The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1893-12-28

"Oh, dear, no! Jenny was perfectly
accurate, / have no doubt Mr.. War
rem bribed the children not to tease
Mrs. Lilly These were his words.
Now l must say I do not think that u
good kind of training for young minds.
They ought to obey for very different
reasons than brides"
I'm very sorry" murmured Mrs
Jack, humbly. She did not know what
else to say
We'll, it is not altogether your fault"
returned Mrs. BOddington, graciOusly.
Tits not my fault at ALL" retorted
Bell, with some heat. And then she
was conscious that she cut a rather ri
diculOuS figure with her sudden change
of tone. Mrs. Boddington opened her
china-blue eyes in lazy surprise. She
could not follow the rapid current of
Mrs. Jacks emotions.
Il naturally understand my brothers
character 4 great deal better than you
do" she proceeded, after looking at
Mrs. Jack for minute Or so in silence.
And think it my duty to say word
of warning to you on the subject. My
brother Robert is most excellent
creature-everyth that Is kind and
nice, and | am very fond OF him. but
he has Il dreadful habit suppose he
got it in India. where it Is the custom
to fiirt a good deal, I'm tOld-of paying
attentions to ladies without meaning
anything by them. Now, I fancy he
has been paying a good deal Of atten-
ton to yOu-"
Bells checks were in a permanent
condition of heat and redness by this
time, and the little dog's-eared exer-
else books quivered IN her trembling
hands, but she spoke up bravely and
unhesitatingly in answer to this har-
angue.
Yes, he has paid me a great many
attentions" she said, fixing her bright
eyes on Mrs Boddington's. CThat lady
declared afterward that Mrs. Jack had
glared at her like a tigress.) And
don't believe that ne meant nothing by
them"
''Oh, my dear woman, YOU have been
caught like many another. If you knew
Robert as well as I do"
Il believe he meant nothing by
them" repeated Mrs. Jack in a louder
key. Il believe he meant them to
show kindness and DenevOlence, and
the consideration of a true-hearted gen
tleman for my ineXperience and unpro-
teCtednesS. l believe he meant to con-
vince me that my poverty, and the need
l have to earn some money, were no
degradation in his eyes. I believe he
meant that I should not be exposed to
distress and disregard and annoyance
so long as was as l was employed IN
!; l.,
his attentions meant, Mrs. Boddington.
And I appreciate them, and am grateful
for them from the bottom of my
heart"
You are terribly excitable," rejoin-
ed Mrs. BoddingtOn. calmly Neverthe-
less she was secretly a little nettled.
She had attained her object of rousing
the governess' spirit, it was true; but
she did not quite like the governess to
take so high tone.
Il consider your warning altogether
offensive" said Bell. And 1 confess
that it irritated me. But, if you tell
me that your words were not intended
extensively, am willing to look over
them"
This would never do!
Il meant, Of course, to speak to you
in friendly spirit, Mrs Lilly" said her
employer, with a considerable access of
cOndeSCenSiOn in her manner. Il really
feel for you. In your position and so
eXtremely-SO very so very far from
staid or prudent as you seem to be, 1
thought a few words from q person
who knows the world better than you
can be supposed to know it might be of
IN DIT oFs~
one Of those people who resent any
thing like advice as affront."
Il hope not" said Bell, little self
distrustfully. Mrs. Lilly had so often
said the same kind of thing to her that,
on hearing it repeated by this stranger,
Bell, in her single-mindedness, began to
fear that she might have been unreason-
able and Over-sensitive. But l don't
really understand what it Is you are ad-
vising me to d0v she added with per-
feet simplicity.
Only suggesting to you not to re-
ceive Mr.. WarrenS attention too eager
ly, Or to attach too much Importance
to them. l know you say that it is all
benevolence, and so forth, on his part
And, so long as you think so, I dare say
there's no harm done. But-you know
people will talk, especially in a little
country town like this. And do not
think it will be advantageous for you
to have your name coupled with that
of rich bachclor-even although he is
an old bachelOr-lke Mr.. Warren. If
you wish to get pupils in the town, any
talk Of a filtration on your part would
be really injurious to your hopes. You
ot+
you know; and in your unprotected
position, living quite apart from your
late husbands family, it appears to me,
that you ought to be scrupulously care
full. For myself, have, I need scarce
ly say, no personal interest in the mat
ter. We shall all be leaving Beech
Grove in October, and may probably
never return to it. So you see l speak
solely for your good"
Mrs. Boddington waited for no reply,
but swept out of the room with a very
stately inclination Of her head.
Now, there was sting in her final
speech, which had been put there with
malice aforethought. 1t was the word
'rich' applied to her brother Certain
ly the cpithet was unnece ssary to en-
force her argument. But in using it
Mrs. Boddington had intended to hurt
and had succeeded.
Mrs. Jack was a very miserable wein-
an as she sat in her poor little sitting
room that evening, with the dogs
cared exercise books before her, vainly
trying to fix her attention on the alb
CREATIONS in the photography of Jimmy
and Jenny. She felt very miserable
and kept her misery to herself. Not
even to the faithful Barney could she
bring herself to repeat Mrs. Bedding
toms cO0lly uttered words. She thought
Of them, however, continually. She
grew hot us she recalled how that
plump, nOnchalent little woman had
told her to her face that she was giddy
and imprudent and given to Irritation;
and had spoken patronizingly OF her
considerable personal attractions"
Il wonder | bore it as l did" cried
Mrs. Jack, pushing the exercise books
away from her and getting UP to walk
about the room, as was her habit when
excited II wonder / didn't tell her
that I would never condescend to enter