The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-22
LOVE OR MONEY.

Her family had come 70 grief while che
was still child, and she had been brought
up with the idea of being governess. So
here she was in this beautiful house, sur
rounded with luxury and doomed to spend
her days in tagging over the children's
lessons, instead of riding, driving, visit
ing, entertaining and dressing beautifully
upon all these occasions, like her pupils
sisters.
She could see no way of altering her po-
sition either. She was not likely to meet
any rich man who would fall in love with
her. The most she could aspire to was to
become the wife of bank clerk on 81, 900
a year.
The children,s eldest sister came into
the sohoolroom one morning and made an
announcement which filled them with wild
excitement. They were to go to the picnic,
and Miss SomeIG was to look after them.
The children and Miss Somers in the
wagonette enjoyed themselves hugely,
albeit Miss Soners' enjoyment was tenn
pered by the fact that she was not clad in
silk and chiffon. But it was impossible to
resist the infectious delight of hne chill
dren, and before long she found herself
nearly as light hearted as they.
Two gentlemen standing near as she
stepped down glanced with decided np-
prevail at the neat little figure and OBJ
tanned an introduction at once.
she heQ h6afQ Une CnlIQr0n montlOn
both their names, and knew that Mr.
Beresford was possessed of a considerable
income, while Captain Charles St. John
had nothing more than his pay.
They had q lovely time altogether, and
by the end of the day Captain St. John
had fallen victim to the charms of the
little governess.
''She's not been used to much luxury,
SO she won't mind roughing it bit, he
-
cigarette preparatory to turning in that
night.
Next day Mr.. Beresford made his ap-
pearance in the schoolroom with a small
picture.
+They don't object to my having copy
made of this, Miss Somers, - no said. $50,
as You were kind enough to offer, have
brought it to you
Mr.. :Beresford came every day, ostensibly
Co see how the picture progressed, but in
reality to firt with the governess. She
amused him, and he fancied she was fall
ing desperately in love with him.
Miss Somers made desperate little efforts
to please him: and wistful look would
come into her eyes sometimes as she
thought of the luxuries he could give her
if he would. Mr.. Beresford naturally in
terpreted the look otherwise, and once or
twice came very near to kissing the visit
full little face, but he refrained manfully.
In the meantime Captain ST. John was
doing his level best to secure the good
graces of the little governess, who seemed
to herself to have become q person of i'm
portance all at once.
Miss Solners liked HMM fact, she
rather moro than liked him-but he could
give her no luxuries, SO she sternly re-
pressed the liking and tried to conscien-
tiously make it over to Mr.. Beresford, but
without success.
The days passed, but Mr.. Beresford said
nothing to raise the hopes of the governess.
She was beginning to look quite miserable,
and he began to think himself o brute.
And Miss Somers was in just the very
identical frame of mind. She knew Cap
tain st. John was only waiting q favora-
bio opportunity to make her give him a
decided answer.
Ono day the opportunity came. She
was in a penSive mood when he began to
tell her in his outspoken way how awfully
fond he was of her and how he thought
she would be quite happy with him,
oven if they were not very well off, as she
would be earning her own living.
The luxuries Miss SomerS had been
dreaming in her possession began to fade
rapidly from her mental horizon, and in
their place appeared a good looking young
fellow, with eyes trif1e anxious and very
full of love indeed.
Somehow this figure came nearer and
nearer and at last blocked up the entire
view till there was no room for the trace
of q luxury anywhere, and Miss Somers
came rapidly to the conclusion, which fu-
ture years did not contradict, that pair
Of strong arms and a warm heart are bet
ter to go through life with than all the
luxuries in tho world.
Mr.. Beresford, when he heard of it, of
course, manlike, Immediately made up his
mind that he had only been waiting a
suitable opportunity to propose himself
and went away feeling himself deeply
injured man.-London News.