Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-01-25

stronger, sat down again to finish her
circular.
1t was well she could not see through
the partition wall, or her complacent
state Of mind would have been dis
turbcd by the spectacle Of Popsy's
kneeling at the nursery washhand-
stand, and smiling the shoe on n sea Of
soap and water, having manned the
gallant craft with tin soldier and two
trunkless elephants out of Noah's ark.
CHAPTER ~.
1t was not long before a rumor of
Mrs. Jacks intention reached Percival
House, where it excited great indigna-
ton.
II cannot believe it." said Rebecca.
II will never believe it of Bell. With
all her absurdities and want of dignity,
she would never deliberately disgrace
the family in that way" Nevertheless,
Rehecca seemed to be quite as angry
with her sister-in-law as if she had be-
lieved it, Emma declared that she was
not in the least surprised. She would
not be surprised to meet Bell wheeling
a barrow through the streets. She had
no proper pride But if she (Emma)
We're to find Bell out governessing at
peoples houses, she should simply cut
her. Sister-in-law or no sister-in-law,
she did not think the family were
bound to stand that. Edgar shrugged
his shoulders. and said he .''cn"ht his
mother or to tax to Zen seriously.
Very likely somebody had been putting
her UP to this move, in the idea of
getting some money out of the govern
or. Probably it was that old woman
who lodged in the house with her-that
Miss Barnasconi. Bell was just the
kind of childish creature that design
ing woman like that could twist around
her finger.
Mr.. Lilly poo-poohed the whole thing,
and laughed at it in public. But pri-
vately to his wife he showed much an
noyance at the report, and asservated
with an oath that if Bell thought to
get him to bride her out of this foolery
she was never more mistaken in her
life.
Eve don't know yet that it's true"
said Mrs. Lilly calmly. Nevertheless
she believed it to be true, and made up
her mind to interrogate Bell on the
subject at the earliest opportunity.
Meanwhile Mrs. Jack, undeterred by
the counsels Of her friend Barney, set
to work with much energy to publish
her intention and to proffer her sery-
ices as daily governess to the public at
Codlington. First of all she had her
circulars printed. She ordered about
twice as many as she could possibly
use. although she borrowed a Codling-
ton directory and addressed the envel-
opes to every one named in it Of whom
she had ever heard in her life Then
she got Miss Barnasconi to carry some
about with her and distribute them to
her pupils; which Barney staunchily
and loyalty did, although with a pro-
found conviction of the uselessness of
the measure
Mrs. Jacks project excited as much
Indignation in Old street as it had done
in Percival House. Only with this diff
ference, that IN Old street the indigna-
ton was directed against Mr.. Lilly for
permitting his daughter-in-law to work
for her living. MI. Mills, the compos-
itor, who had set up the circular, in
formed Mrs. Petherick that "all the
ofice" the Office of the Cod
lington Chronicle-was talking about
1t, and that ''all the Office agreed it
was burning shame Of old John Lilly
to let Mrs. Jack be brought down to
that. But he was a close-fsted 'un,
was old John Lilly. And he rich
man, that was growing richer every
day. And this Mr.. Mills would say
that pleasanter-mannered lady than
Mrs. Jack, OF finer figure of a woman
he would not wish to see
Mrs. Fetherick-a wheezy, fat, good.
humored woman, extraordinarily ig-
norant, but with a very good share of
common sense-opined that Mrs. Jack
that she ought to find good husband
to take care on her and make her
missis over pretty 'ouse. and every
comfort, and her own pony-carriage.
THAT" said Mrs. Petherick, emphat-
ically. lis the siderwation"-it was thus
she pronounced situation-"she ought
to old, bless her pretty facet"
And lest any reader should be in
clined to think contemporary of the
late II. Petkerick, r. n, by reason of
his widows vulgarities of speech, /
must not omit to state that once upon
a time when T. Petherick fell Ill of O
malignant and infectious fever in q
lodging ut Portsmouth, and came very
near dying Of it, his landlady's daugh-
ter Polly nursed him with unfiinching
courage and devotion, and T. Petherick,
when lie got better, married her; and
thirty years afterward was wont to de-
clare that when he got spliced to his
Polly lie did the best days job for him
self that ever he had done in his life.
In this view of the 1andlady's re-
speeding Mrs. Jacks real vocation, Miss
Barnasconii fully concurred. .Only,
you see. Mrs. Petherick," she said, lit
wouldn't quite do to send round Cir
clilars announcing that a young widow
lady Of sweet temper, charming man
ners and attractive. personal appear
ance was willing to accept the position
Of wife to any gentleman who should
be considered eligible, on personal ap-
plication ht number seven Old street,
Codlington."
Mrs. Petherick laughed and wheezed
until she seemed to be in some danger
Of choking. Lord! Miss Barney, what
one you are" she exclaimed. "No;
that wouldn't never do at ALL
mo; nor would 1t do 10 talk to Mrs.
Jack about marrying again."