The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-10-07
" Lynn, 8 murmured Fanny.

why coulun-L tney nave Deeu turueu out slA
feet high, bearded and trained, and avoid
all this trouble?"
Fanny looked at him with big, troubled
eyes. Yes, he was crazy, very crazy indeed
She wondered where his attendant could
possible be.
I'm not sure" he added, picking the
burdock burrs out of his elbow seams, " but
that shall some day be obliged to pitch
the whole lot of 'em into the lake !"
g Oh, don't think of such q thing" plead.
ed Fanny, growing pale.
"I fght against the idea as much as pos
sible, you know" he added. :" But there
are times when tho inclination becomes al
most irresistible ~
please don't talk So" said Fanny.
'That would be wicked, you know
As she spoke, she looked in this way and
That so wistfully that her companion could
scarcely fail to notice it.
81 beg your pardon" said he, courte-
ously, " but bcse you lost anything ?"
"N-no," said Fanny, 81 was only look
ing for-for the gentleman who has charge
Of you'll don't think you ought to be here
,lone ~
And why not ?n
I" You might do yourself some harm. Or
somebody else," said Fanny.
She took him gently by the cuff of his
coat-sleeve as she spoke.
" Come here" she said, keeping her blue
eyes firmly on him,-a sure method, as she
had once read, of subduing lunatios and
| wild animals.
" Oh, all right" said he, eff you're really
so much in earnest about IL"
And thus Fanny conducted him TO the
butler, a white-haired and thoroughly trust
worthy official, who was polishing silver in
the dining-room.
:" Here is your master, Morgan" she said.
I" Yes, 'um, I see," Morgan responded,
with countenance of amazement.
And then, with n little courtesy, the gov
srness Withdrew, to relate her prowess to
Miss Grigg, the housekeeper.
They ought not to leave him alone In
that sort of way" she reasoned excitedly,
He might have drowned the boys, -oi
murdered them !"
"Well, MISS" said the housekeeper,
"it's my honest opinion as little dueking
wouldn't hurt them boys, and furthermore,
MISS with comical uplifting of her griz-
zled browse " it's tho wrong gentleman rs
you got hold Of"
g Grigg," cried Fanny, what on earth
do you mean ?"
81 Mr.. Avenel was took of TO the asylum
Inst week, MISS" said Grigg. He got
violent and low spirited, and waited to kill
hisself with the pruning shears, and the
doctor he ordered him to be removed very
quietly to q private sanitarium. And this
gentleman as You led home was Mr.. John
Percy, the eldest brother of all, as owns the
Hall and everything else, and has come
down to see about moving MIR. Avenel.
And he says likely he shall spend the
autumn here, if the shooting is good and he
can arrange his nffairs, because the boyt
really do need discipline, he says; and
But Ia, me, she's gonel"
Fanny had gone--Fanny had flown to her
room crimson with modification, half
choked with dismay and shame.
What have done ?-oh !" she cried,
wringing her hands, "what have l done ?"
Ihe next day things reached their climax.
Launcelot flung an inkstand at tho bust of
John Milton on top of the school-room
bookcase Leo SHE'D his books out of the
window, and Sidney announced his resolve
of &c not being bossed by any woman )" and
Fanny, instead of rising equal to the occa-
sion, burst into tears and ran out of the
| room.
=" Miss Lynn, beg IL thousand pardons
for intruding-but what is the matter p
Mr.. Percy was crossing the hall just as
she flew across it like n spirit, she
could not stop to answer him. she only
locked herself into her own apartment, and
began to write that letter, freely sprinkled
with tears, to Aunt Lynn, in New York,
| wherein she recorded her failure.
She was just sealing it, when there came
A short, sharp rap at the door. Opening It
she beheld Launcelot, Sidney, and Leopold
all in row, with penitent faces and gen
orally subdued aspect, while behind them
stood Mr.. Percy, their half-tTother, and tn,
head of the Percy Hall hous ,hold.
I'm sorry, Miss Lynn" snid Launoe
:" I'll never do it again" whined Sidney.
:" If you'll forgive me this once" pleaded
Leo, " I'll be good for the future"
"I-Im afraid" faltered Fanny.
:" Give them another trial, Miss Lynn,
said PeSy, confidently, and I'll guarantee
their behavior for the future. won't have
any young lady driven away from Percy
Hall by pack of half-civilized young ruff
fans"
Please to give us another chance, Mist
Lynn" whimpered Launce, the usual ring
leader.
"Or else Will will send us to boarding
school," faltered Sid, pitifully.
Where we'll get nothing but mush and
milk to eat end half a holiday only once q
week." dolefully chimed in Leo.
So Fanny did not send the letter, after
all. The boys developed an entire new side
of their character, and Mr.. Percy aided
the new goyerness to keep order in her lit
tie kingdom, with rule which admitted of
no revolt.
"But," said Fanny, at the end OF tr1'
amphant three months, I" it's only because
you help me, Mr.. Percy. / really don'
think have any vocation for teaching"
Neither do T." said Mr.. Percy, who
was walking down the old tamarack avenue
with her, while the boys studied their aige-
bra inside the house.
"Oh, Mr.. Percy with quick flush Of
notification" do you think / ought to
,esign2"
&c / certainly do"
Then resignSat once" cried Fanny,
trying to repress her tears. :" I'll go home
tomorrow"
You'll do nothing of the Sort" said
Percy, calmly. 81 don't consider you 8
good teacher, but think you will be the
dearest little wife that ever lived-in fact,
Fanny, I've fallen in love with you, and