The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-21
One Clean of Romance

AZ ldst tno IOWn OF Mannlngnam Camc
In sight; pleasant streets and broad
market-place full of twinkling lights.
We drove up to the principal inn, and
entered beneath the archway. Here he
asked me to hold the reins for 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 underneath the arch
opening into the landlady's private
room, from which she could look out into
the yard and issue the directions. A
little conversation was going on in the
room which turned out to be of very
unpleasant character. At first there was
m indistinguishable murmur of voices,
and presently the accents made them
selves clear.
mo, indeed, Mr.. William, you must
60 somewhere else. l cannot find accom-
npdation for this person."
Mr.. William appeared to be speaking
In a demonstrating tone. but 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 60
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 the young
lady to do? You say that all your flies
are out, and she is quite unable to walk
to the Wilmslows 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 a good name
or two" ....
but this is dreadful" said poor Will
liam. "What am I to do with this
1adyw
"You should have thought of that, sir,
before you took her up into her father
carriage. There'll be a 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
liam. and it's my belief that if you put
apair 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"
"I 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 as bad name
as John Blades himself, who's the ter
ror of all the decent girls for ten miles
round"
"But only come and look at her, Mrs.
Brown. Look at her for single mo.
ment, l entreat you, and you will be
more than satisfied"
"Oh, 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 almost heart-broken, had
enough spirit and energy left to hold her
own.
Directly the landlady saw me she be.
came suddenly and strangely altered
She gave me asmile and curtsy, and
came forward to greet me. She did moi
know that I had overheard this strange
conversation, and am glad to say that
had enough tact to refrain from alludine
to it at the time.
"Dear me, Miss" she exclaimed, "Mrs.
Wilmslow will be 50 dreadfully sorry thai
you have been prevented coming to hel
tonight by any accident or unpleasant
ness. How tired and hungry you must
be. Come in, come it."
She led the way into very pretty lit.
tie room furnished as a drawing-room
where a tall, handsome, bouncing girl
was sitting at table copying music, and
introduced me to her as her daughter
Kate. Rectorsi daughters and inn-keep-
ers daughters do not as rule, see much
of each other, but this was wholesome,
pleasant, pretty, lady-like girl, as much
of lady as any girl whom / had ever
met. We shook hands heartily, and at
once became great friends. The good
people brought me tea and cold chicken,
and made me as comfortable as could
have been at home.
"You have never been at an inn be.
fore, have you, my dear@ said Mrs
Brown, now Modified beyond descrip
/ tion. ..
y "Not to sleep, ma'am; only now ant
\ then / have had lunch with my fathe
R when we have been at hotel in ou
4 market town."
q perhaps you will be little nervou
at night in strange place." she re
Joined.
n "Not at all, ma'am," I answered, at
u tempting to be polite, although in re
Il ality 1 expected that / should feel rathe
u uncomfortable.
H 81 think, my dear, if you don't mind
n you had better sleep in my daughte
b Kates room. There is little bed ther
h which will just suit you, and you viii
\ not feel lonely"
Il Kate's room was perfect boudoir
4 She had all sorts of pretty things, ant
\ had. been at good boarding-school nea
London. She had q little swinging
bookcase, just like my own, with tn
same admixture of novels, poems, ant
1 devotional works My little whit
i couch was charming. In girls fashion
we lay in bed ever 30 long talking.
Ala L. III +Ln u+orv, &c vov Iav fro,,