Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-04-09

A clever old lady, possessed of the lneStim-
able advantages of worldly experience, must
submit nevertheless to the laws of nature.
Time and sleep together-pOwerfu agents In
the small hours of the morning-had got the
better of Mrs. PreSty's resolution to keep
awake. Free from discovery, Sydney as.
cended the stairs. Free from discovery, sgd
ney entered her own room.
Half an hour later Linley opened the door
OF his drawing-room. His wife was still
sleeping. His mother-in-law awoke two
hours later, looked at her watch, and discov-
cred that she had lost her opportunity. 9th
er old women, under similar circumstances,
might have felt discouraged. This old wo-
man believed In her own suspicious more de-
vouty than ever. When the breakfast bell
rang Sydney found Mrs. Presty in the CORR
dor waiting to say good-moning.
II wonder what you were doing last night,
when you ought to have been in bedP' the
old lady began, with treacherous amiability
OF manner. "Oh, am not mistaken! Your
door was open, my dear, and looked in"
why did you look in. Mrs. PreStyP'
my young friend, l was naturally anxious
about you. l am anxious still. Were you in
the house or out of the house?''
Il was walking in the garden Sydney re-
piled.
"Admiring the moonlight
"IeS; admiring the moonlight"
alone, of courseT' Sydney's friend sug-
gested.
And Sydney took refuge in prevarication.
why should you doubt it?" she said.
Mrs. PreSty wasted no more time in asking
questions. She was pleasantly reminded OF
the words Of worldly wisdom which she had
addressed TO her daughter on the day of sgd
ney's arrival at Mount Morven. The good
qualities of that unfortunate young Great
ure, she had said, ''can not have always re-
sisted the horrid temptations and contamina
tons about her. Hundreds of times she must
have had deceit forced on her; she must have
lived through ungovernable fear" Elevated
little higher than ever in her own estima-
ton, Mrs. Presty took Sydney's arm and led
her down TO breakfast with motherly famil-
iarity. Iinley met them at the foot of the
stairs. II Is mother-in-law first stole look
at Sydney, and then shook hands with him
cordially. My dear Herbert, how pale you
srel That horrid smoking. You look as i;
you had been up all night"
Mrs. Linley paid her customary visit to the
school-room that morning.
The necessary attention to her guests had
left little leisure for the exercise of ohserva-
ton at the breakfast table. The one circum-
stance which had forced itself on her notice
had been the boisterous gayety of her hus-
band. Too essentially honest to practice de-
ception OF any kind cleverly, Linley had
overacted the part of a man whose mind was
entirely at ease. The most unsuspicious wo
man living, his wife was simply amused.
"How he does enjoy society,"" she thought
Herbert will be young man 10 the end of
his life"
In the best possible spirits-still animated
by her successful exertions to entertain her
friendships. Linley opened the school-room
door briSkly. How are the lessons getting
onT' she began, and checked herself with Q
start. kitty" she exclaimed. "Cryingr'
The child ran to her mother with tears in
her eyes. Look at Sgd! She sulks, she
cries, she won't talk to me. Send for the
doctor"