Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-06

There" said she, ''the servants and the
whole household are retreating to their roosts
They keep early hours here. Isuppose salome
sleeps below with her mother. Goodness pre-
serve me from anything happening to either
the old woman or the baby while am In the
house. These sort of things upset the servants,
and they send up at breakfast the eggs hard
boiled, the toast burnt and the tea made with
water that has not been on the boil"
Mrs. Sidebottom heaved sigh.
This is stupid book after al" she said, and
laid down the novel. II shall 60 to bed. Bother
Mr.. Beaple Yeo.n
Beaple Yeo stood between Mrs. Sidebottom
just now and every enjoyment. As she read
her book Beaple Yeo forced himself into the
story. At meals he spoiled the flavor Of her
food with iodine, and she knew but too surely
that he would strew her bed with decimals and
Danish sleep.
Mrs. Sidebottom drew up the blind of her
bedroom window and looked forth on the gar
light scene of peace and beauty. Mrs. Side
bottom was not woman susceptible to the
charms of nature. She was one Of those per-
sons to whom nothing is Of interest, nothing
has charm, virtue, or value, unless 1t affects
themselves benefcially. She had not formu-
lated to herself such view of the universe, but
practically it was this-the sun rises and sets
for Mrs. Sidebottom; the moon pursues her sill
yer path about Mrs. Sidebottom; for her all
things were made, and all such things as do not
revolve about, enrich, enliven, adorn and nour-
ism Mrs. Sidebottom are Of no account what
ever.
Now, as Mrs. Sidebottom looked forth she
saw dark figure in the garden: saw 1t ascend
tie steps from the lower garden, cross the
lawn, and disappear as 1t passed in the direc-
tion Of the house out Of the range OF her Wis
ion. The figure was that of man in hat and
surtout, carrying walking-stick.
"Well, now," said Mrs. Sidebottom, "this is
comical. That man must have obtained admis-
sion through the locked garden door, like that
other mysterious visitant and he Is coming
here after everyone is gone to bed. OF course,
he will enter by the glass door. suppose he
is the doctor, and they let him come this way
to visit the venerable fossil without disturbing
the maids. I do hope nothing will happen to
her. 1 should not, of course, wear mourning
for her, but for baby should have to make
some acknowledgement, I suppose. Bother
it."
Mrs. Sidebottom went to bed. But as Beaple
Yeo had disturbed her day. so did he spoil her
night. She slept indifferently. Beaple Yeo
came to herin her dreams and rubbed her with
decimals and woke her. But other considera-
tions came along with Beaple Yeo to fret and
rouse her. Mrs. Sidebottom was q woman Of
easy conscience. That which was good for her.
self was, therefore, right. But there are mo-
ments when the most obtuse and obfuscated
consciences stretch themselves and open their
eyes. And now, as she lay awake in the night,
she thought of her brother jeremiah, of the
readiness with which she had identified his
body on the slenderest evidence. She might
have made a mistake. Then, at once, the
thought followed the course of all her ideas
and gravitated to herself. If she had made
q mistake, and it should come out that she
her?
On this followed another thought, also dis
quieting. How came Jeremiah's will to be
without its signature? Should it ever transpire
that this signature had been surreptitiously
torn away, what would be the consequences to
herself?
AS she tossed on her bed, and was tormented,
now by Beaple Yeo with his speculation, then
by jeremiah asking about his viii, she thought
that she heard snoring
Did the sound issue from the room down.
stairs, tenanted by Mrs. ellsworth, or from the
spare chamber?
Mrs. Sidebottom attempted to feel uncon-
cern, but found that impossible. The snoring
disturbed her, and 1t disturbed her the more
because she could not satisfy herself whence
the sound came.
Perhaps it is the cook, }" she said. "She may
be occupying the room overhead, and cooks are
given to stentorous breathing. Standing over
the stoves predisposes them to it."
Finally, irritated, resolved to ascertain
whence the sound proceeded. Mrs. Sidebottom
left her bed. Her fire was burning. She did