The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-07-04
CHAPTER I.
MRS BAGG EFT.

MRS BAGGEfT.
Mr.. William Whittlestaff was stroll
ing up and down the long walk at his
country seat in Hampshire, thinking of
sthe contents of letter which he held
crushed up within his trousers pocket.
He always breakfasted exactly at nine,
and the letters were supposed to be
brought TO him at 3 quarter past. The
postman was really due at his hail-door
at quarter before nine; but though he
had lived in the same house for above
fifteen years, 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
els a. M, but on this occasion the
.postboy, as usual. was ten minutes aft
err that time. 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
so expressed himself, he would have de-
.clared that he certainly deserved to be
whipped himself. In ord.r 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
matter to its conclusion. The letter
ran rs follows: IL
.Sr. TAwEILs. NORWICH. February, IS.
my DEAR Mr.. WHITrLEsrAFr.-Poor Mrs
Iawrie has gone at last. She died this morn
ing at seven O'Clock, and poor Mary Is alto
sgether alone in the world. have asked her
TO come in among US for few days at any
rate. till the funeral shall be over. But she has
refused. knowing, Isuppose, how crowded and
how small our house is What is she 10 do. You
know all the circumstances much better than
l do. She says herself that she lad always
been intended for a goyerneSs, and that she
will of course, fellow out the intention which
had been fixed on between her and her father
before his death. But it il a most weary pros
pect, 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 ike Mr.. Lawrie, nor
did /; nor indeed, dill poor Mary love her
very dearly. But she, az any rate, did her
duty by her step-mothef l know that IN re
.ous enough; but do turn the matter over in
your mind, and endeavor to think OF some
future for the poor girl:
"Yours very faithfully, EMMA KING"
It was IN answer to such a letter as
this that Mr.. Whittlestaf had declared
shat 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
have gone. and had never quite solved
the question whether he could or would
not bring into his own house, almost as
= daughter. Young woman who was in
no way related to him. He had always
begun by telling himself Shat the world
was censorious old fool, and that he
might do just as 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 had not even suggested
the idea to Mrs. Baggett. and was sure
that Mrs. Baggett would not approve.
As to sending Mary Lawrie into the
world as governess. 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 impecuni.
Gus. Late in life he had married sec
oud 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.
Whittlestaf he had received assurances
which had comforted him. ''She Sha' n
want. can. say anything further. :
Since his friends death Mr.. Whittle,
staff had beea liberal with presents,
which Mary h%d taken most unwilling
" under her step-mother guidance.
Such had been the state of things wher
Mr.. Whittlestyff received the letter
When he had walked up and down the
long walk for so extra hour, Mr.. Whit
tlestaff expressed aloud this conclusion
IL don't care ne straw for Mrs. Bag
-gett-'
1t should be understood as having
been uttered in direct opposition to tn,
first assurance made by him, that he {
be whipped if he d have anything to d.
with her He had resolved that Mar,
Lawrie should come to him, and b.
made mistress Of his house. He wa
fifty and Mary Lawr:e was twenty-five
81 can do just what please with her,
be said to himself. las though she wer'
my own girl" BY this he meant tha
he would not he expected to fall in low
with her, and that it was quite out o
the question that she should fall in low
with him. ---s----
N Al T. L
: much obliged 70 her if she'll put on he
bonnet and come out to me here
This he said to a boy, and the orde
was not st all an unusual one. Whel
he wanted to lesrn what Mrs Bagget
intended TO give him for dinner, h
would send for the old housekeeper anc
take walk with her for twenty minutes
Mrs Baggett was quite accustomed Il
the proceeding. which, upon the whole
she enjoyed She now appeared with
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