The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-11-13
Select Stnrg.
BIILY'S GOVERNESS.
BY PIERCE EGAN.

1.-The fact is, Billy, IN in aquandary
| think | was never SO much perplexed in
my life / wish
Pausing abruptly, Rolf Annesley drew
the napkin fercely across his tawny NOUS
tache and began savage assault on the
game pie before him.
'sWhat in the world about p asked his
company, across the well-appointed break
fast table.
about you
''About me For my sake What is
it, Rolf? have you noticed any signs of
typhoid, or of mental arrangement or -
slyly-''is it because l bagged dozen
partridges yesterday to your eleven p
The speaker was not, as might be sup
posed, a gentleman with sporting proclivi-
ties, but young girl, apparently about
fifteen-rather tall for her age-with a
wealth of auburn hair, which should have
been put up, for-though wavy enough to
redeem it from lankness-it had never
been trained to curl, and so foated behind
her like a great red banner. Looking
forth from this warm -hued aureola, was
an elfsh face; eyes more mischievous than
Gender; lips pretty enough, but ready for
any slang; with complexion which
though once, in its rose and lily freshness,
suited to her auburn hair-now, thanks to
the SUMS treacherous kisses, bore no re-
semblanee to any lily, unless it might be
to one of the speckled African species.
Poor Billy was not, however, totally de-
void of beauty Lurking in her freckled
cheeks were witching dimples, which, at
the faintest smile, flashed forth like hidden
lamps, lighting up her plain face with un-
dreamed-of radiance. The great trouble
was that she had grown up without
woman's guidance.
At the death of her parents, which oc-
Cured when Billy was little more than a
baby, Rolf-who had been preparing for
the bar-returned to the old homestead
and, with the care of the paternal acres,
assumed also the sole guardianship of his
little sister. People said that blow,
which he had received out in the great
world, made him doubly willing to ex
change its charms and gayeties for the
quiet life on the home estate; but then
people are prone to say hard things of
young man who civilly ignores their ex
istence
Whether this rumor were true or not,
certain it was that Rolf eschewed all So
ciety, deyoting himself wholly to the COM
panionship of little Sybil, who came to be
each day more and more the pet and so
lace of his life. 1t is but just to admit
that he attempted to educate her, but it
was after so desultory fashion-one so
interspersed with boyish games and amuse-
ments-that perhaps total ignorance had
been better. That he was at last con-
scious of his mistake, was evident from
his next remark
Eyes, Billy he said, gravely, 81 am
really troubled about you. Owing to my
selfish unwillingness to part with my little
playmate, | have permitted you to grow
up almost like a heather, and now, here
You are at fifteen, with less education than
many a child of ten years of age.
Education r. she exclaimed, with in
effable scorn. sDon't | know every tree
from the hysson upon the wall? Can't |
tell where the rabbits borrow, and when
the wild ducks come? And triumph
antly-' did Mt old Tim Simmons say, only
last week, that I was the best shot in the
county?''
Rolf smiled as she ran over her list of
accomplishments
Eyes, Billy, you know those things
very well; but cunning is not fit employ
ment, nor is old Tim Simmons a fit ac-
quaintance for young lady. You should
know how to play the piano, speak French,
and
II just know, Rolf, that some old busy
body has been talking to you, interrupted
Billy, irrevently eff l thought it was
Mrs. Slater, L d pay her out for it. .
Hush, Billy p said Rolf. "You
know that I would not be likely to accept
advice from any of the servants on this
matter, not even from so excellent per
son as Mrs. Slater The truth is, that
having at last-as Mr. Tirem says-awak-
ened to a sense of my responsibility, have
resolved to do one of two things, either to
send you to boarding school, or to procure
a private governess.
'tWell, Rolf Annesley, sha' mt 60 to
boarding-school That is fiat ex
claimed the Independent young lady, toss
inc her napkin ring up, and catching it
again. 'This house belongs to me as
much as it does to you, and I would like
to see anybody try to put me out of it
As for the governess, " she continued,
s'she may come if she likes but with
an ominous sparkle in the merry eyes
'sbetter she hadn't 7
Too wise to argue where argument were
worse than useless, Rolf allowed the mat
ter to drop; and deigning no reply to his
sister rebellious outburst, he sat regard
ing her with-what was intended to be
a gaze of stern displeasure.
Alas for his hope-if he had any-of
awing or intimidating the mischievous
offender The dancing dimples and quaint
grimaces across the tables were too much
for his dignity, and ere he could reassume
his magisterial frown, Billys arms were
around his neck. her leonine tresses float
ing about his face.
sCome, Rolf, old fellow, she said,
''don' let us waste time quarreling. It's
a splending morning for quails; and do
so love to start in time to feel the frost
crushing under my feet. Come, hurry
up I'm going to ret ready.
And hastily dropping kiss of reconcil-
iation on his forehead, accompanied by a.
sly tweak of his ear, she ran out Of the
room, leaving him to wonder which of
them had gained the victory.
ssPoor Billy" he murmured-manlike,
assuming the superiority that he could not
prove. II may as well let her go today;
our hunting times will soon be over.
1t was an odd, yet picturesque little fig
ure that soon returned fowling- piece in
hand Her hunting dress of dark green
cloth. bordered with leather, had been
short year before but this was remedied
by the high Polish boots, fitting closely to
the arched instep and springing ankle,
which proclaimed her a true Annesley
All the Annesleys, for generations, had