The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-05-03
MUSTN'T RUFFLE SIR HECTOR
THE OBEDIENCE OF AGNES.
And the Satisfaction Her Husband Col
Out Of His Motto.

papers an advertisement offering "luxu
rious apartments, with all the comforts o
a refined home iii needed), to a single
gentleman Of means. References giver
and required" The inserter Of this no
tice was John Taddy, chief clerk in the
government waste paper office, who liyed
with his young wife In fine house over.
looking the north side Of Kensington gar,
dens. Taddy had no children, and he
had recently lost some Investments in g
joint stock company which had promised
to pay him 10 per cent. These were his
reasons for being willing to let his draw.
ing room floor to any applicant circum.
stanced as above. His wife, Agnes, heaved
q little sigh as she locked over the splen.
dor Of three saloons en- suite, and thought
that she must surrender them to a stran.
ger; but money was great consideration,
and so her heart huttered like Taddy's
one morning when they received a letter
announcing that Sir Hector Robin, late
member OF the governing council OF the
Windward isles, would pay them visit
that afternoon.
Taddy grew quite excited over this com,
munication.
"Mind, my dear, you dress your best
and are very civil" said he, setting ouI
for his Office. "Try to get five guineas 9
week for lodging and partial board, but
don't let him slip il he offers four, or ever
three. Aknight is worth catching"
"Very well, DEAR" said Mrs. Taddy, III
she tied the comforter round her hus
bands throat. WRAP yourselfup warm
and don't slip on that frosty pavement.
Five guineas won't seem too much fol
him il you talk OF our reshershay quee
seer" continued Taddy, standing on hi
doorstep. "Then, my love, YOU arr
musical-that's what we meant by thu
comforts Of a refined home; you coult
play and sing to Sir Hector Of an evening.
"I'll do my best, DEAR" promised Mrs
Taddy, receiving the marital kiss; ant
she went indoors to tidy her house ant
put on her smartest attire.
She was winsome little woman, ant
looked unCommonly well in her blaCl
silk dress. She had large, blue, innocen
eyes; fair hair crimped very prettily owe
her forehead, and hands small as a child's
The expression OF her tiny mouth wa
very sweet when she smiled, but it de
noted weakness OF character; and shl
seemed but little fitted to cope, either owe
q bargain or otherwise, with the morose
querulous parsonage who turnedu up towart
8 o'clock, and was announced in anabash
ed tone by the parlor maid as "Sir 'Ector
please, num-"
Sir Hector had already frightened tn
maid by complaining that he had beef
kept waiting too long at the door; in tn
passage he grumbled at the cold, at tn
size OF the mat, at the general appearance
OF the house, which he pronounced to b
unfit for human habitation. He was
queer bristling creature, with loud
screeChing voice and a brick.colored fac
wrapped in tangle OF iron-gray whisker
He ha1 a parrot nose, blued by the in
clemency OF the weather, and he was rem
dered additionally ludicrous by wearing
spencer, which made his upper man top
heavy, while his long, thin legs, cased Il
hepherd's-plaid trousers, derived bu
scanty protection from short eoat.tails
Agnes heart sank when she saw the gu,
for she felt there could be no delight Ii
having him inhabit her house. He Pre-
ceeded to Justify her worst apprehension
by continuing In her presence the grum
bles which he had commenced in the pas
sage, all the while he stood near the len
der toasting his hands and back alternate
" at the fire.
"Good morning, Mrs Err -yer-h'n
I'm afraid this house won't do. Cold, bi
and dear, l suppose. / don't like il
Should catch my death Of rheumatisr
,, here
: room floor, Sir Hector?" asked Agnes tin
! idly, as a school girl addressing q maste
: d0h, it's no use. Lead on Il YOU like
but the place won't suit me. Might do
we're polar bear.
: Agnes, much modified, caught up hi
rustling skirts and led the way to til
drawing room. Sir Hector pooh.poohe
the handsome furniture and shueged h
shoulders at the view Of Kensington ga
dens which lay beyond the window
He had seen fine landscapes all bis III
said he, and didn't care Tor such ru
bishy collection OF trees as that. Did
like a reshershay queeseen? Oh, yes; b
he knew he shouldn't get 1t here; En-
Ilish women deemed themselves COO
Il whenever they succeeded in spelling
good joint with bad sauce. Agnes
} 9uired meekly whether he had taste
music2 "0h. no, mo-" he screeched;
al al suppose you can Just StVum on the piar
: and call that play? Don't hope to plea
Q, me with that kind OF thing. Pish.pis
III Are there any dogs, cats, birds orChildr
Ia tho hopseP"
p Agnes answered in the negative. "a
, ,se rats or mice, then% Agnes hoped n
T. "Weli, well,h growled Sit Hector, and
= reflected a moment, Agnes, looking plt
II and more Ikea schoolgirl, gazed at b
~ seriously, expecting thSt he would take
-. departure; but, to her great astopishme
u be- abruptly announced his intention
,ee staying, In bis most ungracious way
ne said he would take the lodgings, NOT
. cause there was anything TO admire
:, them, but because he was tired Of rao
7 4. al