Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-12-19
WILL SHE

"Quite an absurdity, isn't it? and
very unpleasant for you and Mr.. Horni'
blow, I'm sure. | said so when l first
heard what old Josh Brooks was con
templating. We'll, Hugo L said, 4
don't envy the new rector OF Ashieigh
and his wife, to have the old rector 1
daughter perpetuated in the parish as
village schoolmistress.' Oh course, it's
very awkward, isn't it now?"
Mrs. Fortescue, who was tall and
plump, and forcible in figure, manner
and voice, looked into the somewhat
insignificant face of the new rector's
wife as she put the last query contiden'
TALLY.
swell, you see, Mrs. Fortescue. she
answered, unsealing her thin, COM
pressed lips. "as newcomers we are not
Obliged to take antecedents into consid-
GRAFTON. To us, Miss -, what is
her name? Oh, yes, thank you-Mlss
Bartlemy. need hardly be village school
mistress, unless we choose to have it
otherwise, so you see, for us, there is no
awkwardness at all. But am really
glad to know your feelings about her.
for we had heard, no doubt, quite a
false report that your son had -"
Mrs. Fortescue let her say no more.
"Ah, indeed, SO you, heard of that!
How things do fy He was quite fasci-
mated. Poor, dear Hugo Such an eye
for beauty as the boy has"
"Boy!" echoed Mrs. Horniblow. 81
mean your son, the curate of Flaxton. !"
$50 do my only sonny Hugo" I"
replied Mrs. Fortescue; but he is only a
boy where O pretty face is concerned.
Fell in love at first sight with Miss Bart
lemv. She is very pretty you know
quite beauty, in fact, and very taking,
too. Poor Hugo! But then that was in her
best DAYS, before it was discovered that
her father had lost all his property. The
income from Ashleigh, of course died
with him, and he had saved nothing.
Fortunately, dear Hugo was not too
deeply implicated: he was on the verge,
but he had not proposed, and, of course,
now it is all over; still, may confess to
you in private, dear Mrs. Horinblow,
that should greatly have preferred the
young woman's being located elsewhere. F"
"Ah, to be sure, dare say!" replied
Mrs. Horniblow, and pressed her little
lips together. "And this Mr. Brooke,
1 suppose, is a relative of the young
wom-young persons, l suppose?"
"No, only her godfather. He was
old Bartlemys pupil--a lad of 10 when
she was born, and he stood godfather to
her, but it's the most ridiculous idea
his settling her down here. If he wanted
to provide for them--she has a uara-
lythic mother, quite helpless and child.
ism, poor thing!-he might have done so
ways---mad you might call him--and if
he takes thing into his head, do it he
will, They call him old Josh Brooks
in the neighborhood, not that he is very
old, but SO crotchety."
swell, if he must make her school.
mistress, he need not have made her or.
ganist. / have always expected my
governess to play, and this salary would
have been great help to her own; be-
sides which, / play little myself--not
much, certainly, but used to sometimes
in the holidays, when Miss Maxim was
away, and 1 suppose that this girl plays
so well that l couldn't play after her.
Yes, the organ business is a nuisance
certainly"
eyes. no doubt, very awkward in.
deed" agreed Mrs. Fortescue, glad to
find the rector's wife had grievance
after all as we'll as herself, and she felt
we'll satisfied with her afternoons work.
Meanwhile "Old Josh Brooke" is
standing in the shady little two-seated
porch of Ashleigh school cottage, talk.
ing to the "young wom--young person,
who bends her head and does not smile
in answer to her godfather's half-anx-
ious, half.playful;
"Well, Mary, feeling reconciled yeti"
She looks up to h s kindly face; rather
a large, plain face, with bald head.
that gives him almost venerable ap'
pearance, in spite of his having only just
turned 40; but she does not smile, and
she speaks gravely, almost sadly.
81 wish had never consented to stay
in Ashleigh, Mr.. Brooke" she says.
"But why?" he asks, and his pleas
ant mouth puts on vexed expression.
''Nhy should you wish such thing.
Tell me your reason, Mary"
"I've told You so many times, Mr.. |
Brooke" she says quickly, but you
will never listen or believe me; its no use |
repeating them," and the least little |
glimmer of smile shone out over her |
face at the remembrance of his deter.
mined incredulity.
"Pm glad that you still can smile,
Mary; / was afraid that it was some.
thing serious. Come, at least tell me |
your new reasons for being sorry per-
suaded you to remain in Ashleigh."
"Pve no new reasons" she answered, |
"and know L ought not to have any
old ones? Dear mother is quite happy;
she doesn't miss the rectory now that
her room is so like the old one, and that
is all your goodness, Mr.. Brooke, as well |
as all the rest; but l can't help feeling
sorry that / am here instead of else.
where"
"Thank you, Miss Mary, for the i'm
piled compliment. am sorry truth
forbds me returning it, for / avn very
glad your mother and you are so near
that can at least watch over you both
a little. You shouldn't begrudge me
that little pleasure, to say nothing of my
having stood up for you as deeply
aggrieved infant Your mother was my
first friend long before ] was squire at
Ashleigh; l am vain enough to think
she would miss me-"
"Oh, she would, indeed; / think you
are the only she she knows now, be.