The Red Cloud chief., 1884-07-04
CHAPTER !.
NJ RS. BAGGETT.

CHAPTER ].
MRS. G
Mr.. William Whittlestaff was stroll
ING up and down the long walk at his
country seat in Hampshire, thinking of
the contents of 4 letter which he held
crushed up within his trousers pocket.
he always break astcd exactly at nine.
and the letters Were supposed to be
brought 10 him n 4 quarter past. The
poStman was really due at his hall-door
at a quarter b,fore nine: but though he
had lived in the same house for above
fifteen wears, and though he Was very
ANXIOUS To get his letters, he had never
vet learned the rUth about them. He
was satisfied, in his ignorance, with
9:l5 a. m. but on this occasion the
poStboy, a usual. was ten minutes aft
er that time. Mr.. WhIttlestaff had got
through his second cup of tea. and was
stranded in his chair. having nothing 10
do for the space of two minutes: and
subsequently, when he had sent so.ne
terrible message out 10 the po>tboy and
then had read the one epistle which had
arrived. he thus liberated his mind:
IN be whipped if | will nave any
thing to DO with her." This must be
taken As indicating simply the condit on
of anger 10 which he had been reduced
by the po,tboy. If any one were TO
have told him afterwards that he had
50 expressed himself. he would have de-
1clared that he certainly deserved to be
whipped himself. In order that he
might make up his mind on the subject.
he went out with his hat and stick into
the long walk, and thought out the
IN 49,
ran As follows:
"ST. TAwELL'S. NORWICH, February. Is.
MY DEAR MIR. WHITTLESTAFf.-Poor Mrs.
Lawr3 has gone AT last. She died this morn
ing ut seven O'Clock. and poor Mary is alto
gether alone in the world L have asked her
to come IN among us for a few days at any
rate. till the funeral shall Toe over. But she has
refused. knowing l suppose. how crowded and
how small our house is. What Is She 10 do! You
know al. the circumstances much better than
do. She SAYS herself tina: she had always
been intended for a governcss. and thai She
will. of course. follow out the intention which
hal been nNei on between her anu her iather
before his death. But il * a most weary pros
prct. especially for one who has received no
dire, education for the purpose. She has de-
voted herself for the last twelve months TO
Mrs. Lawrie. as though she had been her
mother. You did not like Mrs. Lawrie, nor
did 1: nor. indeed. dill poor Mary love her
very dearly. But she. at any rate, did her
duty 10y her ~step-mother. L know that In re-
gard 10 actual money you VIII be gener-
Gus enough; but do turn the matter over IN
your mind. and cndeayor TO think OF some
future tor the poor girl.
Yours very faithfully, EMMA KING"
II 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 to do with her. He had during
The last three months been asking HIM
SELF As to what should be Mary Lawrie's
fate in life when ner step-mother should
~ Lal pa,-ar ,rpifn Snlval
the question whether he could or would
not brinp into his own house, almost as
a dauo Ter. a Young woman who was in
no way related to him. He had always
%bcgun by telling himself hat the world
was a ~censoriouS old fool. and that he
might do Just a he pleased as to max
ing any girl his daughter. But before
dinner. he had generally come TO the
conclusion that Mrs. Baggett would not
approve. Mrs. Baggett was his house
keeper. and was to him a person OF I'M
portance. He hal not even suggested
the idea to Mrs. Baggett. and was sure
that Mrs. Haggett would not approve.
, a, To- sending Mary Lawrie into the
world a a ~~overnesS, that plan, he was
sure. would not answer.
Two wears ago had died his best be-
loved friend, Captain Patrick LaWrie.
OF all men he was the most lmpecunI-
Gus. Late IN life he had married a Sec
ond wife. a woman who was hard, sharp
and possessed of an annuity. The fu-
ture of his only daughter had been a
terrible grief to him, but from MIR.
Whittle>taf he Lad received assurances
which had comforted him. ''She sha II I
want. can't say anything further.
Since his friends death Mr.. White
staff had been liberal with presents
which Mary had taken most unwilling
" under her step-mother 5 guidance.
Such had been the state of things when
> Mr.. WhittleStaff received tn letter.
When he had walked up and down The
long walk for an extra hour. Mr.. Whit
tlestaff expressed aloud this conclusion;
81 don't care one straw for Mrs. Bag
gett.'
Ii should be understood as having
been uttered in direct opposition to the
first assurance made by him. that lie d
be whipped if he'd have ANYTHING to dc
with her. He had resolved that Mary
L.awrie should come TO him. and be
/ made mistress of his house. de was
fifty and Mary Lawrie was twenty-five.
81 can TO Just what | please with her,
h. said 10 himself. las though she were
Hmy own girl" BY this he meant thai
!. be would not be expected to fall in lovt