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

should turn the woman Off Jenny Is too
Young to learn Irritation from her; and,
as to us, why her flirtations can't do us
any HARM"
Cant they? 2" returned Mrs. Bedding
ton. 'Oh! what geese men are!'
To which general proposition her hus-
band made no reply.
Meanwhile, Robert Warren was walk
ing up and down the garden paths in
the moonlight. The peace and pretti-
ness of the scene were spoiled for MIN.
Even the scent of the flowers seemed
somehow to have departed.
Its all spite and detestable petty
minded jealousy and Mrs. Grundyism
on the part Of those chattering women
at Percival House." ne said to himself,
adding one or two stronger epithets
than l feel called upon to repeat to ears
polite. Nevertheless, the moonlight and
the fragrance were spoiled for him.
Mrs. Boddington had fired her first
shot with effect, and began the next
day to consider how she should follow
up the attack. She was not bitter or
malicious by nature; she did not wish
evil to Mrs. Jack ON the whole. But the
was very averSe to the idea of her
brother Roberts being such a fool as to
fall in love with the pretty young wild
ow who came to Beech Grove as gov
erness. At the bottom of her heart
she was averse to the idea Of her broth
err marrying at all. She and her hus-
band were amply endowed with the
rnnlc nf 4l;. x-n.JI Che IiI nnf hont-
er after Roberts money, she told her
self; but still a comfortably off bache-
lor uncle for Jimmy and Jenny was Il
pleasant kind Of relative to have and to
hold. And when Robert Warren had
to return to England after many years
absence, Jane Boddington had proposed
to him to make his home with her and
her husband in their pretty villa on the
Thames. He should have his own
rooms, his own servants, and see as
much or as little of the rest of the
family as pleased him. But Robert
had refused to accede to this arrange
ment. and had taken a house "in an
out-of-the-way corner Chear 1t not, We
CodlingtoniansD his sister declared,
merely because he had been talked into
it by a specious house agent. If this
were true. however. the house agent
was the only person evtant who pos.
sessed the secret OK talking Robert
Warren into anything. Jane knew this,
for she had tried her hand-Or her ton
que rather-at it and failed. There
was no %persuading him by direct arglI-
ment; but, like other creatures of his
sex, he might be overcome by more
cunning methods. 1t would be a thou
sand pitieS for him to marry n giddy,
vain, penniless woman like Mrs. Jack,
who was twenty years his junior to
boot. Mrs. Boddington honetsly
thought it would be an act Of almost ia
tai folly for she had that odd feminine
distrust and disdain for romantic at
tachments, in the case of her own near
relations, which almost makes n Won
der how it comes to pass that so many
ONE make imprudent and unwOrld-
ly marriages for themselves.
However that may be, Mrs. Bedding
ton really thought that her brother
ought to be protected from the widows
wiles, and she probably believed more
thar ~half-which was Il large proper.
tion-of the spiteful things said against
poor Mrs. Jack at PercivaI House,
Now. on their part. the Iillys were
thinking more of themselves than OF
Jacks widow. when they launched out
in such an~imadversions on that poor
lady's conduct; for they :.rgued thus:
Mrs. Boddington. who is q person OF
distinction in our little world, must be
made to understand clearly that we are
not of the degraded class which earns
its living by mental exertion. We
must explain to the stranger that Mrs.
john Lilly. in going governessing,' is
d%erogating from the genteel position
she was placed in by IN alliance with
this family" And to his might be
added, in the case Of Emma Lilly. a
strong dash Of personal jealousy.
Mrs. Boddington ~reproached herself
for the easy Incidence which had al
lowed matters to get to the point indi.
Gated by Jcnny's revelation, that her
Uncle Robert had bribed her not ia
tease Mrs Lilly! Up TO that moment
Mrs. Boddingtor had suspected moth.
ing; but IN Jenny's hint her suspicious
awoke, and began travelling at Il rate
which showed that they would soon
make up for lost time. and n trifle over.
Il am so stupidity good. ratured and
ecsy-eoing." said Mrs. Boddington Ia
herself. That / never thought of that
cunning creature making up to Robert.
He Is very sensitive on the subject of
his age. and is always afraid of being
thought TO have any absurd %pretensions
TO youth; and thea some day, if he
VII come and stay with us Mt Twick-
snham, dare say | shall be able TO find
him a nice suitable person for a wife.
I'm sure | should BE- quite glad to see
Robert married, if it would make his
life happier"
And in thus declaring Mrs. Bodding-
ton spoke with no conscious dishon
esty.