Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-02-20
MONA SCULLY;
rhf .fish Bride of an EngIishmaH.
4 STORY OF THESE TIM ES.


her not. being bent on explaining to
Mrs. Carson that, as a rule. the Irish
peasantry do not 90 about dressed only
in glass beads, like the gay and festive
Zulus, and that petticOatS and bTeecheS
are not utterly unknown.
Violet and DOatie drop in, and con-
versatiOn becomes general. and present
ly the visit comes to an end, and the
CarSonS fade away. and Mona IS left to
bear the brunt of Lady ROdney's anger,
which has been steadily growing, in
stead of decreasing, during the past
half hour.
Are there no servants in my house"
demands she. in a terrible tone, adj
dressing Mona, the steely light coming
into her blue eyes that Mona knows and
hates 50 well. THAT you must feel it
your duty to guide my visitors to my
presence?"
IF | made mistake I am sorry for
it" SAYS Mona. earnestly.
1T was unfortunate Mona should
have met them at the hall dOor,-Edith
Carson told me about it.-but it could
not be helped, =" says Violet, calmly.
mo. it couldn't be helped" says lit
tie Doatie. But their Intervention only
appears to add fuel to the fire OF Lady
ROdnev'S wrath.
1t shall be helped" Size says, in
low. but condensed tone. For the fu
ture | forbid amy one III my house to
take it upon them TO say whether | am
in or out. / am the one to decide that.
On what principle did You show them
in here" she asks, turning 10 Mona,
her anger Increasing as Sic remembers
the rallish cap; why did You not say,
when You were mlIcky enough TO ind
yourself face to face with them, that L
was not at hOmeE"
because You were at home" replies
Mona. quietly. though in deep distress.
That doesn't matter. says Rodney:
sit is mere formula. If it suited your
purpose YOU could have said sol don't
doubt readily enough
Il regret that ( III t them, says Mo-
ma, who VIII not say she regrets she told
the truth.
And to usher them in here. Into one
of my most private rooms. Unlikely
people. like the CarSOUs. whom You have
heard me speak Of III disparaglm9 terms
hundred times, I don't know what
you could have been thinking about.
Perhaps next time you viii be kind
enough TO bring them to my bedroom
You misunderstood me, says Mona,
with tears in her eyes.
Il hardly think 50. NOu can refuse
to see people yourself whenit suits you.
Only yesterday, when Mr. Boer, our
rector. called. and | sent for you, you
would not come
81 don't like Mr.. Boer." SAYS Mona
"and it was not me he came to see
''Still, there WAS no necessity to in
suit him with such message as You
sent. "Pcrhaps." with unpleasant
meaning, YOU do not understand that
to say you are busy is rather more
rudcncss than an excuse for ones non
1T was true" says Mona; II was
writing letters for Godfrey
Nevertheless. youmight have waived
that fact. and sent down word you had
a headache"
But hadn't a headache, says Mo
ma. bending her large truthful eyes with
embarrassing CarnestneSS upon Lady
Rodney
"Oh, if yoU were determined" re-
turns She, with u shrug.
Il was not determined; You mistake
me- cXclaims Mona. miscrabIy. II
simply hadn't headache; 1 never had
one in my lile-and | shouldn't know
how to get one"
At thispoint, Godfrey who had been
hunting all the morning enters the
room with Captain Rodney.
"Nhy. what is the matter?' he says.
seeing signs of the lively storm on all
their faces. Doatic explains hurriedIy.
Look here.' says Godfrey, II won't
have Mona spoiled. If she hadn't
headache, She hadn't, you know, and
that's all about it. Why should she tell
lie about itI2
''What do You mean. Geofrrcy?" de-
l,