Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-10


feel red nos. couid dance miuuet on your
tsblecloth without soiling H."
The redundancy Of the answer net their
minds at rest The bugbear of their domestic
lives was persons entering their rooms with
out having first wiped their shoes a. every
Christian gentleman should. The hall door
was % heavily armed with mats and scrapers
that such an omission seemed an impo~ibiiity.
Yet sometimes IL did occur. and its effects
were terrible-almost tragic.
Horace rang for more claret; Herbert
passed his cigarette case, and the three men
chatted for a while on various subjects.
Presently said Horace with sad decision:
"Ann jenkins came to us the day before
yesterday. She told a piteous tale wegave
her five shillings."
"Very good Of you," said the curate; 'sshe
has large family--nine, think"
"Yes, but we are sorry now that we rave
the money. We ars sure she is not careful,
thrifty woman"
The curate's eyes twinkled. He knew Ann
jenkins well-too well.
"Careful and thrifty people wouldn't want
your half-crowns But how did you find out
her true characterTo
Mr.. Mordle expected to hear q mournful ac-
count Of domiciliary visit to Ann Jenkins
and dissertation upon the various and almost
original stages OF untidiness In which his
friends had found her numerous progeny.
But the truth was better than he had bar
gained for.
I'VE walked behind her across the field this
morning" said Horace, with grave regret
when she got over the stile we saw she had
on two odd stockings, black one and gray
one-or blue and gray, l am not certain
which"
"Blue and gray" said Herbert, ~ noticed
particularly"
Her tastes, like yours" said the curatc,
''may be cultured enough to avoid Philistinic
uniformity"
"Oh dear, no." said Herbert, seriously.
1--WE argue in this way. The woman has two
pairs OF stockings-"
II doubt it, !" said the curate. "But mover
mind-go on" His friends were surprising
themselves!
"She has two pairs-one gray, the other
blue or black. She has worn one stocking
into holes. Instead Of sitting down and
darning 1t, like decent body, she simply
puts on one Of the other pair"
"Why doesn't she put on the other pair
altogetherf' asked Mr.. Mordle.
because" said Horace, triumphantly, lone
stocking Of that pair is in the same dilapi-
dated condition; 30 her conduct is doubly bad.
As said, she Is not q deserving woman,n
"Granting your premises,n said Mr.. Mortile,
"your argument Is not illogical. Your
reasoning appears sound, your deductions
correct. But"
The curate was preparing for q delicious
battle on this subject well worn or otherwise,
Of Ann jenkins hose: He meant to learn
why one stocking Of either pair should wear
out before its fellow, and many other fanciful
combinations were forming themselves in his
subtle brain, when the interest in the mended
or unmended stockings was extinguished by
the entrance Of the Talberts' irreproachable-
looking man-servant He informed his mas
ters that the man had brought the child.
"What MANI What childr' asked Horace.
'Do you expect man or child, HERBERT
Certainly not. What do you mean, Whit
takerP
"A railway man has brought child, sir
He says it is to be left here.n
There must be some stupid nistaken
mo doubt, SIR said Whitaker respect
fully, but showing that his opinion quite coin
cided with his masters"
"Where. is the manr asked Horace.
"In the hall, sir.r
"Did he wipe his shoesY' asked Herbert, in
dread.
"Certainly, sir; I insisted upon his doing 30. I"
1--WE had better see the stupid man and set
the matter right said Horace. Excuse us
for moment, Mr.. Mordle.n
The two tall men walked into the hall, leav-
ing Mr.. Mordle to chuckle at his ease. Halle
wood House was certainly most interesting
place this evening. 1t was lucky for the
curate that he indulged in his n,erriment
with his face turned from the doc, az in a
minute the respectable Whitaker entered
the room. That functionary was most ten
acious that due respect should be shown to
his masters. Most probably the look Of
vivid amusement on Mr.. Mordle's features
would, had he seen it, have made an enemy
for life Of the faithful Whitaker,
"Mr, Talbert and Mr.. Herbert would be
glad II you would step out for moment, sir. ("
Thereupon Mr. Mordle went into the hall
and saw most comical sight-the solemnity
Of the actors concerned not being the least
comical part Of it. Standing sheepishly on
the door mat, or rather on one Of the legion
of door mats, was stolid faced porter in his
uniform of brown fustian, velveteen, or
whatever they call the stuff, On either side
Of the massive, oblong hall-table stood one of
the Talberts, while between them, on the
table itself, was q child with mass of tum-
bled, hossy, golden hair streaming down from
under natty little cap. Horace and Her
bert, each armed with his horn-rimmed eve
glass, and with looks of utter CONSERVATION
and bewilderment upon their faces. were
bending down and inspecting the child,
To Mr.. Mordles imaginative mind, the
group suggested a picture he had once seen
of the Brobdignagians taking stock of Gull
liver; nor could the picture have been in any
way spoiled when he himself, a tall man,