“But, what did you =find= out?” he said, again returning to the subject.

“Read this, and you will see that she has condemned herself,” she answered, handing him a letter, “and thank me for preserving you from the snare that was laid from your unwary footsteps.”

It was written in a delicate lady’s hand, and ran as follows: 

“DEAR KARL:—­I have only a moment in which to reply to your letter of the 3d, but will write you more at length at some further date.  I am teaching in the family of a wealthy lady, until fate throws something more agreeable in my way.  This is all that keeps me from despair.

“My own! what would I not give to see you?  Oh, this fearful curse of poverty!  I must find some means of escape from my difficulties, or go mad.  I cannot live without you.  I have planned a thousand impossible schemes, which I have been obliged to abandon as unavailing.

“Meanwhile, I am not idle.  There is a rich bachelor, who resides in the house where I am employed.  I have made some progress towards an acquaintance, and am beginning to entertain the hope that I have made an impression.  Money is all that stands in the way of our happiness.  I would dare anything to possess it.  If I could once establish a claim to a portion of his vast wealth, do you not see that there are other lands where we might enjoy it together, and our life be one long dream of happiness?

     “Write to me, for I am unhappy.

“Your loving CLEMENCE.”

“Where did you get this?” he asked, briefly, after having completed its perusal.

“I found it where it had been carelessly dropped on the floor of the school-room,” was the response.

“Was she aware of the occasion of her abrupt dismissal?” was the next question.

“No,” sighed the lady.  “I could not bring myself to hurt her feelings, deeply as I felt I had been wronged, so I left word for her that I intended to make some change in the girls’ studies, and thought of placing them under the care of masters.  It is extremely fortunate that I discovered her real character in time, is it not, Will?”

“Yes, extremely fortunate,” he echoed absently, with a look of pain in his face that did not escape the eager eyes that scanned it searchingly.

“That was a clever little plot of mine,” she soliloquized, an hour later.  “I did not dream the foolish fellow was so interested.  How came I to be so careless?  That is the last governess who will ever enter these doors.  I will send the children away, for I hate to be bothered with them, and it would be a great relief to have them out of my sight.  I will make speedy arrangements to that effect.  Of course nothing further will be heard of this girl.  Men are proverbially inconstant, and Wilfred will soon forget all about this Miss Graystone.  It was but a passing fancy, and I have taken the wisest