Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-04-17
CHAPTER XVI.
N UNEXPECTED VISIT


Gwendoline had always liked Miss
Winford, though she had been accus-
toned to regard her as something of q
mystery, and she now felt touched and
grateful, for the bankers worthy house,
keeper at once grasped her hand, after
exchanging greetings with Aunt Joan
and the rest, and her first words were
meant to convey most delicately her re-
gret and indignation at her masters con-
duct.
II chanced to be absent from the house
when YOU were subjected to that mean
and summary treatment, Miss Gwendo-
line said she, with unaffected warmth,
4or should not have hesitated tc tell
Mr., Marlowe what thought Of it and
| him. As it is, have just spoken my
| mind to him in waythat he won't Forget
in hurry, and don't care if he gives
me my walking papers for it, as he has
| threatened to dol"
@Oh, dear mel if you should get into
trouble on our account, my dear Miss
| Winford, I shall feel far more distressed
than have been, sighed Gwendoline, to
| whom the housekeeper's unwonted spirit
| edness Of manner was matter of sur
| prise.
@Oh, but you can save yourself from
being distressed on my account can
| take care Of myself" continued Miss
/ Winford, in the same strain. 1T was O
! mean, dastardly, cruel piece Of business
| on Mr.. Gilbert Marlowe's part-a dirty
| piece of time-serving in the interest OF
| Mr.. Croak- -and told him as muchl He
| wouldn't have dared-shame would have
| deferred him from such meanness, tyrani
as he is, had Noel been at homel'
i aDo, pray, say no more Of it. dear Miss
/ Winford!" entreated Gwendoline, whose
! face had slowly crimsoned. suppose
/ we have no claim on Mr.. Marlowe; ht
has, doubtless, the right to choose hi
own tenants.
But fit of indignation seemed to have
found it difficult to abstain, perhaps b.
very reason of it's unusualness. Sh'
continued to talk in the same strain, ant
disappeared beneath the momentary colo
\ that her excitement summoned into he
habitually pallid face.
Then MIR. Alworth reused himself on
A Of his nap, to bask in some OF the read,
! sympathy that she diffused, and now am
then heave in few complaints on hi
OWu dCCUuutS huuu OOdA Wub AVe UCA4AAA0
hand in the general condemnation t
which the miserable banker was bein
devoted behind his back, any more thai
was Christie; and at last. even the stal
| wart joint owners Of the tempest -fodtin
n Gadfy caught the spirit Of the occasion
Paul to the extent of hopelessly en-
a tangling his fshing-tackle afresh, an
4 Peter so far as altogether forgetting al
about the fortunes Of every sort Of navi
gator for the time-being.
But, at last, much to Gwendoline's se
. cret relief, the visitor rose TO 60.
Good by and good luck, my dear Mis-
. Gwendolinel" said Miss Winford, exteni
ing her hand for the last time to the youn
giTl, as they all accompanied her to th
!. door. But, by the way, thereis anoths
thing came to say. You know has
pretty good acquaintance with desirabl
I families IN and about Highcombe, BY tn
4 time, and, If you are thinking Of seekin
! d situation as governess, You must fe'
that my services are at your disposal.
Gwendoline thanked her warmly, an
j was going on to say that she would prol
! ably have occasion, sooner or later,
) avail herself Of the proffered assistanc
) when she was interrupted BY Miss VIII
! ford saying, with sudden dryness:
v But, after all, my dear child, are ys
) sure that you will ever need my help
a x ~ flIf