Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-11-13


1.-The more the better" said Miss
Morton. "They say he Is very hand
some; and one could easily send the
children away TO boarding-school.
can assure you. I'll have no old-maid
aunts and Interfering uncles about the
premises"
'Eiien, let us talk of something
elso." said Lillian. resolutely. "Iell
me all that has happened 10 you since
we saw each other last"
Ellen laughed out n merry, ringing
laugh.
"Well. II you must know" said she,
I've been trying my best to get a
nice husband. but without any sue
cess"
els matrimony, then, the end and
aim of all the worldP" said Lillian, with
queenly disdain.
las far as l am ooncerncd-yes. :"
acknowledged Miss Morton, with
charming frankness.
Pardon me. Ellen" said Lillian,
shut it seems to mo that you have de-
generated frightfully since those dear
old days at Madame dc Tournaire's.
Miss Morton yawned.
'How tedious all this isl'' said she.
"Miss Ferguson turned lecturer. ehp
How l wish that poor fellow In the
corner wasn't deaf and dumb! I'd flrt
with him, just TO aggravato YOU. Lilyr
Lillian made no answer. She leaned
her head out of the window, and
watched the purple dusk creep up the
hill sides. counting the stars rs one by
one they shone out Anything was
better than Ellen's shallow chatterl
Grove Rookcry was soon reached,
and Miss Morton bade her old school
mato an elusive farewell.
al see that the old lady has sent the
carriage 10 meet me-" said she. Good
by. Lily! You must be sure TO intro
duce me TO the charming widower
when come over. Az revoir, darling
--du reUOir"
The deaf-and-dumb gentleman left
the omnibus very soon. Miss Fergu-
son watched with some interest, but no
carriage of any description seemed to
be waiting for him.
He disappeared into the woods like
shadow, and vanished from her
sight.
II suppose. poor fellow, that he lives
near here" thought she. "How dread
full it must be, thus TO be- cut off from
all companionship with ones fellow
beingsl"
But even while these reflections
passed through her mind. tho omnibus
stopped again, before "a glittering
facade of lights, half-veiled in swaving
summer NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. HALL
Hero you are. miss" said the
driver.
Through tho summer evening dusk,
Lillian could sec the marble-railed ter
race and the broad carriage drive.
while two child figures danced up and
down, and uttered joyful EXPLANATIONS
of wolcome-little Blanche and Alice
Chessington!
Are you the new govornessp" said
they. "Are you Miss Ferguson? We'll
come-welcomei We arc so glad that
you have comet
And in an instant their arms were
twined around Liiian's neck.
At the end of month Lillian Fergu-
son felt completely and thoroughly at
home with her new pupils.
They had ranged the woods. and WIS.,
tied all the grottoes and cascades; they
had surrounded her with an atmos-
phere of the sweetest affection.
Mrs. Hartleigh, their aunt, was
equally kind; and Alfred Hartleigh. the
interesting young uncle. had already
taken her into his confidence rs to the
beautiful bride he was going to bring
home soon.
But it certainly was very strange
shof l,a In -.
ington himself, the father of her lovely
little pupils.
Until one pleasant morning, when.
just us she had come out 10 receive
Miss Morton. who had driven over in
the Grove Rookery carriage TO call. q
tall. handsome gentleman entered the
room. with Mrs. Hartleigh on his arm.
'The deaf-and-dumb gentleman!'
Lillian involuntarily exclaimed.
Poor follow, SO It isr' said Miss
Morton, who advanced airily, shaking
ont the light muslin flouncos of her
dress. "How he does haunt us, to be
surer'
Ladies'" said the deaf-and-dumb
gentleman, 'you are mistaken. can
hear and speak. to-day. as well as
anybody. l should have spoken to
you a month ago in the omnibus. if it
had not been for tho. unfortunate cir
cumstance of MY having just been
to the dentist and had my lower jaw
broken in The extraction of a double
tooth. perceived that you were mis-
taking me for my unfortunate friend
Mr.. Denton. II deaf-mu;e. who lives
near here; but he had been detained
until the next day, and with my band
aged face L was impossible for me 10
speak aud explain matters.
Ellen Norton face glowed scarlet
She literally knew not what to say.
But Lillian ferguson stood calm and
nnmoved.
Then" she said smiling. "all our
sympathy was thrown away upon
you."
He inclined his head.
Exactly" he said. II found the
next day that 1t was necessary to put
myself under the care of n surgeon. SO
that / have been sort OF exile for a
few weeks. Pardon my being so late
to welcome you TO Chessiugton HALL
But the welcome is mono the less warm
because 1t is tardyr'
Ellen Morton never came to Chess
ington Hall again. nor could she SO
much as think of her conversation in
the omnibus that night, without hot
indignation ut herself.
"What fool l wasw she cried.
Mr.. Chessington. however. much as
he liked and admired Lillian Ferguson,
never asked her TO marry him.
when was widowed once 1t was
foreyer.r he said