Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-02-08

The following day Miss Barnasconls
card was carried into Mrs. Lilly. with
a request that the lady might be allow
ed to say a few words to her at once.
Mrs. Lily examined the card attentive
ly through her , be ~eye-glass, ana
gave permission for the person 10
come in" in a one which considerably
Influenced the servants manner Ill usn-
ering Barney into the drawings room.
But very little Barney cared for that.
Her appearance caused Mrs. Lilly 10
open her bead-like eyes TO their utter
most, and fix them on her visitor with
a stony gaze which made her look more
like a wax doll than usual. The two
women were oddly contrasted, both in
appearance and manner
Barney had arrayed herself in her
best for the occasion. She wore u
and chocolate color and a yellow SILK
handkerchief round her neck, and the
bonnet with white ribbons and roses,
ut of which confusion of bright tints
icr dark, black browed face asserted
itself strongly. 1t was as If one had
dressed up the weather-browned hg-
ure head of a ship in gauzy draperies
and garlands.
Mrs. Lilly's pink and white cOuntc-
nance was framed in smooth bandcaux
| of shining black wig. The black velvet
band duly marked the termination OF
her wake forehead. She wore a black
satin gown, and a lace collar and cap,
and a heavy gold chain TO which was
attached her eyeglasS. And her slow
soto yOce utteranccs were as different
as could well be imagined from Bar
ney's abrupt speeches, delivered in L
bass voice from the chest.
Good morning, ma'am.' said Bar
ney, cutting short all ceremonies n
plunging into the middle Of her subject.
I've come to speak To you very Seri-
ously about Mrs. Jack"
"About-Mrs.-"
About your sons widow, Mrs. Jack
Lilly. She's very ILL.,"
What's the natter" asked Mrs. Lii
ly, startled out of her dignity for the
moment. How do you know? Wnen
did you see her."
u saw her yesterday. She is not In
immediate danger, if you mean tnat.
She hasn't got cholera, or smallpox, or
typhus, but she just wasting and PIN
ing and fading. And she ought to be
looked after, and have Il medical man
to see her. and l fancy he would recon-
mend a change of air, But of course,
my opinion is worth nothing on that
score
Nothing at ALL" returned Mrs, Lilly,
who had recovered from her momen-
tary diScomposure. But may I ask
why you have done me the honor to
come and say all this to me? DO you
know you quite frightened me by your
very abrupt manner Of announcing the
illness of Mrs. John Lilly junior
II am a busy person and have not
time to make roundabout speeches.
I'm sorry if I've frightened you, but
you seem TO have recovered by this
time. However, the reason why l came
to tell you all this is the poor young
thing has no mother and you stand in
the place of one toIher, and she ought
to be looked after"
Pray, did Mrs. John Lilly Junior
send you hcre?'
Not she. And she would scold me
soundly if she knew l came. But I
have done my duty, all the same. No;
she declares she is quite we'll"
Mrs. Lilly was getting into a condi-
tiou VI iisiui's inpltooi'c W "lIiieSS'
Once or twice she had opened her
mouth to make n speech, which should
quell this incredibly intrusive person
with the outlandish name. But Bar
ney was too quick for her, and did not
wait for the sentence to be got fairly
under way. Indeed, having accom-
plished the object of her visit, which
was forcibly 10 call the attention OF
Mrs. Lilly to the daughter-in-law's con
dition, the music mistress pulled out
her watch, declared she must be off to
her work. gave a very brief good morn
ing to the lady of Percival House, and
escaped scot free from the crushing
reproof which Mrs. Lilly had it in her
mind to administer.
To be Continued.