The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-07-29

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To~ was nephew of my Aun
Peabodys husband, who intende,
making him his heir, and as In add
ton to this he alread possessed
handsome property, he was considered
desirable parti.
He was good looking and gentleman
1y, but sickly, dull. and, to my idea
wholly unlnteresting Still. / had no
at this early age strength Of mind suf
icient to resist the united persuasion'
of my family, and the marriage wa,
arranged to take place I'm about two
years. during which time Magnu'
would be completing his education OF
the Continent, where his mother &c
companied him.
Unfortunately for my own happiness
in this time became acquainted with
Philip Waring, whom / soon learned
to look up to and admire as the perfec
ton Of all manly excellence.
And now the two years OF Magnus
absence were completed, and he wrote
that he was about returning to Eng
land to claim his bride. But, he added
his physician having recommended his
spending the winter in Italy, he pro
posed to take me thither immediatel
after the marriage. He hoped there
would be no unnecessary delay or prep.
aratlon, and would prefer having the
wedding as private as possible.
This last clause was great. dlsap-
pointment to my mothers sister Aunt
FORESTER, who had arranged TO have
The wedding from her own handsome
residence I'm London.
However, / should at least have n
stylish trousseau, and so she took the
trouble Of coming all the way to our
little country town and taking me home
with her I'm order to make the neces-
sary preparations.
AS, on our arrival at my aunt's resi-
dence, we entered the hall, her two lit
tie daughters came joyfully rushing TO
meet us.
Here, Christine" she said. turning
to me-"here are my darllngs. Have
they not grown? And this is their
governess, Miss Dane"
/ turned and saw n girl standing
quietly at the foot of the staircase
looking on with smile at the scene
She was SO exceedingly pretty. with
her delicate. regular features. golden
hair and exquisite complexion, that |
was quite taken by surprise. could
see through her quiet manner that she
was aware OF this effect upon me, and
that she enjoyed 1t.
What remarkably pretty govern
ess you have. Aunt Lottie," observed
when, an hour after, | stood at her
dressing room window looking into the
garden. where the children were at
play, while Miss Dane, with n bit of
needlework in her hands, walked slow.
ly up and down, "and how graceful
and ladylike she is"
Yes my aunt replied, with smile
"and do you know, Christine, we think
her wonderfully like yourself? Not
only has she the same colored hair and
eyes, but her features and something
in her ways and expression remind us
of you. You might easily pass for sis
ters-shc is little taller and older.
perhaps"
Occupied in my bridal prcpara tons
at first saw but little Of Sophie Dane.
But one day, when dress had come
from the modiste which did not exact
ly please us, the governess happened
to be present, and on being ha!f-care-
lessly appealed TO. she at once pointed
out the defect and how to remedy II.
What sympathy and liking | had for
Miss Dane-and she was not one who
appeared to care much for either-soon
received n severe check. the occasion
OF which was as follows:
One evening a servant. In handing
tea, awkwardly upset a cup of tea over
my dress, and l went up stairs to
change il.
Suddenly opening the door OF my
room / was surprised TO see the gov
erness standing before the dressing
table, absorbed in reading n letter.
She started. flushed and hastily thrust
it in her pocket then said. with what
appeared only natural embarrass.
ment:
please excuse me, Miss Christine.
but In passing your room IL looked so
quiet that l thought | might venture
TO slip in and read a letter from my
mother"
i should not for moment have
doubted her, but that in my hasty
glance at the letter had recognized Il
as one which had received that even.
ing from Magnus Bradshaw. and had
carelessly left upon the dressing table
1 said nothing at the time. and next
morning the letter was discovered be
hind the table, where II appeared acci
dentally 10 have slipped.
'She is a snake in the grass" I said
TO my aunt, to whom l had related the
incident.
But she. though equally shocked
with myself, found Sophle's taste ant
talent in dress too useful TO be dis
pensed with and the matter was passed
over.
"The Pythia will be in to-day Chris
tine" said my Uncle Forester. cheer
fully, one day at dinner. $50 we may
expect TO see Mr.. Bradshaw to-mor
row."
The words struck coldly upon my
heart. So long as Magnus was at dis
tance my fate had not appeared to m,
90 obvious. but now. to think that