Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-12-21

end of the week. OF course il she car
ried ont her present plan there could
be no further question Of her becoming
an inmate of Percival House. But she
did not intend to give that as her rea-
son for declining Mr.. Lilly's offer. II
shall tell the truth said Mrs. Jack to
herself, as she walked up the High
street toward Percival House, (which
is, that / know it wouldn't answer, and
that we should all quarrel and be very
wretched, and then have to part after
ALL"
Something to this effect, IL not quite
in such uncompromising phrase, she
did say to her mother-in-law, walking
up and down the fragrant old-fash-
toned garden at the back of Percival
House. Mrs. Lilly weeded and shipped
and tied up struggling twigs in her
own special bit of flower garden every
morning. She wore big gardening
gloves and a big blue silk shade pro-
jecting from her bonnet to protect her
complexion; and she spied u every
withered leaf and every faulty bios
som with her sharp, beadlike eyes.
Here her daughter-in-law had found
her busy in her precise, delicate fash
ion, among her roses and carnations;
and here the two paced up and down
side by side talking.
LAS to not being happy here, Bell"
said the elderly lady, "of course that is
nonsense"
Indeed, Mrs. Lifiy, it fs not non
sense. 1t might be my fault, or Pop
sy's, or nobody's fault and everybody's
misfortune; tNt / know, / know quite
well 1t would never answer"
1T is a pity that you did nos discover
that you could not agree with this fam
lily before you married my son." said
Mrs Lilly, without a trace of temper
or emotion.
Mrs. Jack bit her tongue 70 keep
down a sharp retort. Don't let us two
quarrel, Mrs. Lilly" she said In
deed, / wish to be friendly and on good
terms with you all"
My dear, I shouldn't think of quar-
reling with you. That B quite cut OF
the question. I should as soon think
Of quarreling with Popsy. But you
must allow me TO tell you that you are
acting very foelishly in refusing to
come and live here, and doing some
wrong to your child. Mr.. Lilly will
not be pleased with you"
ooh, Mrs. Lilly, what can I do?
Would it be good for my child to- see
family jars and discord and coRten-
ton? / can't only think Of the money
and the good dinners and the Handsome
rooms"
You like your way best OF all,
in short. That is enough, Bell"
Ms. Lilly waved her hand very
slightly, as though dismissing the SUBJ
ject; and then took up her garden
shears again, and began to clip at q
rose tree.
Bell stood with clasped hands and
flushed face beside her. II dare say I
seem very disagreeable and thankless,"
she said, humbly. Il know l don't al
ways choose my words well. But, in
deed, / don't mean to be harsh. And
perhaps-perhaps Mr.. Lilly does think
it would be better for me to live here
than to have an annual allowance from
| him. But when / feel So sure that it
would never, never answer, how can /
consent? We must each believe that
the other means to do right"
'Will you be kind enough to stand a
little more to the left. Bell? You are
crushing one Of my finest roses with
your heavy black gown"
Then Bell understood that the sub
ject was closed, as far as Mrs. Lilly
was concerned.
Now, my dear, I must tell you,'
said Mrs. Lilly, that there is a very
unpleasant report going about town
and 1t is right you should know it
How 1t originated 1 cannot say. But
we have all heard it from various quar-
tcrs." NEE awnh, yaI nH
"A report about me, Mrs. tLillyp
s"Yes; it is said that you are going Il
give lessons in Codllngton-lessons FOL
money"
v Go Be Continue1)