Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-04-29

in and had not sufficient strength of
mind or body to resist his orders. If he
had tried to beg and entreat and coax
me to get in, know 1 should have
walked on till dropped; but, being
peremptorily told to get in, my girlish
instinct of obedience came to my help,
and l was lifted in by strong arm be-
fore quite knew what was being done
with me.
l was so thankful when was being
comfortably driven along, the swift mo-
ton and brisk air bringing back my high
spirits, as they always do. told my
deliverer what was my destination. He
knew bennington, and he also knew
Mr.. Wilmslow very well, but he did not
think that should be able to get there
that night. He questioned whether at
that time of night could get a vehicle
to take me on. Perhaps it might not be
right to travel up to the Wilmslows' at
the late hour when should arrive. I'm
fortunately, he himself had to go five
miles in another direction. He was al
ready past his time, and his horse was
nearly knocked up. Perhaps, too, we
both doubted how far it would be in ex-
actly good taste for a young gentleman
10 drive up young lady at midnight to
a sedate household where she was to be
an exemplary governess.
But we had a very pleasant talk. He
told me all about the gentleman TO whose
house l was going, a country Squire and
at the same time a practical farmer, Gull
tivating a thousand acres of his own.
He thought should like the place and
the people, and he certainly amused me
very much by the way in which he de-
scribed all my future surroundings. But
all the time it was easy for me to see that
his mind was not quite at rest, that he
was not quite certain what was best to
be done, and rather anxious as to the up
shot of the adventure.
At last the town of Manningham
came in sight; pleasant streets, and a
broad market-place full of twinkling
lights. We drove up to the principal
inn, and entered beneath an archway.
Here he asked me to hold the reins for q
moment while he went in to talk to his
friend the landlady, of whom he had
spoken in kindly and confident terms as
we came along. Now, it SO happened
that there was little window under
meath the arch, opening into the land
lady's private room, from which she
could look out into the yard and issue
her directions. A little conversation was
going on in this room which turned out
to be of very unpleasant character. At
first there was an indistinguishable muir
muir of voices, and presently the accents
made themselves clear.
"No, indeed, Mr. William, you must
go somewhere else. 1 cannot find &C
commodation for this person.
Mr.. William appeared to be speaking
in demonstrating tone, but I could not
make out what he said. But the land
lady's next words, sharp and clear,
brought the hot blood to my face.
"Those who really are ladies don't go
tramping about the country till nearly
ten o'clock, and then take seats in young
gentlemen's gigs. We never take in
tramps at the Royal George"
"But, Mrs. Brown, what is this young
lady to do? You say that all your flies
are out, and she is quite unable to walk
to the Wifmslows of bennington.
"The Wilmslows of bennington don't
expect the likes of her, Mr.. William.
Those sort of people who run about the
country always get hold of good name
or two.'
"But this is dreadful said poor
William. "What am / to do with this
lady?''
"You should have thought of that,
sir, before you took her into your faith
er's carriage. There'll be fine talk all
over the country about this bit of work.
L know you mean no harm, but you al
ways were wild and willful, Mr.. Will
lam, and it's my belief that if you put
pair of tongs into petticoats you would
want to drive them fre-irons all about
the country
"You are talking utter nonsense, Mrs.
Brown; you are quite insulting
81 know what am about, Mr.. Curtis,
which is more than you do, when you
let yourself be taken in in this way.
You will make yourself rs bad name
as John Blades himself, who's the ter
ror of all the decent girls ten miles
"But only come and look at her, Mrs.
Brown. Look at her for single mo-
ment, / entreat you, and you will be
more than satisfied"
80, I'll take look at my lady, never
fear"
She came round to the door and looked,
and IN return she encountered the indig-
nant look of an honest English girl, who,
although most heart-broken, had enough
spirit and energy left to hold her own.
Directly the landlady saw me she became
suddenly and strangely altered. She
gave me smile and courtesy, and came
forward to greet me. She did not know
that had overheard this strange con-
and 1 am glad to say that
had enough tact to refrain from allRding
to it at the time.
"Dear me, Miss" she exclaimed.
' Mrs. WilmslOw will be so dreadfully !
sorry that you have been prevented COM
ng to her tonight by any accident or
How tired and hun
ny you must be. Come in, come i'm
She led the way into very pretty lit
lie room furnished as drawing-room,
where tall, handsome, bouncing girl |
vas sitting at table copying music, and
Introduced me to her as her daughter |
Kate. Rectors' daughters and innkeep-
RS daughters do not, as a rule, see
much of each other, but this was whole
ome, pleasant, pretty, lady-like girl, as
much Of a lady as any girl whom had
Wy l.