The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-06-25
CHAPTER ].
MRS. BAGGETT.

CHAPTER ].
MRS. BAGGETT.
Mr.. William Whittlestafr was stroll.
Ing up and down the long walk at his
country seat in Hampshire, thinking o.
the contents of letter which he held
crushed up within his trousers pocket.
lie always break asted exactly at nine,
and the letters wero supposed 10 be
brought to him at = quarter past. The
osinan was really due at his hall-dool
ut quarter fore nine; but though he
had lived in the same house for above
fifteen years, and though he Was very
anxious TO get his letecrs. he had never
Eet learned the ,ruth about them. lie
was satisfied. in his ignorance, with
g:l5 n. n,, but on this occasion the
postboy, as usual. was ten minutes aft
er that time Mr.. Whttlcstar had got
through his second cup Of tea, and was
stranded in his chair having nothing tc
$40 Tor the space OF two minutes; and
subsequently when he had sent some
terrible message out 10 the poslboy and
then had read the one epistle whicn had
arrived, he thus liberated his mind
"pll be whipped If will have any
thing to da with her." This must be
taken rs indicating simply the condition
OF anger TO which he had been reduced
by the postboy. Ii any one were TO
have told him afterwards that he had
SO expressed himself, he would have dc.
clarcd that he certainly deserved to be
whipped himself. In order that he
might make up his mind on the subject,
he went ont with his hat and stick into
the long walk, and thought out the
matter 30 its conclusion. The letter
ran as follows:
"sr. TAwELL's, NORWICH, February, IS.
my DEAR Mr.. MHtTTLEsrArF.-Poor Mrs,
Iawrc has gone at last. She died this morn.
Ing at seven o'clock, and poor Mary is alto
gcther ulono In the world. ] have asked her
10 come in among us for q few days at any
rate I'LL the funeral shall be over. But she has
how small our house Is. What Is she TO dor You
know all the circumstances much better than
do. shn says herself that sho had always
been Intended for governess, and that she
will, OF course, follow out the intention which
hal boon iiNcd on between her and her father
before his death. But II i n most weary pros
pcct, especially for one who has received no
dire, education for the purpose. She has de-
voted herself for the last twelve months Ia
Hrs. Lawfie, rs though she had been hor
mother. You dil not ike Mrs Lawrie, nor
did /: nor. indeed, dill poor Mary love hcr
very dcnrly. But shc, ut any rate, did hcs
duty by her stelrmothor. know that In r.
Eard 10 actual money you will be gcnOr
1ous enough; but do turn tho mnttor over In
your mind, nni cndcayor 10 think Of some
future Tor the poor girl.
"Eours very faithfully BHSA k1S0.'
II was IN answer TO such q letter as
this that Mr.. Whittlcstaif had declared
tia: he'd be whipped II cd have auys
thing 10 10 with her. lie had during
the last three months lecu asking him
sclt rs 20 what should be Mary Lawrie's
fate in lifc wheG her siep-molhcr should
have gone, and had never cute solve !
the question whether he could or would
not bring into his own house, almost rs
n dang ter, a Young woman who was IN
no way related 10 him. He had always
begun by telling himself that tho world
was u ccnsorious old fool, and that he
might do Just as he pleased as 10 max
ing any girl his daughter. But before
dinner he had generally como 10 the
conclusion that Mrs. Baggett would not
approve Mrs. Baggott was his house.
keeper, and wns to him person OF i'm.
portance. He had not even suggested
The idea TO Mr.. Baggett. and was Sure
that Mrs. Baggett would not approve.
As TO sending Mary Lawric into the
.world as goyernes', that plan, he was
sure. would not answer.
Two years ago had died his best be-
loved friend, Captain Patrick Lawrie.
Of all men he was the most impecuni.
GUS. Lato In life he had married sec.
tond wife, woman who was hard, SHARP
and possessed of an annuity. The fu-
ture of his only daughter had been q
terrible grief TO him, but from Mr..
Whittlesiall he had received assurances
which had comforted him. "She sha'n't
want. can't say anything further. "
Since his friends death alr. Whittle-
staff had been liberal with presents,
which Mary had taken most unwilling
ly under her step-mother's guidance.
Such had been the state Of things when
Mr.. Whittlestaif received the letter.
When he had walked up and down the
long walk for an extra hour, Mr.. Whit
tlestaG expressed aloud this conclusion;
al don't care one straw for Mrs, Bag
gett." @
IL should be understood as having
been uttered in direct opposition to The
first assurance made by him, that be- d
be whipped II he d have anything 10 do
with her. He had resolved that Mary
Lawrie should come TO him, and be
made mistress OF his house. He was
fifty and Mary Lawrie was twenty-five.
al can do Just what please with her,
he said 10 himself. las though she were
my own girl" BY this he meant thai
he would not be expected to fah In love