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About The daily reporter. (McMinnville, Or.) 1886-1887 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 1887)
The Daily Reporter. P. C. IKEI.ANI» .4 CO. PVRI.iSHEKS. McMinnville, Or. - - Feb. 10, 1887 THE HALF CASTE. AN OLD GOVERNESS’S TALE— FOUNDED ON FACT. RY MISS MU: OCR. 'it SeOnTt'n If long time since 1 had neen in any town, and tlie girls might never have been there in their lives, so eagerly did they linger at shop-win dows, admiring and longing after finery. The younger consoled the elder, saying that they would have al! these sort of grand tilings some time, "it’s only four years,” whispered she, just four reais, and then that stupid Zill —” Here Caroline pushed her away with an angry “hush!” and walked up to my side witn a prim smile I thought it strange, but took no notice, al wavs dis liking to play the governess out of school-hours. Another odd thing happened the same week. There came a letter to Mr. Le Poer from Mr. Sutherland. I could not help noticing this, as it lay on the mantel-shelf two days before the former returned, and I used to see it always when I sat at'meals. His—Mr. Sutherland’s I mean—w ms a fair, large hand, which would have caught any one’s eye: besides, it was like old times to see it again I happened tobebv when Mr. Le Poer opened the letter. He was so anxious over it that he did not notice my pres ence. Perhaps it was wrong of me to glance toward him, but yet natural, considering it was the letter of a friend of mine. I saw a little note inclosed, the address of which I was almost sure bore my name. I waited, thinking he would give it to me. I even made some slight movement to attract his attention. He looked up—he actually started—but the next moment smiled, as only Mr. Le Poer could smile. “News from our friend, you see!” said he, showing me the outside envel ope. “He is quite well, and—let me consider,”—glancing over his own let ter—“tie sends bis kindest remembran ces to you. A most worthy man is Mr. i Sutherland.” So saying he folded the epistle, and I placed it in hi» desk. The little note, which he had turned seal uppermost he ?uietly put unopened, into his pocket. I t must have been my own delusion then. Yeti was disappointed. At the expiration of my first year as a governess, just as I was looking with unfold wagerness to my midsummer I holidays, when 1 was st length te go home to iny mother—for the journey to { London was too expensive to admit of'j that happiness more than once a year there happened a great disaster to the Le Pt»er family; no less than that terri ble scourge, typhus fever. Matilda 1 took it first, then Caroline, then the ' mother. These three weresearcely con- j valescent when Zillah caught.the fever I in her turn, and had it more dangerous- I ly than anv of the rest Her life was in danger for many days, during which 1 had the sole anxiety and responsibili ty; for Mr. Le 1’oer, on the first tidings of the fever, had taken flight, ami been visible at home no mo;’ •. True, he wrote every oilier (lay most touching letters, and I in return kept him con- | stantly informed as to the progress of j his wife and children. When Zillah was taken ill, however. 1 <i 1 not think it necessary to send him word <oncem- ; ing her, feeling that the poor orphan’s life was precious to no one. I never ' was more surprised than wlien on Mr. i Le Poor's venturing back and finding I Zillah in the crisis of her disease, his i terror and anxiety appeared uncontroll- , able. “Good God!” he cried, “Zillah ill? Zillah going to die? Imp hs tile! Why was I not inform'd b-'fore? ( onfound I yon. madam!”—and he tui lied furiously to his still ailing wife—“did you not | think?—Are you mad -quite mad?” I declare I though I he was. Mrs. I^e- Poer ofily sobbed in iTIi nee. Mean while the outcries of the delirious girl were heard in the very parlor. I had given her ray room; I thought, poor soul, she should not die in her damp kitchen-closet. •* in oney me; m- .r. . >er t r ■ i . V W tl.iw uiaA. ..«..nk* a; om?i An ei»n. «'^.c- 1 an?’.v« i Wil •i terna -1 • w .> d i x; ,■«••.-c«i only al notion worthy of a poor govern (’end it was i ays a ^reat pain for a quiet so il li'w me to have to assume mil .! < oneern w i eii ’■ ' !.'• • dauiih- ess! te; » were in pt r The only remarkable event of our authority I should have got on better ■ i s «': v<'f, ’ said *.e. bo-ir-e!v. ••« ... n : .< ; !>e done. voyage was my sudden introduction by even with Mrs. Le Poer to assist me; T! ■ nr.i :■■■■'.; 1; 1' ‘ ■■ itch her Mr. Le Poer to a personage w hom I had but she. p <>r little woman, terrified at ^•■nd tor not thought existed. “My son, Miss change. hi. i preferred sla\ ing quietly •i.i • ‘.•*1 . |>i \ , '>t • - send to Pryoi; my eldest and only son, Lieut. at beine in Y orkshire. 1 w is not quite Lei ■ds. Li • e ; : sure leil that she had the best of it . I. -i: even. Align si us’ Le Poer.” O1 ly. bv —. s •' nt M.1 I was very considerably surprised, as utter <11. be.’" In th- ■- l-e of a wee my cares . • Sin- was I had never heard of the vonng gentle 1 ■<>< h :i:4 •ewh.lt light' •ned. The Hou ;. . mirpvse.s; man. 1 could only conjecture what I wt r> afterward found to be the truth, that t C u :; * • i • -e re !. m< I :r»-. li lb at - ue Ugl ■ I, : u ; ' :rn b! I o: u, w i. •• -,i! ng ■ Ixdsuie, this was the son of a former marriage, forvnnl I had very little o' the girls’ ligi . it lie be! ’ a kind ’ }!■!• -'lip and that there had been some family company, lie was <■■ it mt i',> '• ••• 7..-: ; n which quarrel, lately healed. The lieutenant broth i■; I could not but c nowledge •it .“J- II:. t ;V .illd bowed tome, and I to him. Zillah, who that. He took them about a .rent deal !• '.i .• ’ • '! Le . <|- vini . 1 ' b- me. had no share in the intro- or else laved al Holy wood, leaving us • i iein, until tlie young man, slicking by the lute evening train. is he said, to r ins in his eye, stared al her ener i goto his lodgin s at Bell i t. 1, the i ‘ : ‘ j ' ' ■ v.. • Site may 1 : ie vet . .1 i 'u I.. to liim- getically. muttering to his father some temporary mistress of the establish il • . : t'.iy efter • saw b's nice •. question, in which 1 jus! detect-d the ment, was of course duly jmlite to my ■■ •« >s i’i' r. tny wife ;s a fool ! mean words, “odd fish.' pupils’ brother, and he was really very : ■ » l< i’ :< • ' * :• o. . I’ell me :i : Rit111 V “Only Zillah,” answered Mr. Le Poet civil to me, though lie treated me with carelessly. “Child, this is your cousin the distance due to an ancient duenna. If • i ;. ?■' I i ■<< -M'li! •■<! but Augustus, Intel;, returned from foreign This amused me sometimes, seeing I was on!;. twenty-s;x probably his own With little hop't! it mv ¡''.vice would service. Shake hands with him." Zillah listlessly obeyed but her age; but I was a wavs used to be re- h eg - to se i be follnv ’ o’d >•>••• 1 air . “11 ' to! at <>■ ee said "cousin” seemed not at all to relish the T;ir»l<‘d ns To be Continued. he. “Mrs Le Peer .ml ti e girls can title. He cast his eyes superciliously over her. 1 must confess my poor ti or\ e care <u h r; or -'ay - she likes you bes t. Miss l’;yor, are you willing to child’s appearance was not very attract Writing taught at the Mc ive. 1 did not wonder that Lieutenant (T, i ’J" Minnville Business college per This qiiestii’ii peifectly confounded Augustus merely nodded his head, m *. I had been so I h r’v . 1 »ipaU twirled his mustache, and walked away. month, |3. Twelve lessons $2, ing my going home—<le . i»d.. - in com Zillah just looked lazily after him. mid with time till March 12th to mon charily 1 co id not it delay it, on then her eyes declined upon the beauti complete the same. This otter account of the fever. Now this troub ful expanse of sea. For my part I watched our new le was over 1 ' il quite < o :nte ! on my is open tor (his week only. For departure. T • it very v I 1 td been friend with some curiosity ami amuse ment, especially when Caroline and further particulars call at the preparing my ' .«11 ’.va j ’ e’. so as ' > Matilda appeared, trying to do the look as ni> e a < possible ir. my inothei 's college het ween the hour of five agreeable, rhe lieutenant was to them eyes. She had given me a hiiittodo ami six p. in. Opera house evidently the bom of a brother. since she and I were to sp I the v:t For mv.- ’ elf I did not admire him at all. tion together at Mr. Su‘herland’s coun building. try-house, and old >lr. Sutherland was Unluckily, if I have three positive aversions in the world, it is for dandies, so very particular. Advertisnients, etc., intended for • Why do you lies,tat ■*?’’ »aid Mr. Le- men w th mustaches, and soldiers—and publication in The Weekly Reporter he was a compound of all three. Also, I’oer rather sharply. "Are you thinking of the money? You shall have any he was a small man; and 1, like most must be handed in Tuesday morning. additional salary—£o0 more, if you little women, have a great reverence We cannot in future deviate from this choose, Upon tuy soul, madam, yon for height in the other sex. Not uni rule. versally, for some of my t ruest friends shall! only 1 entreat you to go.” ■ would not have minded his entreat have been diminutive men—excellent, ies. but I was touched by those of noble, admirable Zaecheuses. Still, SEVENTH ANNUAL Zillah, who seemed terrified at the idea from an ancient prejudice, acquired— of going to a strange place without me. no matter how my first impression of Then, too, the additional money, not any man is usually in proportion to his unneeded; for Mr. Sutherland, so kind inches; therefore Lieutenant Le Poer ly generous in other things, had the did not stand very high in my estima still rarer generosity never to offer us tion. Little notice did he condescend to that. I determined to write and tell take of us, which was rather a satis my mother the position of affairs. Her good judgment would decide; or if faction than otherwise; but he soon be hers failed, she would be sure to apjieal came very fraternal and confidential to Mr. Sutherland, her trusty and only with his two sisters. I saw them all adviser since my father died; and I chattering together until it grew dusk; wae content to abide by his decis aud long after that, the night being tine. I watched their dark figures walk ion. ing up ami down the other side of the He di<l decide. He told my mother deck. More than once 1 heard their that it was his earnest wish I should laughter, and detected in their talk the stay a little longer with Zillah Le Poer, name of Zillah; so I supposed the girls whom he called “his ward.” Her his were ridiculing her to their brother. tory, he said, he would inform me when Poor child! she was fast asleep, with we met; which must ’>e soon, as he was her head on my shoulder, wrapped —AT— contemplating returning to India for closely up, so chat the mild night some years, and had something to com could do her no harm. She looked al municate to me before he went away. most pretty—the light of the August Mr. Sutherland returning to India! moon so spiritualized her face I felt And liefore his departure he must see thankful she had not died, but that un Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, me—me! It was a very simple and nat der Heaven, tny care had saved her— February 22d, 23d and 24th, ural thing, as I felt afterward, but not for what? Aye, and for whom? If, as 1887. then. I did what he desired as indeed I kissed the child, I had then known— 1 had long been in the habit of doing— But no, I should have kissed her and and accompanied Zillah. loved her still! LIST OF PRIZES. I had supposed that we should go to Our brief voyage ended, we reached There will be prize» given on the following some near wateringplace, or at all Belfast and proceeded to Holy wood -a nmned exhibit»: events to the Liverpool shore. Indeed small sea-bathing village a few miles l»t mid 2d prize for bent mid 2d b« st ex I had pointedly recommended Tanmere down the coast. To this day I have hibit of KeiiHington painting. where, as I stated to Mr. Le Poer. there never found out why Mr. Le Poer took 1st mid 2d prize, for beat mid 2d bent ex was living an aunt of Mr. Sutherland’s the trouble to bring us all over the wa hibit of KeiiHington embroidery. who would have taken lodgings or ter and settle us there; where, to all I»t mid 2d prize, for bent mid 2d bent ex done anything in her power for her intents and purposes, we might as well hibit of outline work by a child under 14 nephew’s ward. To my surprise lie ob have lieen buried in the solitudes of the i year» of age. 1st mid 2d la-»!, for l>«»t mid 2d beat ex jected to this plan. After staying a Desert of Sahara. But nerliana. that hibit of work of any kind by a boy under 14 night in Liverpool, instead of crossing was exactly wtiat ne wanted. ■ • •* of age. to the opposite shore, as 1 expected, lie I think that never in her life, at least , y ears 1 at mid 2d prize, for be»t and 2d tient ex put us all—that is, Zillah, the two girls since childhood, could Zillah have been hibit of ornvon work. and myself—on board the Belfast boat, so happy M she was during the first There will al»o be h prize given for tha and there we found ourselves floating week or two of our sojourn at Iloly- heaviest, lightest mid prettieHt baby under 1 across the Irish Channel! wood. To me. who in my youth, when year of age. • The two Misses Le Poer were consid we were rich and could travel, had Following i»a list of priza> offered; For the erably frightened; Zillah looked most seen much beautiful scenery, the place prettie»t baby, gold necklace; lightest mid happy. She said it reminded her <tf was rather uninteresting; to her it was tieavieat baby under one year of age, each a tier voyage to England when she was a perfection! As she grew stronger, life gold ring; outline work by a child under little ehi I<1. She, had never seen the sea seemed to return to her again under fourteen year», firm prize, ear ring», wcotid since. Izmg after wo got out of si ght quite a new aspect. Certainly it was a prize, a rap book; kenaington • mliroidery. of land she and I sat together on the great change in her existence to hate Brat prize, napkin ring, second prize, box deck in the calm summerevening, talk no one >ver her but me for her uncle writing piqier; kenaington painting, first ing of this Indian voyage and what it and cousin Augustus had of course prize, manicure set, second prize, brnoket; work, first prize, paper holder, second was like, and what people did during speedily vanished from this quiet spot crayon prize, pitcher; boy'-, work, first prize, paper the long four months from land to lamb —to be able to do just what sl«e liked, , holder, second prize, ink»tmid. She gave me much information to which was usually nothing at all. She Piirnd«- of Firemen T ii «- m I h > nf- which I listened with strange interest. was not made tor activity; she would Icrnooii. I well remember, fool that I was! sit lie whole days on the beach, or on the ting on the de-k of that Belfast boat, grassy walk which cam»* down to tlie with the sun dipping into the sea liefore very edge of high-water mark cover Doora will be open hi 7 «>’<*lo<*k, p. in. <lall}, during the us, and the moon rising on the other ing her eyes with her pok • bonnet, or I’alr. side — sitting and thinking what it gazing sleepily from under her black —All are invited to Attend— would lie to feel one’s self on the deck lashes at the smooth Ixmgh. and the of some India-bound ship, alone, or >■ M wavv line of hills on the opposite shore. Admission 25 Cents. in companionship that might make the Matilda rind Caroline ran very wild al- By Order of C ommittee . Koxd sUlL correct, accord in ar to its oritr- s •.u_r i'. Jia.d n<>. lessons 1 found it FIREMAN'S FAIR McMinnville Firs Department, Garrison Opera House,