Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1895-01-04
MRS. LElGnS GOYERNESS,
A story of the Problems OF Modern
society.
BY HELEN j. THORNTON.

lirst met her former rival, the rich and
naughty Miss Marllon. They had been
lead ng bellies, two years before. in So
c,oty, and rumor had said were com
petitors for tile hand of yonnd Stuyves.
ant Mortimer, the sole heir of the great
banker Of that name. But Grace 5
father had failed, and then licl lcav-
ing his family destitute. She was glad.
in this emergency, TO accept situation
rs nursery governess in the pretty vii
lage of Seavergo, on the shore of Long
Island Sound. 70 go out, in this half
mental condition in New York, where
SO many knew her, she felt to be i'm
poss BILE; but here, in this que and Sc.
Guided place, she was not likely TO meet
former acquaintance, she thought.
In time | shall forget" she sad to
herself, 'as shall be forgotten.
But the very summer after she went
10 Seavergc. IN enterprising inkeeper
put up spacious hotel, directly by The
water. and laid out around it some SO
acres of ornamental ground. Immed-
atel Seavergc became only 4 fashion
able resort, but an arstocratic one as
well, for the two are not always the
same. Aud here, one morning. when
out OH an crrand. Grace came sud-
denly OH her old rival. whe was driving
along one Of tho country roads, in n
phacton, behind pair of handsome
ponies, and with footman. in livery
and cockadc. Ia the rumble.
Il wonder if she will speak to me, !"
thought Grace. her first impulse being
to turn away. But she had brave
soul; and so, after moments hesita-
ton. she looked full at Miss Marlton.
The latter saw Grace, and evidently
recognized her. for her face flushed,
even through its abundant coat of pow
der; but she did not bow; on the con-
trary she stared as if the two had
never met before.
Il might have known it," said
Grace, bitterly; ..our worlds now are
different. But what an insolent stare!
] am sure, if she had been Il poor gov
erness and | the heircss, | could not
have treated her so.
Nor could she. This thought dwelt
more and more, in Grace's md, as
she unused. that afternoon, in her fay
orite nook by the little river back of
the Leigh grounds. spot she always
resorted TO for quiet and composure
when she had been overtasked, or
worried, or agitated. Yes, shc was,
more and more, surprised. For Grace
had one OF these rare natures that rise
above wealth and false post OH. She
had, even in her happier days, liked
people for themselves, and not for
what they had. If, in some secret COR
ner of Their heart, almost unknown to
herself, she had cherished preference
for Sluyvcsant Mortimer, it was not
because of the millions lie was expect
ed to inherit, but because of what she
supposed TO be his generosity of heart
and his Unborn nobility of character.
Alas! this illustration, like many an
other, had been dissipated By expert
ence; for. from the day of her fathers
death. she had never seen young
Mortimer, though, before that, lie was
the most ass,luous of lovers.
She had known, always, that Miss
Marlton hated her. Nor was the rea-
son far to seek. The latter had "come
OUT year earlier than Grace. and
young Mortimer during that first win
ter. had been quite attentive. But,
when Grace took society by storm. u
twe]vemonth after. M SIS Marlton lost
her half-won conquest. ''She is hay
ing her revenge now" thought Grace,
with renewed bitterness. Il don't
suppose he ever thinks of me. All
well, why should he? l am only u
poor governess, and, since his father
is dead, he is one of the richest young
men, they say. in America" She end,
ed with Il sigh. that broke, moment
after. into a halfcontemptuous laugh.
What do you think / leard?" said
Mrs. Leigh 10 her husband the next day
at luncheon. ''lt is that young StllY-
vesant Mortimer is to marry Mss
Marlonn
.'What! the daughter of the great
railroad operator:2' replied Mr. Leigh.
We'll. it's y great catch, even for her.
Railroad shares, you know. my dear,
have a queer habit. often. of becoming
next door TO worthless; but the Morti-
mer fortune, made in railroads. have
been transferred TO government bonds
and other tirst-class securities, and, is
as safe as gold ITSELF
''They say" rctorted the wife, ''lhat
this young Mortimer is one of the
handsomest of men and great swell.'
"All!" sad her husband well, I
don't know HIM, even in business. In
fact, socially the Mortimers have al
ways moved in higher sphere than
the Lcighs He's been in Europe. you
know, for a year and more, hand in
glove. Pm told, with the best people
there
Grace heard Ibis conversation with q
beating heart, for she ALWAYS lunched
with Mr.. and Mrs. Leigh; their lunch,
in fact, was her dinner. She had not
heard before of her old lovers absence
in Europe, and only knew of his faith
cr's death from a paragraph in the
newspaper. Naturally, she could not
help being moved at this news. But
her lip curled with contempt as she re-
called the fact shat he lad deserted her
The momci.t she became poor.
She slet bat little that night. natur-
ally. Ia5 children were especially try
ing ali day, foE, the prolonged heat was
telling on their teinpers. So, after les.
sons were overS Grace started for q