The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-07-07

L nv Oool iI'tN J''"I N'N''' " A" "
the rector murmurcd audibly-
Admirable woman ! Invaluable!
'Eh 2 said Aunt Crosby, sharp
ly turning round and the light from
the fire made her spectacles gleam
as she sat with raised pen did you
speak p
'No-I, ah-merc'y, was think
ing-ah-what "a loss Miss Doro-
thy would be to you-if-ah, she
was to-leave you =
Bless me = responded Aun t
Crosby, in tone of slight con
tempt; mo need to trouble about
that till she talks Of going.'
No, no; very true madam.
You have such an amusing way
of putting things! ! and he ven
tureQ on a little nervous laugh,
from which he sobered down
supcrnaturally next minute. Per
haps-ah-she might marry ? ..
What is the idiot driving at "
said Mrs. Crosby to herself, irate
at so many Interruptions. Mar
~, did you say 2 she inquired
aloud. well, about fve-and-twen-
ty years ago Dolly was a we'll
looking young woman: Still, she
might marry now, and so might
[ Tor the matter Of that, if;
any one asked me! Take u
look at the Times, Mr.. Preedy;
they'll bring in the tray directly !
and the pcn::scratchcd on again.
What q cruel old wOman! said
the rector to himself She wont
let me speak! III try her again,
though see if [ dou't.'
. And haying manfully turned the
Times inside out, be. gave a pre-
paratory=cough,
Mrs. Crosby, | have long wish
ed "''
why can't he keep still? NUT
teredtho old ladyrsott0 voce.
i say | have long wished'-and
he had attained the fixed high
key in which he usually intoned
the service, and the sound of his
own voice thus PITCHED gave him
courage-'to express the admira-
tioa kfeelfo your niece .
We'll, she's IN excellent crea-
turc, Mr.. Preody,' agreed aunt
Crosby ; and in despair at his per-
tinacity, she put down her pen,
pinched her glasses tighter on her
high nose, and turned her keen
face full round to await the fur
ther remarks Of her visitor.
What a wife she would make,
Mrs. Crosby!' cried the cheered
Rector enthusiastically.
A glimmering Of truth lit up the
old Iady's mind, and She roplied'
you would be a better judge Of
that than me, Mr.. Preedy. Did
you wantto marry her?'
o, Mrs. Crosby, you are too
good. May | hope?'
With an odd smile on her puck
cred old face, Aunt Crosby said -
: Hadn't you better ask her?
I'll go out as sne comss in.:
And suiting the action to the
word the mistress of the mansion
left the room as her niece entered.
That night, about halt-past
twelve, two hours after every
one had :.etired, Mrs. Crosby heard
d footstep on the gravel walk be-
low her window. She got up at
once," lit her candle and, throwing
on a warm but faded dressing
gown, she marched along the pas
sage and down stairs to the room
where rcposed the butler and the
nate chest. The sound Of the old
mans snoring showed he was un-
disturbed. His mistress raped
sharply,
Get up, Barnes, there s 4 man
walking under my window
Quickly old Barnes obeyed, and
then he called a young footman
to assist him, and the two armed
themselves with poEefs and sal
lied forth from the bay window OF
the dining-room; while Mrs. Cros-
by, candle in hand, stood just with
i" it, Alter proving about for a
few minutes, the men we're about
to come in, when the younger OF
the two spied 81 shadow close up
to the gray wall Of the house
He spraog tarward, shouting.
I've got him !
And Mrs. Crosby, in a voice
worthy Of Mrs. Siddons, cried
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