The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-12-31

81
I glanced Opcr her shoulder and JOlIOlocd
her pen as she tCrote.
Lucy looked across the table at me
with face Of blank horror. "Oh, Yer
non" she cried, ''what are we ever to do.
And an American at thatl This is just
too ghastlyT
laid nown my coffee cup and glanced
back at her in surprise. ''Why, what's
upg" l exclaimed, scanning the envelope
closely. "a letter from Oxford, surely.
MrS. Wade, of Christ Church, thought
I knew the hand. And she's not an
American"
"well, look for yourselfr' Lucy cried,
and tossed the note to me, pouting. !
took it and read. I'm aware that have
the misfortune to be only q man, but 1t
really didn'tstrike me asquite 50 terrible.
DEAR Mrs. HANCocK-George has
Just heard that your husband and you
are going for trip to New York this
summer. Could you manage to do us a
very great kindness2 l hope you won't
mind 1t. We have an American friend
IA Miss EasterbroOk, Of Kansas City
niece Of Professor Asa P. Easterbrook,
the well known Yale geologist, who very
much wishes to find an escort across the
Atlantic. If you would be so good as to
take charge of her and deliver her safely
to DR.. Horace Easterbrook, Of HOboken,
on your arrival in the states, you would
do good turn to her and at the same
time confer an eternal favor on yours
very truly, EMILY WADE"
Lucy folded her hands in melodramatic
despair. kansas Cityi" she exclaimed
with q shudder Of horror. "And Asa P.
EastsrbroOkl A geologist, indeedi That
horrid Mrs. WsdeI She just did it on
puTpossT'
cit seems to me-" put in regarding
the letter closely, "she did it merely be-
cause she was asked to find a chaperon
for the girl, and she wrote the very short
est possible note, in perfunctory way,
to the very first acquaintance she CHANGED
to hear Of who was going to America"
'vernonF' my wife exclaimed, with q
very decided air, you men are such
impletons! You credit everybody always
with the best and purest motives. But
you'reutterly wrong. lean see through
that woman. The hateful, hateful
wretch She did it to spite mel Oh, my
poor, poor boy; my dear, guileless Ber-
nardP'
Bernard, I may mention, is our eldest
con, aged just twenty-four, and Cam
bridge graduate. Hes tutor at Kings,
and though he's dear, good fellow and
Q splendid l0ngstop I couldn't myself
cOnscientiously say regard guileless-
ness as quite his most marked character
istic.
what are you doingr asked rs
Lucy sat down with Q resOlutely deter
mined air At her writing table in the
corner.
'DoingY my wife replied, with some
asperity in her tone. "Why, answering
that hateful, detestable womanF'
I glanced over her shoulder and fol
lowed her pen as she wrote:
tMY DEAR Ms. WADE-It was indeed
Q delight to Us to see your neat little
handwriting again. Nothing would give
Us greater pleasure, Tn sure, than Il
take charge Of your friend, who, Tn
confident, we shall find q most charming
companion. Bernard will be with us, &
she won't feel II dull, trust. We hop,
to have q very delightful trip, and youl
happy thought in providing us with I
travelling companion will add, no doubt
to all our enjoyment-especially Der
nard's. We both JOIN in very hndes
regards to Mr.. Wade and yourself, and
am ever yours most cordially,
LUCY B. HANCOCK"
Ny wife fastened down the envelop
with Q very crushing air. There, tina
ought 10 do for her, !" she said, glancinl
up at me triumphantly. Il should thinl
she could see from that, II she's not a
blind as an owl, I've observed her afro
cious designs upon Bernard and mean b
eheclunate them. II, after such a lettel
she has the cheek to send us her Yanke
girl to chaperon, shall consider her Loo
to all sense Of shame and all notions G
decency. Butshe won't, Of course. She
withdraw her unobtrusively." And Luc
flung the peccant sheet that had rouse
all this wrath on to the back Of the fri
place with offended dignity.
She was wrong however. By mel
evenings post q second letter aTrive'
more diseomposing, II possible, to h,
nerves than the first one.
s'1frs. Lucy B. Hancock, London:
DEAR MADAM-Il learn from my frier
Mrs. Wade, Of Oxford college, that "
aregoing 10 DO kind enough to take char
Of me across the ocean. THANK you
your courtesy and will gladly accept 20
friendly offer. II you will let me knC
b. what steamer you start Twin regist
my passage right away in Liverpo,
Also, II You viii be good enough to +
ne from what depot you leave LondC
and By what train, ] will go along VI
you N the carG. I'm unused TO ira
alone. Respectfully,
"MRL1ssA p. EAaTEnBRooK.
Lucy gazed AZ Il In despair.
creature like thatf' she cried, all horr
struck. "oh, my poor, dear Berna
The ocean, she saysI Go along with }
in the oarsl Melissa p. Easterbrookl'
ssPaliaps,r said tentatively, q
may be better than her name. And
any rate, Demands not bound 10 ma
herr
Eucy darted at me profound voluI
81 mute feminine contempt, ''The q
pretty.s she said at last. after q 10