Year: 1872

she was. and who had left her in
charge of an elderly relative until he
should settle i'm life and have an es-
tablishment of his own, he furnishing
them with nice quarters, and living
in his bachelor quarters in the business
part of town


But one day as Marcia came back
from visit to her mother and sister,
which always resulted in red eyes,
carefully concealed beneath her thick
veil, she was startled by hearing
masculine voice in the reception room,
and was purposing to steal upstairs
unobserved, when little Angie (her
pupi) darted ont and dragged her in
TO see "Uncle Duke" Great was her
surprise to find herself in the presence
of Marmaduke Singleton. She bless
ed heaven for the thickness of her
veil, and that she had yielded TO her
proud mother in taking the namo of
Brown.


As she paused in the doorway, with
the child clinging TO her, Mr.. Single
ton advanced, extended his hand and
expressed himself happy in meeting
the new governess. She scarcel y per-
mitted him TO touch her gloved fin
gers, then murmured thanks and an
excuse, and escaped To her own room
and at once passed into the depths of
humiliation and tears. She was actII-
ally taking wages for menial services
from one of her old admirers The
very man of all others she most de
sired TO shun, and perhaps (had she
dared TO confess i'll regarded with the
most interest. But she possessed
moral courage enough to give up her
old luxurious way oil living without
paug, and earn her daily bread cheer.
fully. Yet, 10 face Mr.. Singleton in
the capacity of 4 servant, was more
than she had bargained for. The
aunt OF the gentleman had hired her
without consulting him. In fact, he
had requested her to do so, onl y stip.
ulating that whoever should he Sc
lected, shor Ill be a preson of culture
and refinement aud should be liberal
ly paid.


After Mr.. Singleton had gone, An
gle came up TO her lessons and com
menled upon her red eyes.


"Oh, Miss Brown" she exclaimed,
what have you been crying about =
You don't look half as pretty as you
did. | have just been telling uncle
Duke how beautiful you wcre-bow
your hair waves, and is like auutie's
gold beads; how blue your eyes were,
and that yonr checks were red ss Dol
lys But he laughed, and said they
were painted. And then | got angry
and he kissed me, and said he would
come in some evening aud hear you
sing"


Uncle Duke suddenly became very
much interested i'll the progress of his
niece The glowing description she
had given of her governess, and the
sight he had had oil her elegant and
taultless figure; the delicacy of her
hand aud foot, AMI her qneenly car
riage. and the softly mo1ulated voice.
all spoke of gentle birth and breed
ing. Besides, do what he wouli to
bring about meeting with this won.
derfu! specimen of woman. she adroit
ly.avoiied him in such a manner as Ia
stimulate his curiosity, until his
dreams by night and thoughts by day,
were of tall lady in sable robes aud
rich golden curIs.


Upon one OF his visits. the tones of
the piano exquisitely played, arrested
his steps. But at his ring it suddenly
ceased. and when he entered the par
lor few moments later, he found the
sheets of music scattered around, as
if dropped in the flight of the per
former Again he was bafiied, but
resolving upon bolder stand, he, as
the guardian Of the orphan child, re.
1nested an interview with Miss
Brown, under the pretense that he
wished TO make known his views with
regard to her education. A polite
note was returned declining the inter
view, upon the plea of a severe head.
ache, and intimating that it would be
much better to inform his aunt, who
had the direction of all matters con
cerning the child, aud who would be
implicitly obeyed.


lie folded the note and placed it
among his most valuable treasures
Clearly he was in love, and with a
strange goyerness. lie was missed
from his old haunts. The Club and
the Opera seldom saw his face. To
his lady friends whom he occasionally
met, he was strangely distant and alb.
sent-minded, aud they voted the once
brilliant Singleton a bore. His only
occupation appeared to be riding by
his aunt's house, or paying his niece
visits at all hours of the day. And
suddenly be became animated with
the idea that he would take up his
abode with his aunt. He persuaded
her to consent upon the plea of his
| loveliness.


/ Accordingly he moved thither the
next day and found little Angie in
tears. He enquired for the reason
and was answered by the old lady:


''She is weeping at the loss Of hel
dear friend, Miss Brown. If you be
lieve me, Marmaduke, as soon as she
became acquainted with the fact Of
your having made arrangements tc
come here, she told me that she must
leave-went Immediately to hen
mothers and this morning an express
man came for her trunk. OF course
| had to send it and the money that
was due her. But what we are going
to do now, gracious only knows. II
will be almost impossible to find sc
lady-like person, and one whom the
child will love so WELL"


| And the worthy woman sat dowr