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

Inc morning lessons had seemed
very irlsome to Mrs. Jack. She was
nervous and low-spirited. In the first
place, she had not Overtaken Mr. War
rem in her walk TO Beech Grove. 1t
was the first morning for weeks that
she had missed seeing him and the
very first on which she had wished not
to see him; but she was aware that she
should henCefOrth feel q new conStraint
and shynesS in his presence, now that
she knew the share he had in keeping
Jimmy and Jenny within bounds of
obedience.
And 1 was boasting to him, only the
other day, how well I managed the
children" exclaimed Mrs. Jack to her.
self, as she walked along faster and
faster under the excitement of her own
thoughts; land all the time he was
bribing them to be good and to spare
me. What a weak, babytied creature
he must think me!'
And yet there must have been some
CLEAN of comfort in the discovery of
Mr.. Warren's care on her behalf, for a
little flush and smile lighted up her
face the next instant But on the
whole she wished not to meet Mr.. War
rem just then, and-a good deal to her
surprise-She got her wish, as we
know. But such is the perversity and
unreaSOnableneSS of human nature-or
at all events Of Mrs. Jacks nature
that, having got her wish, she began to
regret it's fulfillment! And to wonder
why Mr. Warren was not taking his
usual walk; and whether he were i'll.
or offended with her.Both of which
wonderings were utterly wild and I'M
founded: seeing that she had talked
with him the previous day, when he
was in excellent health, and had parted
from him on The friendlieSt terms. and
seeing that there We're fifty far more
probable hypothesis ready to her hand
to account for the fact of Mr.. War
ren's not being at a particular part of
a particular road at q particular hour.
Then, too, Mrs. Jack felt certain shv-
ness in the presence Of her pupils since
Miss Jenny's revelation. When she re-
quired obedience or attention she was
uncOmfortably conscious that the child
rem were earning their pony rides and
wax dolls, instead of submitting to dis
cipline in consequence of her moral in
fuence over theml
So altogether Mrs. Jack was in a
state of nervous depression when her
employer sailed into the schOolroom,
bland, fresh and elegantly dressed in
crisp, cool muslin, which made strong
contrast with poor Bells shabby, stuffy
black gown.
Go away, Jimmy and Jenny" said
Mrs. Boddington. Il am going to ex-
cuse you from the rest of the lessons.
Half holiday to-day, if you please, Mrs.
Lilly"
The children rushed out of the room
with a whOop. as of young Mohicans
Bell was heartily relieved to have come
to the end Of her days duties so much
sooner than usual, and began packing
up some dog-eared little exercise books
which she was to carry away and cor
rect. "Are you going to take the
children out with you, Mrs. BOdding-
TOM" said she. as she took her bonnet
from q side table where it lay on her
folded shawl.
"NO; but l thought / should like to
say a word to you. Please to sit down
again. How exceedingly uncomfort-
able these schoolroom chairs are!'
Bell sat down in silence. Her heart
was beating fast, although she could not
tell why, and her color changed quickly
She had vague idea that she was go
ing to hear something about Mr.. War
ren. She had got into an odd habit of
thinking Of him a great deal, and con-
Meeting him with all the incidents of
her daily life. Mrs Boddington's first
words startled her as though she had
! found herself involuntarily uttering her
| thoughts aloud; they were:
MY brother Robert"
And then Mrs. Boddington paused,
and changed her phrase II believe you
have been seeing good deal of my
brother Robert lately, Mrs. LillyY'
Bell would have given all she had in
| the world at that moment to prevent
the hot red blood coloring her face as it
did with n rush. But the deep blush
was beyond her control. She answer
| ed, however,, with straightforward
simplicity. 4 see Mr.. Warren nearly
every morning. Quite every morning,
/ may say"
"Ah! you meet him on the roadY
II overtake him when be is returning
from his morning walk. May inquire
why you say this?'
Bell was beginning to feel little
combative. There was solemn judi
| cial air about Mrs. Boddington which
| irritated her.
| "Oh, yes; mean to explain it to you
very clearly, If you will wait a little
You are not aware, suppose, that Mr..
Warren has been In the habit Of brib-
ing my children not to give you any
trouble ip the schoolroomT'
Certainly not answered Bell, more
mildly. For she felt that here Mrs.
BoddingtOn was on strong ground, and
bad a right to be judicial and solemn.
X assure you / had no idea OF it until
Jenny said that word yesterday. /