Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-07-05

L
eyes," said Mrs. Bonnycastle. 'You
know, or will know soon, that Margaret
is painfully neat. All the better for a
hired housekeeper, of course, and
Grannie's undergarments and her own,
look just as their aprons do, marvellous
| ly white. Just think of the trouble it
must be to Margaret, then, that Gran
ME 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's mass of
patches of all colors, and the old soul
will not part with it. When Margaret
tries to steal it away she cries aloud
like baby. She says she will never
give it up. It's a very funny object.
Margaret coaxed her to show it to me
once. She held up her gown a little,
and said:
1T is not so old and worn as Maggie
thinks. I keep it mended neat, ma'am
and | think deal of it, [ do. Let
Maggie wear the new one herself; this
will last me out"
"But Margaret takes it so to heart
that she cries over it."
Mrs. Cameron laughed over the
story. Grannie's quilt would never
] trouble her, as Margaret said. It was
nothing but joke to anyone but Mar.
garet.
Time passed en-. Weeks, days, months
three of them. Margaret still re.
manned housekeeper at Mrs. Cameron's
Grannie still sat knitting endless relays
of blue stockings at the housekeeper's
fireside, and the house was model Of
neatness. Never had the door-bell and
plate glittered, or the stair-rods SHIN
mered in the sun as they did now. AS
for dust, the house knew it not; but de-
spite this, Mrs. Cameron began to speak
coldly Of her housekeeper, and to wear
an expression of face that Mrs. Bonny-
castle could not account for when that
ady mentioned her.
"Aren't you suited with Margaret2'
she asked outright, at last. And Mrs
Cameron replied:
GA more perfect housekeeper never
lived, but, nevertheless, Pm very much
afraid [ shall have to dismiss her soon
Margaret Mum, am beginning to be-
ieve. has one very bad habit"
"She surely don't drink or take OPT
um," cried Mrs. Bonnycastle. She
can't"
"My dear Mrs. Bonnycastle," said
Mrs. Cameron, if Margaret is really
without the habit / suspect her of,
shall be sorry have allowed the idea
to enter my mind. If she is as much
addicted to it as I suppose, why ther
you must know it soon. Pardon me, il
for the young woman's sake l do mo-
mention my suspicious more definitely
just yet
Mrs. Bonnycastle went home greatly
bewildered; but her curiosity did not
prey upon her mind very long. The
very next day she received a note from
Mrs. Cameron, which ran thus:
/ "DEAR Mrs. BoNNYCAsTLE. The time has
come when can plainly mention Margar-
cts bad habit without doing her any injus-
tice. Will you lunch with me at o'clock
to-day? FRANCES CAMERON"
Two o'clock found Mrs. Bonny castle
at Mrs. Cameron's door. twas opened
by the man servant, who showed Mrs
Bonnycastle directly to Mrs Cam eron's
boudoir.
The door was locked. Mrs Cameron
herself opened it very little to let Mrs
Bonnycastle in; and as soon as she hao
crossed the sill that lady saw Margare
Mum standing with her handkerchie
to her eyes, sobbing as if her hear
would break.
''You may go now, Margaret" sale
Mrs. Cameron.
"Oh, dear! Oh, dear sobbed Mar
garet.
What an unhappy woman am, te
be sure. There never was such injus
tice done to any one. I'd lever die
than steal-I would, indeed-I'd Heve1
die; Mrs. Bonnycastle you don't believe
it of me?"
1 believe that you would be dishonest
No, indeed, Maggie" said Mrs. Benny,
castle; and as the door closed behind
her humble friend, she turned ques
tioning and an indignant face upor
quiet Mrs. Cameron.
"My DEAR" said the lady, ''sit down
[ beg of you. Don't be distressed. Lei
me take your hat and shawl. I am
very sorry, but it can't be helped.
wrote that I could not explain to you
what Margaret's bad habit was. I viii
now do so. Yesterday I should say
that it was pilfering; now I must tel
you it was theft"
!, "You might as we'll accuse me as
Margaret" cried Mrs. Bonnycastle.
6 Listen, if you please, to my expla.
nation before you blame me-" replied
Mrs. Cameron. From the first day of
Margaret's arrival I have missed little
articles; now an odd cuff, now another
now linen collar, a tidy from chair,
an old necktie, buttons, odds and ends,
you know; nothing valuable. My wom-
en- servants have all been with me for
years. | took poor mammals house
hold, you know. The men never come
up stairs. These little losses never oc.
Cured to me before. I made up my
mind after while that Margaret was
at the bottom of it all; but at first was
really not sure but that she in her neat
ness had tucked them out of sight AT
last [ lost lace collar worth fifteen
dollars. I gave thorough search, and
made inquiry. It was not tc be found.