Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1896-09-16
ENVOY.
A PERILOUS WOOING

At one time of my life | was govern
es, in the family of Sir William Nor
daunt. My only pupil was his little
daughter May, and both Sir William
aid Lady Mordaunt were the kindest
and most generous of employers. My
pupil was n sweet, docile child of about
q years old at the time the event l am
about to relate took place.
Then the inevitable "he" appeared
upon the scene in the person of Frank
Dudley, young brother of Lady Nor
daunt. Frank was in the army and had
been in India for some time with his
regiment, but was invalided home for
six months. Before that six months
was concluded Frank had fallen des-
perately In love with the pretty gov
crness-I am a staid old married wom-
an now, so this is not conceit-but
when 1t came to the crucial point l
could not find it in my heart to say the
little word that would make him happy.
lfor one reason, though liked him and
was pleased with his attention, l was
net sure enough of my own heart to
marry him; and for another, kind as
Sir William and Lady Mordaunt were,
/ did not feel by any means certain that
the marriage of their young brother to
penniless governess would be alto
gather to their mind, and l was too
PROUD to enter any family where
should only be received on suffrancc.
lie went up to London for few weeks,
and thence to go to Ireland with the
regiment into which he had exchanged.
When Frank had left, of course, after
the fashion of my sex, l wished him
back again. Life seemed very flat with
out his sunny smile and cheerful, kindly
ways. But 1t was too late then. so
tried hard to persuade myself that it
was "all for the best" and devoted my
self with exemplary asslduity to the
interests of my pupil.
Our next visitor was Jasper Nor
Gaunt, a brother of Sir William. Mr..
Jasper had been Ill, suffering from
severe mental strain and nervous de-
preston. He was not happy in his
married life, and 1t was thought the
complete rest and change in the brac-
ing air and lovely scenery of our Welsh
home would be beneficial in restoring
him to health. Sir William and Lady
Mordaunt went to town, but the former
only returned with his brother, Lady
Mordaunt having gone to Brighton for
week or two with Mrs. Jasper.
1t was late in the evening when Sir
William and his brother arrived, but l
own | felt somewhat scared as l caught
a passing glimpse of our new visitors
sallow, cadayerous face and wild dark
Eyes His appearance the next morning
did not tend to reassure me, more espe-
cially as he Immediately singled me out
rs the object of his especial attention,
and kept fixing his eyes upon me rs l
sat at the head of the table dispensing
the tea and coffee in n manner which
was, to say the least, slightly embar-
RAISING. He addressed nearly all his
remarks to me, and kept paying me
such broad and unnecessary compl-
ments that | felt myself getting Grim
son, partly with yexation and partly
with amusement Sir William looked
on laughingly, and at last said:
Come, come, Jasper this won't do;
II you say so many pretty things to
Miss Monroe | shall have to send for
Susan (Mrs. Jasper to keep you in or
der. And, by the way, you have not
told me how you slept last night /
hope you were comfortable"
That set him Off.
"Slept!" he cried excitedly; "why, |
never slept wink all night-not one
tlessed wink. Miss Monroe"
l expressed my regret. and Sir Viii
liam inquired the cause of Mr.. Jasper's
insomnia.
We'll, I'll tell you all about It," he
said; 'but first of all, do you believe
in the transmigration of souls?"
Certainly not" replied Sir William.
with conviction. 1T is an exploded
superstition"
"Oh, is it, thenT answered Mr.. Jas
per. well, can tell you it is nothing
of the sort, but real, certain fact and
I'll prove it TO you, and tell you why
i could not sleep last night. Some
years ago l knew a lawyer; he lived
next door to me and was reckoned a
very respectable member of the profess
sion. Now this man was an awful
ecoundrel and swindler; used to get peo-
pie to intruSt him with their money 20
invest, and then make away with 1t.
Why, l knew three sisters for whom
ne was trustee, and whom he complete
ly ruined. Well, at last this man failed
for don't know how many thousands,
ard numbers were involved in his ruin,
among others the three sisters l have
told you Of. Then the man shot him