Morris tribune., 1881-10-27
A MvDERNLOVE STORY.

1AeS osu, 4ooV.-1 du DSitQ6r nervous nor
hysterical, but at this moment I am sorry
that have mislaid my smelling-salts. 4
man--s young man-said to be cookbook
lng-has been admitted here into this house,
and is actually unpacking his portmanteau
an the room over my head. And this is a
boarding house for girl students: and he
has been admitted by Mrs. Williams, our
landlady and nay cd friend 1 am afraid
that snail sleep badly TO- night; and have
five chapters of Roman history to prepare
Cor my class Tomorrow. It was Jane who
said he was good-looking; she took his port
saanteau from the cab. Is this a matter
on which Jane is competent to give an opin-
ion?
May 7th-I did sleep badly; and my an
alysls OF the motives which led Caesar to
attempt the conquest eff the Eritons was not
so clear as l could have wished it to be.
but am better now, for nave heard the
whole story. The gentleman, whose az
rival and admission into this house last
night produced in me, and indeed in all of
us, such an extreme degree Of astonish-
ment, is Mr.. Arthur Lindsay. 1t seems
that he has known Mrs. Williams ever since
ne was boy at school; and she SAYS that
she feels like q mother to him. She is in
the habit of saying that she feels like a
mother to US girls; but that is a different
thing. have known several young gen.
tlemen since they were boys at school; but
l don't feel like mother to them, and asa
sure they don't feel like sons to me,
We heard all about i'll should say him"
at breakfast this morning. Mrs. Viii
sisns was down first as usual, and Lola
Brown was down last as usual; and Mrs.
Williams had to begin again to please her.
Of Lola wouldn't lie so long in the morn
ing we should be better frieads,} Mrs.
Williams says that Mr.. Lindsay arrived
here at 1880 o'clock last night from the
East India docks, having come straight
from the ship Wellington IA good subject
for an essay for my class-"The Tactics of
Wellington and the Tactics of Wolseley, "
of which he is first lieutenant He lived
with Mrs. Williams and her husband sin
years ago, before he went to sea; and ar
irving in London, hers was the first house
he thought of. He knew nothing of the
change that had come over her establish
ment; that Is to say he knew nothing of us.
We are the change" There were no fe-
male students when Mr.. Lindsay boarded
with Mrs. Williams. Mr. Lindsay was as
tonlsEed to hear of us; we were astonishe6
to rear Of Mr.. Lindsay.
1t seems that we were all astonished,
When Mr., Arthur Lindsay said that he
had come to stay with Mis- Williams, Mrs,
Williams said that it was impossible. She
explained &C him the situation. She said
that she now received only lady boasders:
except ono, who was lady tutor, were
students of Queen Anne's college, that all
of them were pretty yshe told us that she
said all ; and thati it was certain nett her the
parents of the glls nor the principal of the
college would be pleased to know that sd .
cd bod q
boarder among them. Lola Brown asked
what color Mr.. Lindsay's hair was: and I
asked Lola Brown il she had finished her
French exercise,
Mrs. Williams, resuming after this inter-
ruptlon, said Mr.. Lindsay caught at the
word permanent almost before il was ont
OF her mouth, and said, "Oh, but I shant
oe permanent. I have only two months
leave; In nine weeks must be on board
again. need see nothing of the ladies,
and they need see nothing of me; and what
could possibly happen in nine weeks?"
Ethel Austin aemurred to the first part of
the last sentence, and Lola Brown said a
great deal" could happen in nine weeks,
She said her Aunt Sarah had married her
Uncle George in six weeks and separated
from him in three. Lucy Fair said that
Loia's Aunt Sarah and Uncle George ought
to have known better; and Lola asked Lucy,
rather irreverently, as thought, whether
her grandmother was still alive.
The end Of it all was, dears, said Mrs.
Williams, that consented to take him in.
You see it is only nine weeks after all. and
will use the bedroom at the top of the
house and will use the small library for
sitting room. He will take his meals alone,
and he will hardly be in at all during the
day. I shall have a WIRE blind fastened
across the window of the study which over
LOOKS the little room; anu you had better,
think say nothing about MIR. Lindsay at
the college,
Mrs, Williams says that Mr.. Lindsay is
better looking than when he went away.
May I1th- Ought to tell Miss Grindle?
Miss Grindle, as principal of the college
and responsible to some extent for the sur
roundings OF the students, not only in class,
but at home, would, am afraid, object
pelemptorily and decidedly to Mrs. Will
hanas' new boarder. She would take it as
no excuse that Mrs. Williams had known
MIR. Lindsay 'since he was a boy" and was
prepared to vouch for the gentlemanliness
of his conduct at all times and in all places.
Indeed, am not at all sure that she would
not decline to listen to any reasoning on
the subject, but would bring matters to a
alternative of losing or retaining the girls
and myself, and, with us, her lucrative con-
nection with the college, by losing or re-
tanning MIR. Arthur Lindsay. But is there.
In actual fact, so far as myself can see any
danger to be apprehended from this gentle
mans remaining nine weeks among us? I
do not know. To be sure, Mr.. Lindsay
himself, expectinga negative answer, asked.
What could possibly happen in nine
weeksp But l can't help remembering
Lola Browns reply about the ;ll.considered
union of Ler ridiculous Aunt Sarah and
Uncle George. Let me think, now, who
we are here, and what quantity of possible
self-control and proper feminine dignity
there is contained among us.
l. Susan Finn, aged twenty FIVE, lady
professor of mathematics and ancient his
tory, and tolerably goodlooking, am GER
fanny safe. Miss Grindle has nothing to
fear from me.
Mary Mervon, aged twenty three. student
OF Queen Anne's College-pretty in a ouiet
way, hard working, undemonstratiye and
reserved-is also, think, perfectly safe.
Oh, yes, yes, dear Mary is safe. She has
told me herself that the majority of gentle
men she has met are not attracted to her.
and that she herself uses no arts to attract |
them. She says she is wholly wrapped up |
in her work; and I believe her. No.if there |
is trouble in this house it will not be with |
Mary.
Ethel Austin, student. aged nineteen.
Ethel is a nice, pretty, and attractive, but
also good girl. Ethel says herself that
she likes fun" and know that her bow
cousins never think their holidays have
really begun until she has Joined them.
But Ethel is not at all free with strangers.
AID would, am convinced. do nothing
Any man who meets her
must like Ethel, but il he intends love
makinghe must be open and honest about
it, But she is susceptible; / am q little |
fearful for Ethel. / will keep near to
Ethel.