Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-11-30


Most certainly" acquiesced her sister.
'.Since we have called upon Mrs. Hay
Denver and upon the Misses Walker, we
must call upon this Mrs. Westmacott
also"
Certainly, dear. As long as they are
living upon our land feel as if they were
in sense our guests, and that it is our
duty to welcome them"
Then we shall call tomorrow" said
Bertha, with decision.
.Yes. dear, we shall. But, oh, wish
it was over.'
At o'clock on the next day the two
maiden ladies set off upon their hospita-
bic errand In their stiff cracking dresses
of black silk, with jet bespangled jackets
and little rows of cylindrical gray curls
dropping down on either side of their
black bonnets, they looked like two old
fashion plates which had wandered off
into the wrong decade. Half curious
and half fearful, they knocked at the
door of No. 8, which was instantly
opened by redheaded page boy.
Yes, Mrs. Westmacott was at home.
he uSDtIcu tuclu llllO l1lC LAOAe AOOAt,
furnished as drawing room, where in
spite of the fine spring weather large
fire was burning in the CRATE. The boy
took their cards, and then, as they sat
down together upon settee, he set their
nerves in a thrill by darting behind a
curtain with shrill cry and prodding
at something with his foot. The bull
pup which they had seen upon the day
before bolted from his hiding place and
scuttled snarling from the room.
1T wants to get at Eliza" said the
youth in confidential whisper. Mas
ter says she would give him more'n he
brought" He smiled affably at the two
little stiff black figures and departed in
search of his mistress.
"What-what did he say" gasped
Bertha.
Something about "a Oh, goodness
gracious! Oh, Bertha! Oh, merciful
heavens! Oh, help, help, help, help,
help!" The two sisters had bounded on
to the settee and stood there with star
ing eyes and skirts gathered in while
they filled the whole house with their
yells. Out of high wickerwork bas-
ket which stood by the fire there had
risen fiat, diamond shaped head with
wicked green eyes, which came flicker
ing upward, waving gently from side to
side, until a foot or more of glossy, scaly
neck was visible. Slowly the vicious
head came floating up, while at every
oscillation fresh burst of shrieks came
from the settee.
What in the name of mischiefr' cried
q voice. and there was the mistress of
the house standing in the doorway. Her
gaze at first mad merely taken In the fact
that two strangers were standing scream
ing upon her red plush sofa. A glance
at the fireplace, however, showed her the
cause of the terror, and she burst into
hearty fit of laughter.
Charley" she shouted, ''heres Eliza
misbehaving again"
''Fll settle her," answered a masculine
voice, and the young man dashed into
the room. He had brown horsecloth
F.. in his hand, which he threw over the
basket, making it fast with a piece of
twine SO as to efectually imprison its in
mate, while his aunt ran across to reas-
sure her visitors.
''It is only rock snake" she ex-
planned.
"Oh, Berthar "Oh, Monica" gasped
the poor exhausted gentlewomen.
.'She's Matching out some eggs. That
Is why we have the fire. Eliza always
does better when she is warm. She IS a
sweet, gentle creature, but no doubt she
thought that you had designs upon her
eggs. suppose that you did not touch
any of then?"
"Oh, let US get away, Bertha!' cried
Monica, with her thin black gloved hands
thrown forward in adherence.
"Not away, but into the next room" }"
said Mrs. Westmacott with the air of one
whose word was law. ''This way, if you
please! 1t is less warm here" She led
the way into very handsomely appoint
ed library, with three great cases of
books, and upon the fourth side long
yellow table Uttered over with papers
and scientific instruments. "Sit here,
and you there" she continued. That is
right. Now, let me see, which of you is
Miss Williams and which Miss Bertha
Williams?'
81 am Miss Williams" said Monica,
still palpitating and glancing furtively
1 about in dread of some new horror.
'And you live, as 1 understand, over
at the pretty little cottage. It is very
nice of you to call SO early. don't sup
pose that we shall get on, but still the
intention is equally good" She crossed
her legs and leaned her back against the
marble mantelpiece.
1--WE thought that perhaps we might
be of some assistance, said Bertha tim
idly. eff there is anything which we
could do to make you feel more at
home"-
"Oh, thank you; l am too old trav.
eler to feel anything but at home wher-
ever go. I've Just come back from q
few months in the Marquesas islands
where had a very pleasant visit. That
was where 1 got Eliza. In many re-
spects the Marquesas islands now lead
the world"
Dear mer' calculated Miss Williams
"In what respect?
'In the relation of the sexes. They
} have worked out the great problem upor
their own lines, and their isolated geo
graphical position has helped them tt
come to a conclusion of their own. Tht
woman there is, as she should be, in ev
cry way the absolute equal of the male
Come in, Charles, and sit down. Is Elizi
all rightY
"Al right, aunt"
''These are our neighbors, the Misses
Williams. Perhaps they will have SOM
stout You might bring in couple o
bottles, Charles"
mo, no, thank you'll None for US!
cried her two visitors earnestly.
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