Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-09-10
MISS ATKINSON'S OPINIONS.

ooh, VIII, | am so gladw and pretty
Mrs Danvers, quite forgetful of the soft
balls of many-colored worsteds in her lap,
rose hurriedly to meet her husband. a
had very, very, very important letter to-
day-from Londonp'
From London, Fan? did not think
that you knew any one in London"
81 was three years in London board
ing school, sir Do you think it is only
men who make bosom friends at school {?
John Lawrence and you were chums at
school, and are ridiculous about each other
vet suppose can have a school friend,
too"
"Nonsense, Fan! David and Jonathan
have no sisters Women get husband,
and then there is an end of my darling
Angelina and my darling Fanny"
"Her name is not Angelina, sir, and
she always called me Frances. If there is
one thing Elizabeth detests it is nick
names. She used to say If your name
is Frances, don't allow any one to call you
anything else She is quite Il remarkable
woman, VIII, / assure you"
"And her name is Elizabeth ?"
Yes-Elizabeth Atkinson. She is very
rich-very rich, indeed; and | thought,
VIII, dear if l could get her to be baby's
od-mother-she's an old maid, Will
She might leave baby something, you
know"
"You mercenary little mother! You
would lay the weight of those two dread
full names upon baby for the sake of
possible legacy? Observation-Disclosures
Danvers The little mite could not bear
it, Fan"
eve could call her Bessie viii; her
god-mother would never know. Bessie is
pretty; don't you think so |
"No, | do not think so. / am for call
ing her Lily, or Violet, or Grace, or some
thing fowery and pretty"
81 never knew girl called Lily that
did not grow up fat and red, or one called
Violet that was not loud and vulgar, or one
called Grace that was not ill-tempered and
gawky Now there is something very
stately about Elizabeth"
"And very likely baby will grow up
little futtering, frizzly-haired fairy, all
curves, and ringlets and ribbons"
al am ashamed of You, VIII, talking
about your own dear, darling little daugh-
ter in that way And after all the trouble
| have taken to select a proper gOdmother
for her. And Elizabeth so delighted, and
coming all the way to New York to see
her goddaughter too, and everything else.
| must say expected more appreciation
from YOU, VIII. Lillian Morris was here
this afternoon, and she of course opposed
Elizabeth. l expected that. She is all
and Elfrida and Bertha. But a man of
the world-a sensible man like you, viii!
| am astOnished."
"Oh, don't scold, Fan. / think Eliza
beth lovely and as you say, we can call
her Lizzy''
"No, VIII, never said Lizzy. Lizzy,
indeed said Bessie"
Yes, dear Bessie. beg pardon"
"And shall write to Miss Atkinson to
say that we will have the christening in
May, if that suits you, Will"
% Yes, yes; that suits me very well,
John and are going to the Adirondacks
in June, but it will be all over by that
time"
"All over, Will! I must say that is not
hattering the baby"
81 dare say bal by will be glad enough
to have it all over. But is this lady really
coming here TO New York ?"
"She is really coming. | was going to
ask you about refurnishing the blue suite
of rooms for her"
"Why, they were refurnished when we
were married, two years ago, and nobody
has used them but John Lawrence"
"And he smokes. Elizabeth is very
sensitive on that subject"
For short time Will held his ground
about refurnishing; but after Fanny shifted
the point of attack from her rocking-chair
to his knee the resistance grew fainter
and fainter, and finally the weak husband
not only agreed to carved oak furniture
upholstered in rich wood colors, but also
protested to see the necessity for looking
after the carriage.
"That Mrs. Lorimer has had hers lined
with dark purple satin and it is really an
effective background for light hair" skill
fully suggested Fanny. And | am so
sick of those gray horses Can't we have
bay ones, viii? They are more English
and stylish"
So the oak furnishing, the new carriage
lining and the bay horses were determined
on, and what is more, Will Danvers had
no sense of having suffered defeat.
viii Danvers heard a great deal of Miss
Atkinson between March and May, and
was allowed to read specially wise and
lofty paragraphs in her letters. He affected
a great admiration for the lady, but in re-
atty he was quite sure she would prove a
tremendous bore. "But John and / can
get out of it," he reflected " that is one
comfort And if she manages to put Fan
under her thumb she is cleverer than |
am, that's all. l don't believe Fan will
give in-much l never knew her to do
it. Phi bet twenty dollars they have
civil fight before month is over, and that
Fan comes out ahead"
In week after Miss Atkinson's arrival
Will had modified this opinion. Her ap
pearance was not formidable-quite the
contrary. Indeed, she was SO petite, so
gentle, so appealing, that VIII had not at
| first thought it necessary to guard one of
his prerogatives. But gradually he found
| himself abandoning his dearest rights.
"Miss Atkinson was not well; would Mr..
Danvers kindly breakfast alone and allow
| darling Frances to have a quiet talk and
| cup of tea with herY Mr.. Danvers po-
litely consented, and in week the favor
| had become custom, and Mr.. Danvers
| breakfasted alone rs matter of course.
1t was the same thing in everything.
Miss Atkinson took possession of his wife,
his child and his house. Her cool, calm,
| authoritative way was irresistible, and she
delivered her opinions with such an air of