Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-11-14
A DOMESTIC STORY.
BEFORE THE STORY.


r"i =, - FAD taken tltr departure. ana the
la,iics at Mount Morvcn had retired Tor the
night.
On the way to her room Mrs Presty knock
eli at her DAUGHTERS door. Il want 10 speak
TO you. Catherine. Are you in bed?'
NO. mamma. Come in
ROBBED in drcSS.ng-gown of delcately
mingled white and blue, and luXuriously ac-
commodated on the snfteSt pillows that could
he placed in an armchair. Mrs Linley was
mc,li;ating on the events of the evening.
This has been the most successful party We
have ever given" she said to her mother.
"And did you notice how charmIngly pretty
Miss Westeriield looked in her new dressT
Its ahOu, that girl | want TO speak to
YOU" Mrs. Pr,sty answered, severely. Il
had higher opinion of her when she first
came here than have now
Mrs. Linley pointed 10 an open door com.
muncating with secon and smaller bed
chamber. Not quite SO oud." she answer
ell. 'or YOU may wake Kitty. What las
Miss Westeriield done 10 forfeit your good
opinon?'
Discreet Mrs. Prcsty asked leave to return
to the subject at a future opportunity.
Il will merely allude ::ow," she said, ito
n change for t'i1 wJI.,e in Your governeSs,
which you might have noticed when she left
the drawing-room this evening. She had
word or two with Herbert at the door, and
she left him looking as black as thunder"
Mrs. Linley laid herself lack OH her pill
lows and burst out laughing. "Black rs
thunder? Poor little Sydney, what ridic-
ulous description of her! beg your pardon,
n.a,aliia; don't be offended"
ION the contrary, my dear, am agreeably
surprised. Your poor father-a man of re-
markable judgment on most subjects-never
thought much of your intelligence. He ap-
pears to have been wrong; you have evident
" inherited some of my sense OF humor.
However, that is not what wanted to say;
/ am the bearer of good news. When we
find 1t necessary to get rid Of Miss Wester-
field"
Mrs. Linley's Indignation expressed Itself
BY look which, for the moment at least, re-
duced her mother to silence. Always equal
to the occasion, however, Mrs. Presty's face
assumed an expression Of innocent amaze
ment which would have produced round OF
applause on the stage. what have said
to make you angry" she inquired. Surely,
my dear, you and your husband are very ex-
traordnary people"
do you mean TO tell me, mamma, that
you have said to Herbert what you said just
now to me-"
Certainly. 1 mentioned it to Herbert in
ly rude. He said: Tell Mrs. MacEdwin to
ample YOURSELF"
Mrs Linley returned her mothers look of
amazement without her mothers eye for dra-
matte effect. what has Mrs. MacEdwin to
do with it?' she asked.
IF you will only let me speak, Catherine,
shall be happy to explain myself. You
saw Mrs. MacEdwin talking to me at the
party. That good lady's head-a feeble
head as all her friends admit-has been COM
pletely turned by Miss Westerfield. The
first duty Of gOvernes,' this foolish woman
said to mel is to win the affections of her
pupils My governess has entirely failed to
make the children like her. A dreadful tenn
per; have given her notice to leave my SER
vice. Look at that sweet girl and your little
granddaughter! l declare could cry when
/ see how they understand each other and
love each other l quote our charming
friends nonsense verbatim (as we used to
say when we were in parliament in Mr.. Or
mOnd's time), for the sake of what it led to.
If, by any lucky chance, Miss Westerfield
happens to be disengaged in the future Mrs.
MacEdwin's house is open to her-at her
own time and at her own terms. promised
to speak to you on the subject, and I per-
form my PROMISE Think over it; strongly
advise you TO think over it."
Euop, Nfrc 7 ;nloxsc cooJ ,,o<,,rs, .yao1;roI
to submit to this. 81 shall certainly not
think over what cannot possibly happen"
she said- GOODNIGHT mamma
yiUuu-nfgnr Catherine. Your temper
doesn't seem to improve as you get older.
too much for your nerves. Try to get some
sleep before Herbert comes up from the
smoking-ro and disturbs YOU"
Mrs. Linley refused even to let this pass
unanswered. "Herbert is too considerate to
disturb Inc when his friends keep him up
late" she said. ION those occasions. as you
may see for yourself, he has a bed in his
dressing room"
Mrs. Presty passed through the dressing
room on her way out "A very comfortable
looking bed" she remarked. in tone in
tended to reach her daughters ears II won
der Herbert ever leaves it."
The way to her own bed-chamber led her
by the door Of Sydney's room. She sudden
ly stopped; the door was not shut This was
in itself 4 suspicious circumstance. Young
or old, ladies are not In the habit of sleeping
with their bedroom doors ajar. A strict
sense of duty led Mrs. Presty to listen out
side. Nc sound like the breathing of per-
son asleep was to be heard. A strict sense
Of duty conducted Mrs Presty next into the
room and even encouraged her to approach
the bed on tip-toe. The bed was empty; the
clothes had mot been disturbed since 1t 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 a. she mentally re-
Viewed the list OF vices and crimes which q
g0verness might commit who had retired be-
fore II O'Clock and who was not In her bed
room at II. On further reflection it appear
ed to be barely possible that Miss Wester-
field might DO preparing her pupils exercise
for the next day. Mrs Presty descended to
the scho0l-r0om on the first floor.
No. Here again there was nothing TO see
but an empty room.
Where was Miss Westerfeid?
Was 1t within the limits of probability that
she had been bold enough to Join the party
In tho smoking-room? The bare idea was
absurd.
In another minute, nevertheless, Mrs. Presty
was at the door listening. The mems voice.
were loud; they were talking politics. She
peered through the key-hole; the smokers
had, beyond all doubt been left to them
selves. II the house had not been full of
guests Mrs. Presty would now have raised
an alarm. As things were the fear of Dos
siDle scandal, which the family might have
reason to regiet, forced her to act with eau
ti0n. MeditatinR in the retirement Of her
own room, she arrived ut a wise and wary
decision. Opening her door by a few inches,
she placed chair behind the opening, in a
position which commanded view of Syd-
hey's room. Wherever the governess might
be, her return to Der bedchamber before the
servants were astir in the morning was q
chance to be counted OH. The night-iamp In
the corridor was well Alright; and vener-
able person, animated by a 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-room appeared to
De thoroughly weary Of talking politics. That
man was the master OF the house.
Randall noticed the worn. preoccupled look
In his brothers face, and determined to
oreak up the meeting. The opportunity for
which he was waiting occurred in another
minute. He was asked as moderate politi.
clan 10 decide between two guests, both
members OF parliament, who were fast drift.
ing into mere contradiction of each others
secondhand opinions In plain terms thew
stateo the matter in dispute: (which of our
nOIifi0al s4arfioz duao-.... ~---n - 80