The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-01-14


Mr.. Wells to write . letter to Miss Sander
son. quite cross, saying that she Oughtn't to
neglect her guardian and his family, SO L
guess she knew she was obliged to come.
They were talking about it hot and heavy
one morning when l was in the room mend
ing dress for Mrs. Wells tog 60 out in; if I'd
a been in the young lady's place !! wouldn't
have wanted to come; everybody but Master
Frank imposed on her, and the tricks Miss
Hattie used to play on that sweet young lady,
I'd like to have shaken her for, would. 1t
was Carrie here and "Carrie" there till
l bestirred myself sometimes to run up and
down for her, for she wasn't over strong,
and Mrs. Wells thought nobody but herself
had right to be weak.
Miss Caroline had fair face, with straight
features, and brown eyes with the express
sion OF saint. The gentlemen that used to
come to the house, after the twins was mar
ried and Miss Jenny off with one OF them to
Europe, set great store by Miss Caroline,
and that did make Miss Hattie mad. She
was seventeen then, about the same age with
Miss Carrie, and much richer than the other
young lady, so she was bent on being mar
ried first. There was one gentleman land
generous gentleman he was too, as I've good
cause to know, Mrs. Tomkins, my dear),
that was mighty fond of Miss Carrie. 1t
was about that time that poor Wilson was
counting me, my dear: SO natural. like
tOOh kTcdJ lutcTcsl III MISS CaIOIIuC dAdAs
and did what could for Mr.. Bachelor;
that was his name. and q very bad one, too,
1t was for nice-spOken man that wanted
to marry. Mrs. Wells was round good bit
herself, my dear, pushing her own daugh-
ter forward, as you NAV believe. There
were several times when Miss Carrie was at
our house Mr.. Bachelor fixed to take her
to some entertainment, and once he got his
way; the second time Mrs. Wells had one Of
her dangerous headaches, as she liked to call
them, when she would declare that If Miss
Carrie didn't sit by and fan her she would
go out of her mind. You see it was easy for
Miss Hattie to say that her mother thought
Miss SandersOn the best nurse Of the two,
and hint to Mr.. Bachelor that there weren't
no need to throw away the ticket to the
theater. And he was taken in: The best
Of them is SO stupid sometimes, my dear !!
That spiteful girl actually gave him to I'M
derstand that Miss Carrie didn't like him.
Now when he comes to me for help saws to
him, Mr.. Batchellor," 1 says, ''you're a
fool" 1 says. Not right straight up and
down, you know, Mrs. Tomkins, my dear !!
housekeeper ! amt above the cook and such
like in position, you know; but still he was
a real gentleman out and out, and was one
as always knew my place, which I am sorry
to say, Mrs. Tomkins, my dear, there's
many girl now that doesn't. But 1 give
him to understand that Miss Hattie wasn't
worth the other one, take her twice over !
Do you think could put what knew into
his head? "Why, it's you, Mrs. Carter"
save he, smiling. pleasantly, "as is mistaken.
Miss Wells is doing her best to persuade
Miss Sanderson Il wish you could have
heard how he spoke that name, it did
my heart good, L tell you) to-to-like
me-" And he blushed, onor-bright, my
dear; he went the color of the fire there. But
if didn't fly off the next minute when he
says as calm as possible, 81 have great
many good friends, Mrs. Carter" says he;
"last night Miss WarburtOn showed me,
real delicate-like," says he, "that she knew
what was going on, and would do all in her
power to help me" " She didw cries out,
quite. forgetful Of myself, for once: and
jumping up to put more wood in my stove,
''she did ~ For, you see, none better than
myself knew the slyness of that young lady !;
and as for lies, my dear, they were no more
to her than the very air she breathed. The
others, some of them, were bad enough for
deceit, but she did beat all!
Mr.. Bachelor looked surprised first and
then gave, and then he says, 'It seems to
me you haven't good opinion of anybody.
"Stop,' says I; ''you just begin to talk
about Miss Carrie, /" says I, s'and you'll see
who think we'll Of" says I. ''I'mnot blind
nor deaf, nor crazy neither, thank the Lord, -
says l, land if you don't get Miss Carrie, -
says 1, getting pretty excited, you'll be
sorry to the end of your days." says L.
Whether he was angry with me, or whether
some sense was coming into him at last, 1
don't know to this day, but he looked at his
watch and says, ''It's late, Mrs. Carter, and
Pm much obliged to you. Don't forget me.''
And with that he slips heavy reminder into
my hand and walks away. 1 used to be
afraid that the servants would notice him
~ l~.>A 4 81 l.
not staying long, and they all guessed that
Wilson and me was promised
Well, for some weeks after that, Mrs.
Tomkins, my dear, 1 kept my eyes well
open, and q nice little game was played.
Mrs. Wells and Miss Warburton was as thick
as you can think, and Miss Florrie, it was
settled, was to keep Mr.. Bachelor away
Hattie without loss Of time. This was the
plan, my dear, but do you fancy Miss War
burton ever kept to her word in her life? 1t
was s'dear Mrs. Wells," and ''dear Mrs.
Wells' and ''darling Hattie" and all the
time she was trying to cheat her startling
Hattie'' out of the man she was after! That's
friendship for you! But Miss Hattie was
too sharp for her for once, my dear, and
though couldn't abide Miss Hattie, was
wicked enough to Je glad that Miss War
burtOn's tiirtings and gigglings came to
nothing.
Well, pretty soon elegant flowers come
every few days for Miss Carrie, and don't
you think had to hide them in my room
and send her word to come for them! II the
poor child wasn't bothered to know what to
do with all her baskets! And the hearts,
eases standing up all round, as implOring as
you please! You see that very same Aunt
Charlotte was an old vixen, or pretty near,
that had lost both husband and children, and
she didn't care for no. hing but to have Miss
Carrie around. She had q regular paid
nurse, but 'twasn't the same as Miss Carrie
by no means, Mrs. Tomkins, my dear.
Well, one night (and never shall forget
it if 1 live five hundred years, which I
mayn't, for its out of nature, you know hir.
Bachelor asked Miss Carrie to 60 to q
church with him some way of to hear the
music that he said was real beautiful. Some
way that mink Miss Hattie got to know
shout it, and she says, quick as lightning,
for heard her, "Let's make up party, !"
says she, as bold as you like; " the more the
merrierw Natural like, the poor man
couldn't say no, 80 she runs to her mother,
Miss Hattie does, and tells her she's going
to ask Miss Warburton to 60 along. Mrs.
Wells, she was agreeable to any fun for her
spoiled baby, and then she calls me. "Ask
Johnnie Taylor, too" heard Mrs. Wells
say, as come into the room; she's very
fond OF my dear Florrie, and Mrs. Carter III
go with you to carry wraps and make herself
m