Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-25


re,reated into the little sitting-roon,
leaving her rejected sutton to ride away,
only half sorry at this untowsrd result
Of bis visit to the school cottage.
AFTER all, she's tight" be remarked
to himself, giving his horse an angry
cut over the ears in spite Of this concln-
sion: 81 didn't behave we'll to her,
and though tried to make up to her
by proposing. I'm halfglsd she hiss re.
fused me though she's q very nice girl
still, and wonderfully pretty, but there
would have been a precious row with
the mater, and as it is | needn't say .
word about it,"
Two or three days after, as Mary was
watering the geraniums and other
plants with which the 'Squire's gardener
had filled her little garden, the smart
page from the rectory put his face inst
above the garden gate, and asked if this
was the schoolmistress's cottage.
at is" answered she "and l am
the schoolmistress. Do you wish to be
entered on the registers, my little lad?"
This was a gratuitous insult on
Mary's part, but she felt angry, and she
vented her anger on this poor little
iledgling footman, who became respect
full directly she snubbed him.
"If you please, IN, I've brought q
note from mistress" And, opening
the gate, he took an envelope from his
tight little pocket and handed it over
with one hand, while with the fore
finger Of the other he made a feint to
cleave his little skull open.
The new rector's wife having SO in
structed her domestic to make his obei-
sance to ladies, little Jack Tom, being
snubbed, at once concluded that, albeit
a schoolmistress, Miss Bartlemy be-
longed to the class to be saluted.
Mary took the note unwillingly.
The same writing had already conveyed
sundry peremptory orders as to "nee-
dle-work for the rectory," and asked,
with vague foreboding that it would
contain something unpleasant, if not in
sultipg
lis any answer required, do you
know"
"Mistress didn't say, M" replied
Buttons A" can wait till you see M"
Mary turned a little away from little
Buttons curious eyes, and opened the
letter, read it, and turning sharply
round upon the little messenger, said .
"There is no answer" in such tone
as sent him quickly about his business,
moro than ever persuaded that Miss
Bartlemy was "a lady, and no mis-
take"
And this was what the letter con-
tanned. To say whatit conveyed would
be impossible. Everything gratui-
tously insulting and abOminable," Mary
told herself as she read it again
when the boy was gone;
THE RECTORY, AsHLEIGH.
Dear Mss Bdrtlemy:
My husband agrees with me in thiok-
ire it inadyisable that 50 young 80.
msnssyourself your mothers condition.
precluding the possibility Of her being
considered, a sufficient protection,
should receive the visits of single gen.
ilemon. There is great danger Of scan
dal to the school in consequence Of Mr..
Joshua Brooke's and Mr.. FOrtejcue's
visits at your cottage. Mr.. Brooke s
age by TO means warrants your re-
ceiYirG him under your present circum-
stances, which demand great circam-
spection. Mr.. FoTtescue's still less so.
| am, yours truly,
JANE HORNIBLOW.
Mary's cheeks REDEEMED with anger
as she read Mrs. Horniblow's conml-
nicatiOn.
"Horrid woman !" vas her inward
comment, growing hotter and hotter as
she realized that even their old friend,
Mr.. Brooke, was to be forbidden to
visit them. And why? Because Mr..
ard Mrs. Horniblow chose to consider
his age on a par with Hugo Fortes
cues.
How supremely ridiculous " Mary
said. and laughed scorniully at tn,
idea. "An old man like that \ MAJ
who carried NE about as baby. My
godfather, too. Mr.. Fortescue, now, i:
another matter. But his visits are moi
likely to be repeated, should fancy.
am sure that his dear mother will see thai
he keeps clear of the school cottage
But what care /? snap my fingers al
beth Of them "
who are you swapping your fingers
at, my lady?" asked "Old Josh,
opening the taboOed gardeu-gate in al
innocence.
THE Rev. hugo and Mrs. FortescuC
and the Rev. Henry IlOrniblow aud
LADY," answered Mary promptly
But, Mr.. Brooke, go back again
plesse-don't put your foot inside tha
gate ;" and, with the old familiar free
dom OF her childhood, she put both
hands on his arms and playfuliy back
cd him out again, shut the gate, an,
stood on the inside facing him. "
don't know whether even so much j
allowed" she added, holding her hea.
ioubtfully on one side.
Allowed? What do you mean
Mary? What new whim is this, 20.
pert child: Have you smallpox in ii.
cottsga :"
"Whim. indeed You may wo,
ak; but YOU must 90 elsewhere fo
N explanation. There are orders frou
headquarters just arrived that NJ
Joshua Brooke-that's you, isn't it,
She paused a moment and locke
ssucily at him.
81 suppose So" said the Squire
thinking to himself how pretty Mar
looked under this sudden flow c
spirits.
We'll, then, orders are issued tina
Mr.. Joshua Brooke and the Rev. Hug
Fortescue are not to be admitted a
the school cottage"
MARY, you are joking, you naugh.l
girl but whether or no, don't coupl
me with that pup" he demonstrated.
"I'm not joking at all, Mr.. Brooke,
Mary replied, with heightened colo
and angry eyes. alt is a fact. Yo'
and his reverence are forbidden to cal
at the school cottage"
And, pray, do you forbid it, yOl
imperious one? and if so, why so?
say nothing Of that-ahem of hi
reverence. But why do you forbid M