The Dillon tribune., 1885-11-28


came question number two:
son yet?" > '"ns per-
binary health ner Or
AT this the old lady would remark tbo+
there was considerable time left vet. and sna
would pass ON to question three:
HAS the Complaint come down sta;rsz,
NO; the Complaint had not come dow,
stairs. "o"n
The old lady would look as if this wero
somewhat unaccountable behavior On Tho
part OF the Complaint and after musinr she
would put question four If Mrs. Neville
happened 10 be the deputation. the question
MAUD! You are not going to remain in
YES" Maud would say, ''tl,ere is really
no danger" 'eaA1y
MAUD" the old lady would reply. in ore.t
anger, 'you were always recklessSevar
since You were four years DID,"
On one point the old lady was very nresz-
ing, 30 much that this seemed the prime mo-
i've which induced her to expose her person
to such risk. f'' ''A'
rs Tom staying on with youy,
Yes" Maud would reply. HE is not
Snow, Maud, take advice" Mrs. Hard.
castle would say. "Tom Pembroke ia temnt.
ing Providence. A young unmarried IMAM.
too! Get hum out Of the house. Send him
up to London and let him take a Turkish
bath; then let him burn all the clothes he
mas worn; then let him come down and stav
month with Georgina and myself, we will
take good care Of him. Gcorgina is quite
heart to see her fret
Maud enjoyed quiet smile all to herself.
That afternoon she dryly informed her
brother of Mrs. Hardcastle's pronosa,. de-.
failing with satirical fullness the directions
as to burning the clothes and taking the Turk
ish bath. Tom Pembroke was hirhly
diverted, but he was nettled too, and planned
revenge The next morning, when Mrs.
Hardcastle's carriage stopped as usual near
the fence, Tom stole secretly along behind
the plantation, and suddenly appeared in
tull view.
''Maud told me Of your kind invitation. y
he said. with friendly warmth. "You are
too good-natured.'
II hope before you come you will he dis
infected" replied Mrs. Hardcastle. Thor
oughly dsinfected, Tom. Then all will be
WE'LL"
''Quite so,'' Tom answered. "But before
VAoV AaAVSU nave Ou9 worn WIN you. we
may as we'll sit together in the carriage and
talk"
At the word he leaped lightly over the
fence and walked straight up to her. The
old lady turned deadly pale.
'Not now. Not this morning. she called
out 1T would be most imprudent."
mot the least" cried Tom gayly. II take
the responsibility ON myself"
And actually his hand was on the carriage
door.
'James," shouted tho old lady, in fearful
accents, ''drive off! Home, James, homer
And without a word of explanation or
farewell off she drove at tremendous pace;
and with such dexterity did she handle her
watering pot that the vinegar streamed out
behind like the tail of a comet. Tom went
back to the house laughing, and Maud ap-
plauded lis wit aud resource, and confessed
that no told his story in a most amusing
way. But Mrs. Hardcastle had forgotten
that in human life scheming people must b
prepared to dare somewhat at particular
junctures, else the best laid scheme will not
prosper. In all probability had Tom Penn
broke sat down in that carriage, Aarabella
Hardcastle would have changed her name
before six months were over; Mrs. Hard
castle would have been proud and happy
mother in-law; Tom Pembroke would have
sunk into a good-natured gentleman, man.
aged to the point of nouenity; Maud Ne
vile would have been transformed into q
warm-hearted sister disguised for life; and
the question concerning Vanity Hard ware,
Is she heroine2 could never have extracted
any answer, except one