Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-07-17
NO. 167.
Gales ano Skcttbes.
From the Argosy Magazine.
"MR. SMITH,"
Continued from ves,eriay.l

/ The next moment they We're interrupted
| by the awakened household assem-
bling.
One by one the inmates of the house
came uooping up in every form OF un-
finished and peculiar attire. but all
worked with such a will, and the supply
| of water was SO good, that the fire was
eNtinguished by the time that the day
dawned
Not. however, before the staircase was
wholly consumed. and Miss Warburton's
rooms partly DESTROYED and wholly spoiled
by the double action of the smoke and
the hose from the garden. which had been
hrougt To play upon the conilagraton.
The world of nature had been some
time aStir, and the sun was some time in
the heavens when Jeffrey retired TO bed
for the second time. hut he now slept
soundly until 9 O'Clock.
fastening then, he found awaiting him
in the breakfast room. Mr. Warburton.
walking up and down in state of great 4
agitation.
Seated before the urn was Lettice her
self, looking as fresh as though she had
passed the night in tranquil slumber upon
a bed of roses. and had stolci some of
their bloom and sweetness for herself.
MIR. Warburton hailed Jeffrey as his
daughters delivcrer. making many at
tcmpts 10 thank him for great service he
had rendered them, but rs regularly
broke down; and rs upon each occasion
he wrung Smiths hand almost to the
point of dislocating his shoulder, the lat
ter was not sorry when he abandoned the
endeavor to express his gratitude, and
proposed that breakfast should be pro-
ceeded with.
No sooner was the meal over than JEFF
frey and Lettice were invited to be pres
cnt at the inquiry Mr.. Warburton was
about To institute into the cause of the
fire.
He was not going 10 have his house
burned down about his ears and not know
the reason why.
So the entire staff of servants was
summoned, and the inquiry opened with
great tormality.
Each of the men-servants separately
denied all knowledge of the matter; but
when 1t came to the women servants turn
to be interrogated. Mrs Bennett. the
housekeeper, a homcly old woman. but a
privileged person. who had evidently been
on ihorns for ten minutes past to get in n
word. answered with great fluency and
energy:
mo. sir; didn't do il: but know
who did. Twas that bad, wicked girl.
Hettv.n
What your niece. Hettyr' cried Mr..
Warburton, astonished.
'Ies. sir" assented the Spartan rela-
tive. Twas she rs set fire to the house
and tried to burn us all up in our beds"
Come here, IIetty.'
In answer to the summons there came
forward a plump-faced country lass.
shaking and crying. but. not looking alto
gether the murderer and incendiarv she
had been represented to be.
Now, then. what have you got to sayp''
! asked her master, with the air of Judge
to prisoner at the bar.
The only reply of the culprit was a fresh
burst of tears.
Miss Warburton came to the rescue
Look at me, Hetty,' SAID she, in
| kind and gentle voice, land tell us how
| it happened
| The girl turned her moist eyes upon
the young lady with some appearance of
relief. "Well. Miss Jennie Rowland's
| little girl had sore throat
Tut. tut. tut" broke in the old Squire
with his familiar expression of impatience.
Tut. tut, tut. We don't want to hear
about the health of the parish. want %
know why my house is to be burned down
and Miss Leilice killed between the fire
and the fright
Mr.. Smith and Miss Lettice'' looked
up at this ghastly picture; and their
glances meeting, the majesty of the court
was nearly being broken by a peal Of
laughter.
As soon as she could regain q fitting
gravity Of countenance, Miss Warburton
resumed her prompting. 'Put down
your apron and 60 on. ITetty," said she to
the girl who was plating up the hem of
her apron nervously. when she was not
using il as a mop to wipe her stained and
heated cheeks.
Il was telling you. Miss Jenny Row
lands came up for some black -currant jam
and aunt sent me to the store-room behind
the stairs for it,
Now put the blame upon mel" cried
Mrs. Bennett, throwing up her hands with
a gesture that spoke volumes for the in
Justice and iniquitv of the world.
mo, aunt. I'm not; I'm only telling
how twas. And was obliged, Miss, to
fetch light to read the labels on the pots,
and I left the candle behind me on the
window. ! suppose forgot it cause it
was so light outside.''
VERY wei. Now, Hetty, you must
promise to be very careful for the future -
II will. Miss. | will" cried the peni-
tent Hetty, applying the apron more Wig
'orously than ever to her eyes.
"Yes; recollect that great deal of
damage has been done, and it might have
been much more serious, costing some Of
us our lives, but for the goodness of God.
You must take warning from this"
'1ndeed I'll never look at candle
again
IAN undertaking you'll find it difficult
TO keep" said Miss Warburton. laugh.
ing. ''You can all CO.
''My dear" said her father, as soon as
the servants had dispersed, '.you should
have let me speak word. We shall be
having the house in flames every other
night when they see how easily we take
this.
Nonsense! Hetty has had warning
tor life. Besides, papa, you would onlJ
have made us all laugh. Now then, whai
shall we do? Shall we take Mr.. Smitl
! IN tho frarJouc c,,ob n xbox, -