Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-01-18
CHAPTER vIu-tContinucd.)

Bell did ask him; and the result of
her question was that Mr.. Warren
forthwith called to see Miss Barnasconi
and made great friends with her. Also,
he was presented to Popsy, who sur
veyed him with calm attention, and, on
accepting a tribute Of toffee from his
hand, observed that her grandma had
black hair, but that she (Popsy), never
theless, liked him better than her
grandma-"grandma's' views on the
subject of toffee being probably Of a
narrower and more limited nature.
Altogether Mr.. Warren showed HIM
self to be so much less stern and Sc
we're on acquaintance than he had
seemed to be on first sight, he displayed
so genial an appreciation of fun, and
even so great a liberation for mon
sense" that Bell was before long en-
bOldened to tell him how afraid she had
been OF him, and how she had specu-
lated on the probability of his wife-as
she then supposed Mrs. Boddington to
be-being very much in awe of him.
Mr.. Warrrn did not appear gratified
by this testimony to his "awfulnesS."
II suppose he said, you wondered
what On earth made a pretty young
woman like Mrs. Boddington marry a
sun-baked old fellow like meF"
Bells wonder had. it may be remem-
bered, taken a different direction. She
had wondered what made him marry
that lazy, roundabout little woman"
merely replied, demurely, "Oh, no, l
did not, indeed, Mr.. Warr:a."
You know / am twenty years older
than my sister. Jane is only my half
sister. AS long as | was in India, busy
and responsible, l never thought about
my age. But since / have come home"
added Mr.. Warren, quantity, and strOk-
ing back his thick white hair as he
spoke, II seem to be twenty years
older than everybody"
You're not twenty years older than
Barney" said Mrs. Jack gravely.
Yes, l am! Fifty years older than
Miss Barnasconi. She has all the fresh
ness of youth upon her. The very roses
in her bonnet wear the dew of early
morning. No; the only Staid person
OF about my w age with whom /
acquainted in Codlington is Pop
sy."
1t was wonderful, Bell thought, how
easy her daily task had become in n
short time. The children, on the whole,
behaved better than she had dared to
hope for at first. And whenever they
showed SYMPTOMS of downright rebel
lion the threat Of appealing to Uncle
Robert" sufficed to bring them back to
toleTable obedience. Bell became rather
proud OF her powers of discipline and
made a little boast about them to Mr..
Warren, who smiled and nodded.
She saw very little of Mrs. Bedding
ton. That lady seldom left her room
before twelve O'clock. But occasionally
she would saunter into the school room.
magniticently arrayed. a few minutes
before the lessons came to an end.
and her appearance there was the
signal for utter INSTRUMENTATION on the
part of Jimmy and Jenny.
One day, when on entrance into the
schoolroom the children were making
a nor outrageous clamor than usual.
and she had vainly. babe them be
quiet, Mrs. Boddington said. Really.
Mrs. Lilly, i wish you would invent
some method Of making the children
mind what is said to them. | thought
you would be able to manage them
better"
They are II o usually so naughty"
returned Bell, with her usual inconsid-
crate frankness, but they seem to be-
come disobedient directly they see you.
Jimmy! Jenny! Don't you know that
you ought to mind what your
says more than any II else?"
II shall mind what Uncle Robert
says" exclaimed Jimmy. because.
when I'm good, he lets me ride on the
pony
And he gave me n doll with wax
arms and legs and five shillingS not to
tease Mrs. Lilly" cried Jenny, in a
shrill voice, nodding her head violently
up and down.
There was a short silence, during
which Bell felt that Mrs. B~oddincton's
languid blue eyes We're surveying her
with IN amount of attention which tia
nonchalent lady seldom bestowed on
any face save her own in the looking
glass. And Bell. who was greatly tax.
en- aback by Jenny's revelation. began
10 color violently under her employers
steady gaze
Don't be silly, Jenny said Mrs.
Boddington, ut length. i'm her usual
lazy drawl, and went leisurely out of
the ROOF again. But in a few minutes
she returned holding a visiting card in
her hand. "Oh. look here. Mrs. Lilly,"
n said. lis this person some relation
Of yours?'
Bell looked at the card in astonish-
ment.
Mrs. John Lilly, Pcrcival House
why that's my mother-in-law"'
"Oh, really? / don't know how long
the card has been in the card basket.
i suppose / must return her call. Nslat
sort of a person is this Mrs. John
Lily
"She is my husbands mother" an
swered Bell, shortly. and ii the truth
must be to~ld-sharply. For there was
q new o OF patronage. a little mir
OF cool condescenslon, an inae,inablc
suggestion Of the distance between en-
ployer and goycrncss in Mrs. Bostiing-
tons manner which our impulsive Mrs.
felt, and resented unrefiectingly.
And. having made this abrupt answer.
she tied on her bonnet and went away.
Mrs. Jack was altogether more dis
turbed and agitated than the incident
seemed to warrant. What had put her !
so much: There We're tears in
her eyes when she reached homc-hot
ta&fs of ~veAation. And her cheeks were
buDing. She ran into her bedroom and
lacked the door. I: nd tore off har hoayy