The Red Cloud chief., 1884-07-04

sHA t"~ -
was not at all an unusual one. When
he wanted TO learn what Mrs. Baggett
intended TO give him for dinner. he
would send for the old h~on~ekeeper and
take Il walk with her for twenty minutes.
Mrs. Brggett was quite accustomed TO
the proceeding. which. upon the whole.
she moved. She now appeared with 4
bonnet, and a wadded cloak which her
master had given her.
Its about the letter, SIR" said Mrs.
Baggett.
"iiow do You know"
Didn't see the handwriting and the
black edges: Mrs. Lawrie amt no
more"
Mrs. Lawrie has gone to her long ac-
count"
I'm afearcd. sir. she won't find it
easy TO settle the BILL" said Mrs. Bag
gett. who had a cynical way of express
ing her di>approbation.
Judged" Mrs. Baggett'turned up her
nose. The woman has gone and
nothing shall be sad against her here.
The girl remains. Now, I'll tell you
what L mean l do
..She isn't to come here. Mr.. Whittle-
staff?"
''Here she is to come. and here she is
to remain, ard here she is to have her
part of everything as though she were
my own daughter. And, as not the
smallest portion of the good things to
come to her, she is to have her share
in your heart. Mrs. Baggett.'
Il don't know nothing about m
heart. Mr.. Whittlestaff. Them as finds
their way to my heart has to work their
way there. Who's Miss Lawrie, that
I'm to be knocked about for q new
comer:?"
"She is Just Mary Lawrie."
I'm tina. old that l don't feel like
having a young missus put over me.
And it amt Tor your good. Mr.. Whittle-
staff. You amt a Young man, nor yOu
amt an old I'M. and she amt no rela-
tionS TO you. That's the worst part of
it. As sure rs my name is Dorothy
Bagge:t. you'll be falling in love with
her. Then Mrs. Baggett looked him
full iii the face and violently shook her
head.
Now GO in" he said, land pack
my things for three nights. I'm going
to Norwich. and | shan't want any din
ner. Tell John l want the cart. and he
must be ready TO 90 TO the station at
2:l5."
IL ought to cut the tongue out of my
head" said Mrs. Baggett IS she re-
turned to the house; Il might have
known il was the way to make him start
at once"
Not in three davs, but before the end
of the week. Mr.. Whittlestaff returned.
bringing with him a dark-featured, tall
girl, clothed in deepest mourning. To
Mrs. Baggett she was an OBJ ect 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. Vet in her heart she knew il to be
impossible that she could 90 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.. Whittiestaff would hardly be
contented with these subordinates. He
was the easiest master under whom q
servant could live. but his favor had to
be won through Mrs Baggett's smiles.
During the last two wears, however,
there had been enough discussion about
Mary Lawrie to convince Mrs. Baggett
that, in regard 10 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
fercnt from what she had expected. OF
interference in the house there was al
most none. Mary had evidently heard
of Mrs. Baggett's virtues-and infirmi.
t.es-and seemed to understand that she
had in many things to place herself
under Mrs. Baggett's orders.
Lord love YOU. Mss Mary" she was
heard to saw; ..aS if we did not all I'm.
derstand that YOU was to be missus OF
!, everything at Cookers Hail." the name
OF Mr.. WhittleStaff'. 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 Vet resolved but
that it might be herduty 10 turn against
Mary Lawrie with all the violeiice 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. Whittlestaf. An old gentleman
will seldom fall in love without some
!, encouragement. or. at any rate. will not
tell his love. Mary Lawrie was as cold
to him as though he was se%venty-five in,
stead of fifty. And she was also a:
d~utiful-by which she showed Mrs. Bag.
gett that any idea of marriage was OF
, her part ont of the question.
This Mrs. Baggett resented. Fol
, though she certainly felt. as would any
ordinary Mrs. Baggett, that a wifi,
!, would lie detrimental to her interest in
t life. she could not endure to think tina,
"A 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. ant
/, had been crIle1,v n This did moi