Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-05-03

/ bis curicsftf fhat spinstefs bring 70 ueHs %
~ skodes Of bachelors or wid0wess. The
,,srsisv rauer on che walls was mildswed, the
brow1n holland blinds were dropping from
| ,bs;r yusty nails and the mirror was 90 dim
| that sbe could not refrain from drawing .
/ finer across It's surfece. Then she blushed
AZ her action. "What an old maid am
orowiprY' she said, and eta ced the trace OF
her handiwork. :, :,
aMaster allows no one in the study" the
servant informed her as she approached the
door on her descent.
.sYoar master will not mind me" she
said. tsrning the handle and entering.
Here. too, the demon of neglect and disor-
der reigned supreme; the CRATE was red
dened in spots by the last shower down the
chimney; the inkstand was filed with q
thick sediment and heap of pre-AdamIte
peus Law beside it; when she selected a
hook from the shelves it blackened her
fingers; when she sat down, the chair re-
,ained an outline of he form. at is per
feetIy disgrscefulr' she said, flushing
aprrIiy. "and tothink Of that horrible wo-
man pretending TO serve him! And OF
course. he, poor dear. notices nothing
Miss Priscilla was in scornfully indig-
uant mood, otherwise she would not have
yen,ured 10 Jerk the bell as she did. Bring
NE a duster, please" she said when the
woman appeared. The latter tossed her
head wrathiully, and waited for an exp!ana.
ton. None being vouohsafed, she bounced
of, and presently returned with a monde
script article, which she offered at arms
length. Miss Priscilla thanked her politely,
closed the door after he7 carefully, and then
sat 10 work. She did not reason about
what she was doing, she only felt that if she
was to sit in that room il must be clean first
and with her snowy cuffs laid aside and her
sleeves tucked up, she got so into the spirit
Of her occupation that she sang softly to
herself over it. There was not thing that
she touched that she did not renoyate, aud
when all was tidy, and the roses, gathered
an hour ago, we're pouring their fragrance
from jar on the centre-table, Miss Pris-
ella sat down and sighed. Meantime, the
rain had begun to fall sharply, and the wind
to whistle shrilly in the keyhole, and Miss
Priscilla bethought herself Of the luckless
pedestrian.
"Wben Mr.. Horuby is out in the rain
what do you do?' she said, walking boldly
into the kitchen, and asssiling the enemy
in her stronghold.
"Do? Why, nothing, What is there to
dor gruftly.
DO you not have FIRE lighted for him
and his warm things waiting"
"Ihe master has no old maids ways that
l know of, and, if you please, missis, you
will leave me TO mind my own business in
the house where have given great satistac-
ton for over FIVE years" This selt,satisded
person leaned herself against the table as
she spoke and looked at the intruder sourly.
Your business is 10 make your master
comfortable and | am sure you have no
stronger desire than to do So Miss Pris'
ella answered Swecily.
I'VE never have ires in the rooms before
Stpten,btr.'
"And, in a general way, that is quite
right" Miss Priscilla pursued with the
SEINE serpent like smoothness; but on ex'
cep,ic,al days, would YOU not thiuk it wise
TO b:e"k your rule?
"Nas',r never asks for FIRE, not if it
rains ever so hard" was the uncompromis-
ing !cjo.lder.
Thin would you not think it well to sur
prise him for once? He and | have been
irieLds for nearly forty years, and as he Is
not very strong, ] should like TO know that
he is not running any risk. WRITINGS are
dangerous, you know, and | dare say you
and | would have difficult in finding his
like again" The woman hesitsted still, and
then this clever Miss Priscilla looked at her
watch and noticed the necessity that she
would be under Of returning home soon.
1t was after five now, and all chance OF
Mrs. Toms appearance that day was ended,
but, in the ardor Of her work, Miss Priscilla
had momentarily forgotten the object OF
her visit TO the rectory.
Three things in her last remarks had
modified Miss Gaunt; first, she had known
Mr.. Horribly for forty years, and, therefore.
was not likely to prove fatal to his peace OF
mind; second, she was about to remove
her obnoxious presence from the rectory
forthwith; third, the rector was really
phenomenon among masters.
Aetuatcd BY a variety OF motives, Miss
Gaunt bestirred herself, and In ten minutes
good FIRE was piled in the CRATE, and after
a little suffering and putting, consented to
burn cheerfully. Just as if to convince the
rector's guest that she knew what was what,
and could have things right when she chose,
the attendant spread a spotless cloth for tea,
and brought forth honey and fresh butter,
reserved, no doubt, for her own use IN
general way, and made the toast delcately
and crisply, and being then modified by
her success, grew amiable, and then urged
Mlss Priscilla not TO think of venturiEg out
in such soaking weather, as Mt. Horribly
was sure TO be in presently.
Miss Priscilla went to the window and
looked out obviously. The wide-open roses
were hs6ging their heads dejectedly, the
mignoDet;e was stirring rebellously IN the
wind ard The vivid greenuess of the spongy
TUT showed how thoroughly it had been
sooktd Rain was falling STILL but occa.
siolalrI in the clouds gave promise o.
improvement by-and.by. She decided,
thcid,re, TO await it.
The rector felt, on his return, as if a
chGl g TAI come 10 the whole world. 10
find Lin.s,lf costly, and comfortable, and
che rfrliy at tea by his own fireside, with
Mrs Priscilla, rosy from her past exertlons,
smiling opposite him and expressing a
kindly il terest in all he had to tell, de!igh-
ted him somehow. He could not have &C
counted for it, but he felt as if he would like
to 60 TO sleep then and there, 10 the musical
accompaniment Of clinking silver and china
and woman's voice. Not that he ever
INDUCED in an afternoon nap, but be telt
so soothed and rested, il seemed as II the
next step must be slumber. But Mr.. Hornby
was polite, ii he was anything. He shook
off the drowsy influence, discussed Mrs.
Tom and the best way TO reach her, feeling
more than ever how sad it was that Priscilla
should fall into her clutches, so that before
his guest was bonneted for her return home:
the sun had set, and the crescent moon had
asserted itself boldly in the watery sky.
Il shall 90 down to the village with YOU,
Mr.. Horby said when she wished to say good
bye; and in spite Of her demurrings, he got
! his thick boots and oyercoat, and sailed