Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-05-20

ApAP1ED BY Il. 2
CHAPTER XI.


turned home to q late dinner On SUNDAYS
he watered his flowers, tied up his creep
ers, and fed his poultry. His sister kept
the house, and amused herself with fancy
work. Neither had ever married. and
both entertained ike horror of the op-
pOsite sex, regarding each other as the
only ones to be trusted and as the great
| exception to the general rule.
In the eyes Of these timid natures,
London was inhabited by monsters who
were busy only with evil; and, when the
| tidings of some one Of those miserable
Divorce Court stories penetrated to their
seclusion, Mrs. Denman would say: "What
can you expect2 It is all the fault of the
hushandr' while job would groan,
'WOman, woman
For some little time the discussion be-
tween the brother and sister had been
very warm. Miss Denman pitied Annie,
and wondered at her husbands neglect
while the cashier could find no words to ex-
press his indignation at the unknown per-
son who had drawn a hundred pounds for
lace shawl from his iron safe
What will become of US if this goes
on3' he said wrathfully; for he had at
heart the honor and credit of the firm he
had served for so many years.
One day Miss Denman sat knitting by
the fire. She was becoming anxious, as
her brother was an hour later than usual.
The door opened, and he came in. and sat
down without speaking. This was so
contrary to his usual habits that his sister
looked at him affrighted.
What is the matter?" she cried.
Il know" he said hoarsely, who the
woman is who means to ruin us
And then. in whisper, he uttered 8
name so unexpected that his sister begged
him to repeat it two or three times over
before she was quite sure she understood
It,
at is impossiblew she cried.
at is true he SAID. in a tone half OF
grief &Md half cf triumph.
Thereuron he related how Tom the
gardener had seen Sylvia and George
coEi.i,s, out Of q restaurant together. and
TIE m"'I vas lCI&T''y truthful always.
Besides. other people knew other things.
In tact, no one at the factory was in ig-
nor4nce except Florence himself.
".But you must tell him." said Miss
Denman. The cashier hesitated.
at is such q delicate matter. He would
not believe me; and then, between the
two partners, should lose nay situation.
And Florence might have been SO happy
if he had not married. When he came to
London he had not a shilling, and now he is
the bead of one of the most substantial
firms in the kingdom. What did he want
with wife7 And then nothing would do
for him but a little cockney, Londoner,
any one of whom is enough to ruin man.
and now where are wei Every day must
hand out money to Mr. George. / have
warned Florence over and over again, but
sll he says is, 1T is not my affair? He will
sing another song, fancy now, however"
and the cashier relapsed into silence.
His sister was overwhelmed with con-
sternatiom.
"If we had only known this sooner,
when Mrs. Chipp was our neighbor, she
was such a thoroughly honorable woman,
she would have spoken to Sylvia"
THAT is a coed idea," cried Job. ''Xou
had better call on her tomorrow. I
thought of writing to Frank; he has al
ways had good deal of influence over his
brother, and is really the only person who
would ever care to make such revelation
to him. BIT Frank is so far off, and it
woald take him so long to get here. Poor
Florence! i am sorry for him. No; the
best way is to warn Mrs. Chipp, snd you
mast do that"
This commission was of SO unpleasant a
nature that Mrs. Denman rebelled, but
fnally consented first because she rarely
resisted her brother, and secondly because
she had q genuine desire to serve Flor
Gnce.
Thanfsito his son-in-law's generosity,
Mr.. Chip had been able to crafty his last
fancy. For three months he had been in
stalled in his empty shop, throwing the
whole neighborhUod into a state of wonder,
h. cl.-44 %,1 r.,
every morning, and as carefully put up at
night, as though the shelves had been
stocked with the finest and Eaost valuable
wares.
\ new counter and showcase. with a
set Of glittering scales, were all that was
TO be seen. In short, Mr.. Chip had not
yet made up his mind what branch of
trade he should select
He considered the matter all day long,
AS he stood in the doorway with his pen
behind his ear. The noise Of the street,
the hurry and hustle, enchanted the little
man. He watched the unloading of the
huge bales at the shops near, and amused
himself by conf occurring Whist their CON
SCENTS might be; and he went'to bed at
night exhausted with experimenting
either peoples labors; saying to his wife
as he wiped his brow: 4'Ges, this active
life is justwhat suits met"
Mrs. Chip smiled quietly, bat made ne
reply. Worn out with her husbands
.cagol.ices, she settled herself IN the back
room that looked out ON q dark court, ar
ranged her household goods as best she
could about her. and oomscled herself by
thinking Of her former prosperity, of her
girlhood, and of her daughter; and, al
wayG neatly, dressed and industrious. soon
earned the respect and liking of her
leighbors. Her room was always exqui-
sitely clean. During the day the bed had
the appearance of a wide sofa. and d
screen concealed the cooking utensils In
the corRer. T3le poor woman *sEas shank
fUS for & little peace and quiet, and hoped
that her husband would long be as con
tented as at present.
Mr.. Chipp h&d had painted over his
door Commission Agent" but he made
70 mention of any particular line of goods
His Reighbors sold linen. silk. and Iaoas ;
be was disposed to sell any or all Of these.
ITO be sula," he said to his wife, II &c
not know much about linens; but with
silks / am perfectly at home But. II
make it answer. I ought to employ (
traveller. / must sleep on it"
After three or four 1r1onths of this exls-
tence Mr. ChipD began to find it Slightly
mon0tonOus- The olQ pam III ms head
returned by degrees. The street was I'm
healthy; beside. there was no trade there.
It was in the height Of these complaints
that Miss Denman paid her visit The
simple old maid had said tc herself as she
turned the corner Of the street. Il viii
break il TO them by degrees" but, ike all
timid natures. she bluTted 1t out the
moment she got inside the door. Mrs.
Chip rose in her wrath. She had never