Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-03-11

clothes had not been disturbed since it had
been made in the morning
The old lady stepped out into the corridor
in state OF excitement which greatly i'm
proved her personal appearance. She look
ed almost young again as she mentally re-
viewed the list of vices and crimes which a
gOVerneSS might commit who had retired be-
fore IL o'clock and who was not in her bed
room at y. On further reflection it appear
ed to be barely possible that Miss Wester-
field might be preparing her pupils exercise
for the next day. Mrs Presty descended to
the schOOl-rOom on the first floor.
No. Here again there was nothing to see
but an empty room.
Where was Miss WeSterfeld?
Was it within the limits of probability that
she had been bold enough to join the party
in the smoking-room? The bare idea was
absurd.
In another minute, nevertheless, Mrs. PTeSty
was at the door listening. The mems voices
were loud; they were talking politics. She
peered through the key-hole; the smokers
had, beyond all doubt, been left to them
selves. IT the house had not been full Of
guests Mrs. Presty would now have raised
an alarm. AS things were the fear of pos
sible scandal, which the family might have
reason to regret forced her to act with eau
ton. Meditating in the retirement of her
own room, she arrived at a wise and wary
decision. Opening her door by a few inches,
she placed a chair behind the opening, in a
position which commanded a view Of Sgd
ney'S room. Wherever the gOVernesS might
be, her return to Der bed-chamber before the
servants were astir in the morning was a
chance to be counted on. The night-lamp in
the corridor was well a-light; and a veneer
able person, animated by sense of duty,
was person naturally superior to the seduc-
tons Of sleep. Before taking the final pre-
caution of eXtinguiShing her candle Mrs.
Presty touched up her complexion and reSo-
lutely turned her back on her nightcap.
''This is a case in which must keep up my
dignity" she decided, as she took her place
in the chair
One man in the SmOking-Toom appeared to
be thoroughly weary of talking politics. That
was the master Of the house.
Randall noticed the Worn, preoccupied look
in his brothers face, and determined to
break up the meeting. The opportunity for
which he was waiting occurred in another
minute. He was asked as moderate pOliti-
clan to decide between two guests, both
members Of parliament, who were fast drift
ing into mere contradiction of each others
secondhand opinions. In plain terms they
stated the matter in dispute: (which Of our
political parties deserves the confidence of
the English peoples" In plain terms on his
side, Randall answered.: 1.-THE party that
lowers the taxes" Those words acted on
the discussion like water on fire. AS mem
berS Of parliament the two contending pOliti-
clans were naturally innocent of the slight
est interest in the people or taxes; they re-
ceiyed the new idea submitted to them in
helpless silence. Friends who were listen
ing began to laugh. The Oldest man present
looked at his watch. In five minutes more
the lights were out and the smoking room
was deserted.
Linley was the last to retire-fevered by
the combined influences of smoke and noise.
His mind, oppressed all through the evening,
was as Ill at ease as ever. Lingering, wake
full and irritable in the corridor Gust as Sgd
ney had fingered before him), he, too, stop
ped at the open door and admired the peace
full beauty Of the garden.
The sleepy servant appointed to attend in
the smoking-room asked if he should close
the door. Linley answered: ''Go to bed and
leave it to me-" Still lingering at the top of
the steps, he, too, was tempted by the re-
freshing GOODNESS of the air. He took the
key out of the lock, secured the door after he
had passed through it, put the key in his
pocket, and went down into the garden.