Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-01-18
| head on the pillow and began to cry
CHAPTER TX.

ing out an intention without delay,
and did actually call that very after
moo on Mrs. Lilly. The spectacle OF
the smart pony carriage standing at
the door Of Percival House excited
much curiosity and interest in the
breasts of such ~Codlingtonians as were
fortunate enough to see it.
1t is to be supposed, either that Mrs.
Boddington was able satisfactorily to
excuse her hardness in returning Mrs.
Lilly's visit, or else that the latter lady.
in her Astounding charity, forgave the
delay without requiring any excuse at
all; for the stranger was received with
all courtesy, and ever eagerness of wei
come, at Percival House.
Mrs. Lilly pronounced her manners
agreeable-"so quiet" (as indeed they
were, for the day geing warm and the
house shady, and the Lilly family a tri-
V Of falling into a gentle doze twice
or thrice during her visit.) Rebecca
was pleased to find that she attended
the ritualistic services Of the Reverend
Chrysotom Stole, whose church happen
ed to be within an easy distance Of
Beech Grove, and Emma observed ev-
cry fold Of her dress intent1y, with a
view to copying it as closely as circum-
stances would permit at the earliest
opportunity.
The same evening the family at
Beech Grove was assembled in the
pleasant drawing room after dinner.
The lamps were not lighted. The
moonlight and a sweet smell of flowers
We're pouring in at the open windows.
Mr.. Warren liked this half gloom of a
summer, twilight or moonlight because
it was favorable to reverie and tender
thoughts. Mr.. Boddington liked 1t,
since it did very well to smoke a CT
gar by. Mrs, Boddington liked it, be-
no could be expected to do
anything either in the way of work or
reading by so dim a light. So they all
agreed to postpone the lighting Of the
lamps rs long as possible. Then, as
they sat thus, Mrs. Boddington spoke
from her easy chair.
"Oh. I've been to call on those Lillys
to-day. and I've found out a lot about
the children's gOverness. 7 should new
er have engaged her if | had known be-
fore"
Shouldn't you?" said her husband.
Articulation was rendered somewhat
difficult and ~inconvenient to Mr.. Bod
dington by reason of his having his ci-
gar between his teeth. Nevertheless
after Il pause he was moved to inquire
further: why not?'
"Oh, well, all her relations entirely
disapprove Of her teaching at all. 1
was not aware. The family is quite
respectable, it appears" .
But, surely, my dear Jane sair Mr..
Warren. from his place near the win
dow where he sat. with Nip at his feet
making a black patch Of shadow in a
silver path Of moonlight. since you did
not clearly and expressly %stipulate for
n governess of disreputable connections,
you have only yourself to blame. I
dare say Mrs. Jack Lilly would have
confessed that she belongs to decent
people at once If you had asked her"
'oh! | know your sarcastic way,
Robert" returned his sister, blandly,
but that doesn't alter the facts, you
know"
And the facts are-?'
THE truth is that this person Is very
headstrong and fiighty. She is rather
designing. TOO. She maneuvered her
self into the Lilly family. Their eldest
son might have done better. She was
the daughter Of n half-pay naval of
fer, and had not a penny. 1t was very
disagreeable for the Lillys' and now
she won't take anybody's advice. She
is so very ~eXtravagant that she can't
live on her income, and she is furious
because Mr.. Lilly would not allow her
thousands to %squander, and tries to
Snjtn tho family nv trlrninr na,
/ was quite aStonished when | heard
it ALL" said Mrs. B%oddington. winding
up her speech. which she had delivered
with great suavity. from beginning to
end.
We'll, you might be-" exclaimed her
brother.
Mrs. R%oddington settled herself more
comfortably among her cushions and
stretched out her feet before proceed
Ing. Il don't know whether it's right
to go on employing her, really. She
has such a character in the town"
What do you mean, Jane?' demand.
cd Mr.. Warren, in so sudden and stern
IL manner that his sister started. .'Why
are you joining in an attack Of this kind
against Il d~efenseless woman who has
never offended o + injured you in the
slightest degree
Mr.. Boddington was heard to muir
muir that he thought the young govern
ess a very jolly Kind Of woman and I'm.
pretty.
oh. pretty? Yes.she's pretty enough;
and she has such Il craving for admira-
ton that she will accept ii from any
body. She is always playing off her
airs upon some man or other. She
I've without 1t. Why. just fancy.
there's Il common workingman who
in the same house with her who
Is quite desperate about her. He rs n
pr!nter.and she leads him on
and bamboozles him. And there is n
Young man in n lawyers office here
AiucginS think. or some such name
he Is callcd-whom she firts with out
rageously. She can never rest without
to set up a Irritation with every
man she sees. She doesn't care who II
may be; old or young. it's all the same
10 her. ! don't think that kind of thing
a good example for the children"
Mr. Warren got up. and walked ont
INTO the garden, rising so abruptly
rom MS chair as TO considerably dis
'urb Nip. who staggered and shook
In drowsy surprise, and then
his master.
But. after ALL" pleaded good-naturcd
Mr.. Boddington, II don't see why NO