Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-01-04

tered the house, Susan met her and
said, not very civilly:
Your tea has been waiting, Miss
Rayner, in the school-room for an hour
past"
She laughed aloud as she thought
how different IL would be soon, and then
time passed in another dream until
Miss Templeton returned.
AT 7 the formidable mistress of
Kings Court was TO- return. Leonie
had been accustomed to count the
hours with certain kind of dread;
now she sat so completely entranced in
her glorious dream that she did not
even hear the noise of the much-an-
ticipated arrival. II was custom Of
Miss Templeton's to keep the governess
pupil in her place, rs she expressed it,
by continually finding fault with her.
When she returned from her holidays,
1t required some ingenuity to make out
list of complaints against the young
girl, but she generally succeeded. On
this occasion she did not linger long
over the dainty tea prepared for her.
Susan. fired with indignation at Miss
Rayner's insensibility, was only too
pleased to tell how the young govern
ess had had visitors in the drawing
room and had spent over two hours
with them, Miss Templeton went at
once to the school-room, where she
found the young lady seated before her
cold untasted tea.
A frosty greeting passed between
them, and then Miss Templeton seated
herself in state,
81 am sorry to hear, Miss Rayner,"
she began, "that your conduct during
my absence has not been so circum-
spect as | could have wished. May /
ask who were the gentlemen you en-
tertained for more than two hours to-
day."
There was faint ripple of smile
on the beautiful lips, which angered
Miss Templeton very much.
1.-TWO hours" continued the school
mistress, us long time for any lady
to spend in the society of gentlemen,
above all of strangers, as | should inn
agine these to have BEEN"
Then must demand an explanation
of your conduct, Miss Rayner. Kings
Court is both known aud honored for
the exemplary conduct Of its conduc-
tor, If you have deviated in the
slightest degree from established
rules, we must part.
No fear shaded the bright eyes that
looked laughingly into the stony face.
"The gentlemen introduced them
selves, Miss Templeton. ! am quite in
nccent of having known of their visit
beforehand.
will you tell me who they were?"
repeated the angry lady.
Mr.. Clements, a lawyer of Lincolns
Inn, and Mr., Dunscombe, the manager
or steward of the Crown Leighton es-
tates."
May l be permitted to inquire what
they wanted with you, Miss Rayner?"
said Miss Templeton, somewhat won
deringly.
"They came on business that aston
ished me, Miss Templeton, as it will
you. They came to tell me that owing
to q strange chain of circumstances,
Fortune has played a jest upon me-
81 do not understand riddles" said
Miss Templeton, coldly.
Fortune has been amusing herself
at my expense, If the gentlemans re-
searches are correct, am now Count
ess of Charnleigh.
In the greatness of her surprise,
Miss Templeton committed what was
for her sad breach of good breeding.
"You are WHAT" she said.
81 am Countess of Charnleigh, and
mistress of the Crown Leighton es-
tates.
my dearest child, you cannot mean
it! You are jesting, Miss Rayner!"
81 am speaking in all sober truth,
she rejoined, calmly.
"But your mother was only governess
your father quite poor!"
Poor, but for all that of good family
and gentleman. 1t is as his daughter,
Miss Templeton, that l am Countess Of
Charnleigh.