotly into her checks; but she
made no answer. just then one of the
servants appeared with Il message fol
the master, and moment later Nora
Latimer was alone
She turned and walked swiftly out
of the room, up the stairs to her OWL
pretty chamber. There she closed and
locked the door upon herself and hei
sorrow. How she wept, poor little
lonely hearted Nora! wept until she
could weep no longer.
THANK heaven, he does not suspect!
she murmured, brokenly. If he knew
if he dreamed this proud, rich Gu!
Mansfield l am leaving his
house, which is a very heaven to me
because | have learned to love him
TO worship him-he would despise ant
scorn me. But of course he does no
dream of such a thing. and ! am CRATE
hll that that humiliation is spared me
But | can not stay here as goyerness
to his child when Mrs. Stone says h
is about to bring home n second wife
know ! am wicked and altogether
wrong. but / just can not And thi:
letter from poor old nurse, asking m'
to visit her, If possible, has come Il
the right moment. l will 30 there ant
remain for time: then, when h,
sends for me, | can find some excuse
invent some reason for declining L
return. | will write him all | hav'
to say. | can not tell him.
She bathed her face and ro-arranget
her silky, dark hair: then seated her
self ut her desk, prepared to write Nj
Mansfield a formal resignation Of he
situation. This il what she said:
Dear Sir: | regret exceedingly tia
circumstances render 1t impossible fl
me to accept your kind offer shall
leave for Buffalo tomorrow. IL you vii
kindly consider my notice given yol
some two weeks since as sufficient
Trusting that MI i satisfactory. ] r.
main. yours respectfully,
y. T.
let me See thoughtfully; tina
sounds cold enough. and stilted enough
for anything. / have always signc'