Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-02-08

the air Of a gentleman farmer; the 9TH
er bronzed elderly man with white
hair and dark eyebrows and beard.
The latter rose when Mrs. Jack en-
tered the room, threw his cigar out Of
the window, and handed her a chair.
with a stiff bow. The iolly-looking
man rose also. but with less alacrity;
and, holding the cigar between his fin
ger and thumb. hoped she didn't mind
smoker On Bells reply that it did
not offend her at all. he put the cigar
between his lips, and the two men re-
sumed their game, taking no further
notice Of her.
"How do you do?" said the lady in a
round, soft voice. Pray sit down. I'm
Mrs. Boddington. You don't mind CON-
ing in here to me, do you? You see I
could not very well get up and go to
you in the houdoir. because had my
lap full of these things"
Bell bowed, and raised her Grape veil,
but no sooner had she done so than
Mrs. Boddington uttered little ejacu-
lation of surprise. which attracted the
eyes Of the two gentlemen toward the
part of the room where she was sitting.
The white-haired man withdrew his
gaze almost instantly when it met
Bells. But the other looked for sec
ond or two longer, and then. bending
down over the backgammon board,
said something in a low voice to his
companion. who, however, made no re-
Spouse to his remark by word or look.
My husband-my brother" said Mrs.
Boddington. with careless movement
of the head. by way OF introducing
them to Bell. Bell thought that there
was considerable likeness between
| the brother and sister. and mentally
observed that Mr. Boddington looked
rather stern, and was old enough to be
his wife's father.
Il beg your pardon for exclaiming in
| that ridiculous way" said Mrs. Bod
dington; ''but the fact is, didn't ex-
| pect any one $3.50 young"
"Oh, perhaps look younger than I
am" said Bell earnestly. Il really am
not very young. I shall be twenty four
| next birthday"
81 hope you don't mean to say that
| twenty-four is old, Mrs-Mrs-I
haven't the advantage Of knowing your
| name"
MY Milne is Liiily-Mrs. John Lilly,
Junior. No, not old, of course. But il
you thought me too young to teach, !
meant You see / have little girl of
my own; and I am fond of children,
and think understand them, and get
| on well with them. I think when you
| have child of your own, you are able
| to manage other peoples children; and
you love all children better, don't you?"
We'll, 1 don't know" said Mrs Bod
dington, lazily, Il find other peoples
children the most dreadful bore; but
then my own are bores, too, sometimes.
| What can you teach. Mrs. Lilly?'
| Then Bell went through the catalogue
of her accomplishments, with MKT
| ure of gravity and shamefacedness
which was pretty to see.
mo music. Mrs. Lilly?'
mo music" answered Bell, resolutely.
She began to fear that the lack Of
music might lose her this chance; but
| none the less was she determined to
| give it up rather than interfere with
Barney. II don't teach music; but If
you want your children taught music,
l know such a very clever person." she
added, timidly.
"Oh, no, thank you. don't think it
is worth while. MY children are so
young, and very likely they wouldn't
like it; and they would make such an
ugly noise at first. No. really I don't
think the music matters at ALL
Bell felt heartily relieved to hear it.
Mrs. Boddington proceeded to state
that she had two children, boy and
a girl; that they were aged respectively
seven and nine, and that they had had
very little teaching hitherto. She sup
posed she would have to send them to
school by and by, but it was so trouble
some to find just such a school as she
needed; and SO for the present, and as
long as they remained in Coddington,
she thought daily governess, ito keep
them quiet for few hours every day,
you know; they are too tiresome when
they are absolutely idle" would be the
best thing for them.
| "Oh, you are not going to stay in
Goddington always, then?" said Bell, in
a timid, disappointed tone.
| Dear me, / hope not!' returned Mrs.
Boddington. "And now about salary.
What are your terms, Mrs. Lilly?'
Bell named the terms she had agreed
| upon with Barney, and they seemed to
her so extremely modest in contrast
| with the evidence Of wealth in Mrs.
| Boddington's house and dress, and
with the amount of labor that was re-
quired for them, that Bell had half
formed childish expectation that Mrs.
Boddington, on hearing her demand,
would exclaim, ''Oh, that is much too
| little, Mrs. Lilly. 1t would not be fair
to offer you such sum for four hours
instruction. or something to that
| effect. What Mrs. Boddington really
| did say however, was, ooh, well, T
don't know. Yes; suppose that is not
too much, considering the distance
from the town. But hope you will be
very punctual, please, if / give those
terms. It's a good deal of money for
such young children"
Mrs. Jack took her leave. having
agreed to teach Master and Miss Bod
| dington during four hours every morn
ing, from 8 o'clock a. nj. to 1 o'clock
p. M. and to enter on her duties the
following day.
The two gentlemen had finished their
L SrsYrV 1,i11