Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-08-07
CHAPTER /.
Nj RS. BAG GETT.

dis Irssl asnbsr - . The Bdrdea,"
'6archsster Toirers,'' Etc. Etc.
CHAPTER T. I. ''''
MRS. BAaGETT.
MI. William VI hittlestaf was stroll
ing up and down the long walk at his
country seat in Hampshire, thinking of
the contents of a letter which he held
crushed up within his trousers pocket
de always breaklasted exactly at nine.
and the. letters were supposed to be.
brought to him at quarter past. The
postman was really due at his hall-door
at quarter before nine; but though he
had lived in the same house for above
hfteenl wears, and though he was very
ANXIOUS to get his letters, he had never
yet learned the truth. about them. He
was satisfied. in his ignorance, with
S:I5 q. m. but on. this occasion the
postboy, as usual, was ten minutes aft
Z er that time,i Mr.. .Whittlestaff had got
through his second cup of tea, and was
stranded IN his chair, having nothing to
do for the space of two minutes: and
subsequently when he had sent. some
terrible message out to the postboy and
then had read the one epistle which had
arrived. he thus liberated his mind:
I'm be whipped if | will have any
thing to do with her." This must be
taken as Indicating simply the condition
of anger to which he had been reduced
by the postboy. If any one were to
have told him afterwards that he had
20 expressed himself. he would have de
slAred that be certainly deserved to be
whipped himself. In order that he
might make up his mind on the subject,
ne vent eps with MS hat and stick into
the 'lohg5 walk. and Thought out the
matter to its conclusion. The letter
ran as follows:
My DEAR AIR. ADMINISTRATIONS Mrs
Lawrle has gone at last. She died this morn
ing at seven % clock and poor Mary is alto
gether alone in the world. i have asked her
TO come in among us for few days at any
rate. till the funeral shall be over. But she has
how small our house is What is she to dor You
know all the civcunSt anees much better than
sas shs sss she and had tb alss ss
sTtl. apfcousc. fellpx ont the Intention which
hal been fixed on Between her and her father
before his death. But it is a most weary pros
pect. especially for one who has received no
dire,t education for the purpose She hasde-
voted herself for the 1Ai twese months to
Mrs. Lawrie as though she had been her
mother. You did not like Mrs. Lawrie, nor
did L; nor. indeed. did poor Mary love her
very dearly. But she, at any rate, did her
duty by her step-mother. know that in re-
gard to actual money you Will be gener-
your mind, and endeavor to think of some
future for the poor girl.
"Yours very faithfully. EMMA KING"
1t was IN answer to such a letter as
this that Mr.. Whittlestaff had declared
that he'd be whipped if he'd have any
thing tosftoswith her He had during
the hstthree months been asking HIM
self as TO what should be Mary Lawrie's
fate in life when per step-mother should
IA /,
the question whether he could or would
not bring into his own house, almost as
q daughter. young woman who was in
no way related to him. He had always
begun by telling himself that the world
was a censorious old fool. and that he
might do Just as he pleased rs to max
ing any girl his daughter. But before
dinner he had generally come to the
conclusion that Mrs. Baggett would not
approve. Mrs. Bagoett was his house
keeper. and was TO him a person of i'm
portancP. He had not even suggested
4 the ide:s toHirs. Bagyett. and was sure
that Mrs Baggett would not approve.
As to sending Mary Lawrie into the
)sure. woaM not aiswerf OIL IA
Two years ago bad died his best be-
loved friend. CAPTAIN atriek Iawrie.
OF all men he was the most impecuni-
Gus. Late in life he had married a sec
ond wife, a woman who was hard, sharp
and possessed of an annuity. The flu
ture of his only daughter had been a
terrible grief to him, but from MIR.
Whittlestatf he had received assurances
which had comforted him. ''She sha' n t
want. / can't say anything further. :"
Since his friends death MIR. Whittle-
staff had been liberal with presents,
which Mary had taken most nn~illing-
" under her step-mother's guidance.
Such had been the state of things when
Mr.. Whttlestaff received the letter.
:Wf1enShe had walked up and down the
long walk for an extra hour, Mr.. Whit
tlestaff expressed aloud this conclusion:
II don't care one straw for Mrs. Bag
gett-"
1t should be understood as having
been uttered in direct opposition to the
first assurance made by him, that he
be whipped if he'd have anything to do
with her. He had resolved that Mary
Lawrie should come to him. and be
prsde mistress If his Sheuse.4 He was
fftrad Mars bawrie was twenty-five.
az can do Just what l please with her,
he said to himself. las though she were
my own girl. :, BY this he meant that
he would not.be Expected to fail in love
with her. and that it was quite out OF
the question that she should fall in love
with him.
$50 and tell Mrs. Baggett that I'll be
much obliged TO her If sne' put on her
bonnet and come out to me here"
This he said to boy. and the order
was not at all an unusual one. When
he wanted to learn what Mrs. Baggett
intended to give @him forI dinner, he
sysould send for the old housekeeper and
ItAkSswalk with her for twenty minutes.
Mrs. Baggett was quite accustomed to
the proceeding. which. upon the whole.
she eaiayed- She now appeared with
} E,bnsr and a Waitied cloak which shel
m,sts assa. fl Iss l g. 1 a. said Mrs
Baggett. -,
..ffow do you know9'
didn't see the handwriting and the
black edges? Mrs. Lawrie amt NO
more"
Mrs. Lawrie has gone to her long &C
c0 ..Pm afeared. sir. She won't and it
easy to settle the BILL" said Mrs. Bag
eett, who had a cynical way ofexpress-
fink Herfii&rRrabasoA- I
;udged Mrs. Baggett turned up her
nose. 1.-The woman. has gone. and
nothing shall be said against her here.
The gill remains. Now. I'll tell you