The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1876-08-24

IN the course Of her Afternoon calls
she met Mrs. Bonnycastle, and told
her what Margaret had said about
Grannie.
"0h, l know ali about that" said
Mrs. Bonnyoastle. Margaret used
to be my seamstress once, before we
broke up housekeeping. She told me
all It's It'sGrannie'squiltedp petticoat."
"Grannie's quilted petticoatl" re-
pcatod Mrs. Cameron.
"Yes, said Mrs. Bonnycastle. "You
know, or will know soon, that Mar
garot is painfully neat. All the bet
ter for hired housekeeper, of course,
and Grannic's undergarments and
her own, look justas their aprons do,
marvelously white, Just think of
the trouble it must be to Margaret,
then, that Grannio will wear her
quilted petticoat, ten years old this
month, without allowing it to be
changed? It's been worn out ten
times over, but she always patches it
and puts it on again It'sa mass of
patches of all colors, and the old soul
will not part with it. When Marga-
ret tries to steal it away, she cries
aloud like a baby. She says she will
never give it up, II is very funny
object. Margaret copxed her to'show
it to me one day She held up her
gown little way and said;
"It's not so old and worn as Mag
gle thinks. l keep it mendcd neat,
ma'am; and l think a deal of it, l do.
Let Maggie wear thenew one herself;
this viii last me out.2
.-..i.ssRlAAAIa4san44-L.l-s7sii.oi,,ttre=aaESs
that she cries over it.
Mrs. Cameron laughed over the
story. Gronnie's quilt would never
trouble her, as Margaret said. 1t
was nothing but q joke to any one
but Margaret.
Time passed on, weeks, days and
months-thrce of them. Margaret
still remained housekeeper at Mrs.
Cameron's. Grannie still sat knit
ting endless relays of blue socks at
the housckeeper's fresidc, and the
home was a model of neatnoss. New
er had the door bell and plate glitter
ed, or the stair-rods shimmered in
the sun as they did now As for
dust, the house knew it not; but des-
pite this, Mrs, Cameron began to
speak coldly Of the housekecper, and
to wear an expression of face that
Mrs. Bonnycastle could not account
for when that lady mentioned her,
"Aren't you suitodwith Margaret?"
she asked outright, at last. And
Mrs. Cameron replied;
"a more perfect housokecper noy-
er lived, but, nevertheless, I'm very
much afraid | shall have to dismiss
her soon. Margaret Mum, ! am be-
ginning to suspect, has one very bad
habit"
"sho surely don't drink or take
OPIUM" cried Mrs, Bonnycastle.-
"She can't"
"My dear Mrs. Bonnycatle," said
Mrs. Cameron, "if Margaret is really
without the habit l suspect her of, |
shall be sorry that I allowed the idea
to enter my head. If she is much
addicted to it as l suppose, why then
you must know it soon. Pardon me,
if for the young woman's sake, do
not mention my suspicious more
definitely now"
Mrs Bonnycastle went home great
ly bcwildered, but her curiosity did
not prey upon her mind very long
The very next day she rcceivcdanoto
from Mrs, Cameron, which ran thus;
Dear Mrs. Boanyccs,ic. The time
has come when | can plainly men
tion Maggaret's bad habit, without
doing her any injustice, VIII you
lunch with me at 2 o'clock to-day?
FRANCES CAM RON,
Two o'clock found Mrs Bpnnycas-
tie at Mrs. Cameron'S door, 1t was
opened by the man servant, who
showed Mrs, Bonnycastlc directly to
Mrs, Cameron's budoir
The door was locked Mrs Came
ron herself opened ito very little to
let Mrs. Bonnycastlo I'M and as soon