The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-07-04
.She I. inst M.rxI.xrie.r

as--s--ssgs-s-
'She Il Just Mary Lswrie. !"
Am that Old that 1 dent feel like
having 3 young missus put over me-
And it aint for your good. Mr.. Whittle-
staff. You amt young man, nor you
amt an old I'M, and she amt no rela-
tons to you. That's the worst part of
it. As sure as my name is Dorothy
Baggett. you'll be falling in love with
her." Then Mrs. Baggett looked him
full in the face and riolsnfly shook her
Now 90 in, he said, "and pack
my things for three nights. I'm going
to Norwich, and shan't want any dim
ner. Tell John / want the cart, and he
must be ready to go to the station 81
2:15."
81 ought to cut the tongue out of my
head said Mrs. Baggett SIS she re-
turned to the house; Il might have
known it was the way to make him start
at once"
Not in three DAYS. but before the end
of the week, Mr. Whittiestaf returned,
bringing with him dark-featured, tall
girl, clothed in deepest mourning. To
Mrs. Baggett she was an object OF in
tense interest, because, though she had
by no means assented to her masters
proposal, on behalf of the young lady.
and did tell herself again and again
during Mr. Whittlestaff's absence that
she was sure Mary Lawrie was a bag
gage, yet in her heart she knew it to be
impossible that she could go on living
in the household without loving one
whom her master loved. With most of
those concerned in the household she
had her own way. Unless she would
favor the groom. and the gardener, and
the boy, and the girls who served below
her, Mr.. Whittlestaff would hardly be
cunteuted with these subordinates. He
was the easiest master under whom .
servant could live. but his favor had to
be won through Mrs Baggett's smiles.
During the last two years, however.
there had been enough discussion about
Mary Lawrie to convince Mrs Baggett
that, in regard to this '-interloper." rs
Mrs. Baggett had once called her, Mr..
WhittleStaff intended to have his own
way. Mrs. Baggett was anxious to
know whether the young lady was such
as she could love.
Strangely enough. Mrs. Baggett, for
twelve months, could not quite make
up her mind. The young lady was diff
fefent from what she had expected. OF
interference in the house there was al
most none. Mary had evidently hearl
of Mrs. Baggett's virtues-aud infirmi-
ties and seemed to understand that she
had in many things to place herself
under Mrs. Baggett's orders
Lord love YOU. Miss Mary" she was
heard to say: '.as If we did not all un.
derstand that YOU was to be miSsus OF
everything at Cookers Hail." the name
of Mr. Whittlestaff's house. But those
who heard it knew the words Were
spoken in extreme good humor and
Judged that Mrs. Baggett's heart had
been won. But Mrs. Baggett still had
her fears, and was not Yet resolved but
that it might be her duty to turn against
Mary Lawrie with all the violence in
her power For the first month or two
after the young lady's arrival, she had
almost made up her mind that Mary
Lawrie would never consent to become
Mrs. Whittlestaff. An old gentleman
will seldom fall in love without some
encouragement. or, at any rate, will no,
tell his love. Mary Lawrie was as cold
to him as though he was seventy-five in
stead of fifty. And she was also a
dutiful-by which she showed Mrs. Bag.
gett that any idea of marriage was Or
I i IS 81
This Mrs. Baggett resented. Fol
though she certainly felt, as would any
ordinary Mrs. Baggett, that a wife
would be detrimental to her interest in
| life, she could not endure to think tina,
Ia little stuck-up mink, taken in from
charity" should run counter to any o
her masters wishes. On one or two
occasions she had spoken to Mr.. Whit
tlestaff respecting the young lady. anC
had been cruelty snubbed. This did no
create good -humor on her part, and sh,
began to fancy herself angry in that thu
4! young lady was so ceremonious witt
her master. But as months ran by sh,
felt that Mary was thawing, and tina
Mr.. Whittlestaff was becoming more af
| fectionate. There were periods il
which her mind veered round. but a
the end of the year Mrs. Baggett Ger
tainly did wish that the young lad,
should marry her old master.
Il can 60 down to Portsmouth, sht
said to the baker, who was nearer {.
Mrs. Baggett's confidence than any on
else except her master, land weary on
the rest on 'em there When sh
spoke of ..wearying out the rest OIL
EN-" her friend understood that sh
alluded to what years she might still
have to live. and to the abject miser,
of her latter days, which would be tn
consequence of her resigning her pres
ent mode of life. Mrs. Baggett wa
supposed to have been born at Ports
mouth, and, therefore, to allude +
that one place which she knew.
j Before l describe Mr. Whittlestat
and Miss Lawrie, l must devote a few
words to the early life of Mrs. Baggett
Dorothy Tedcaster had been born il
the house of Admiral Whittlestaff, tn
officer IN command of the Portsmouth
dock-yard. There her father or he
mother had family connections. to visi
whom Dorothy, when young woman
thad returned from the then abode O
Finer mistress, Mrs. Whittlestaff. Wit
Mrs. WhittleStaff she had lived iron
birth, and of Mrs. Whittlestatf her min
was SO full that she did conceiv
her to be superior to her majesty an
all the royal family. Dorothy, in al
evil hour, went back to Portsmouth
and there encountered that worst Q
military heroes. Sergeant Bagget.
With many lamentations and comics
sions SIS to her own weakness, she wrot
1 l..lr ta& -h