Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-03-08
CHAPTER 4.

CHAPTER 4.
The morning lessons had scenes
very irksome to Mrs. Jack. She wa
nervous and low-spirited. In the frs
place. she had not Overtaken Mr.. War
rem IN her walk to Beech Grove. I
was the first morning for weeks tina
she had missed seeing him and til,
very first on which, she had wished no
to see him; but she was aware that sh.
should henceforth feel new constrain
and shyness in his presence, now thai
she knew the share he had in keeping
Jimmy and Jenny within bounds Of
obedience
"And was boasting to him, only the
other day, how we'll 1 managed the
children" exclaimed Mrs. Jack to her
self, as she walked along faster and
faster under the excitement of her OWL
thoughts: "and all the time he was
bribing them to be good and to spare
me. What weak. babyfed 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 its 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 were fifty far more
probable hypothesis ready to her hand
to account for the fact of Mr.. War
ren's not being ut particular part of
particular road at particular hour.
Then, too. Mrs. Jack felt certain shy-
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
cipine in consequence of her moral in.
fuence over them!
So altogether Mrs. Jack was in 4
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" Z"
The children rushed out of the room
with 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-
ton?" said she, as she took her bonnet
from side table where it lay on her
folded shawl.
mo; but 1 thought I should like to
say 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 60
ing to hear something about Mr.. War
ren. She had got into an odd habit of
thinking Of him 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 beeL seeing good deal of my
brother Robert lately, Mrs. Lilly?''
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 a rush. But the deep blush
was beyond her control. She answer
ed, however, with straightforward
simplicity. Il see Mr.. Warren nearly
every morning. Quite every morning,
1 may say"
"Ah! you meet him on the road?"
Il overtake him when be is returning
from his morning walk May I inquire
why you say this?'
Bell was beginning 10 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 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 in the schoolroomY
Certainly not" answered Bell, more
mildly. For she felt that here Mrs.
Boddington was on strong ground, and
had right to be judicial and solemn.
Il assure you had no idea Of it until
Jenny said that word yesterday.
think she unconsciously exaggerated
and mfsrepresented the matter little.
Mr.. Warren probably said, If you are a
good girl at yonr lessons 1 will give
you a doll'-or something to that ef-
ect."
ooh, dear, no! Jenny was perfectly
accurate, have no doubt. Mr.. War
rem bribed the children not to tease
Mrs. Lilly These were his words.
Now, I must say do not think that
good kind Of training for young minds.
They ought to obey for very different