Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-07-04
MRS. BOB.
By JOHN STRANGE WINTER.
cHAPrER x%xmf.-

great robbery at Little Street Hall was
the means Of killing Miss Lavinia Staun.
ton. From that exciting and eventual
evening II Is certain that the old lady never
looked up again. She remained iii u state
of tea-gowns and nerves, refused to 90
out, insisted upon n couple of the men.
servants sleeping I'm the next room to hers,
had her bedroom windows barred till they
looked like 4 prison Or d mad-house, and
gradually slipped into the position OF q
great invalid. In her presence all men.
ton Of the robbery became a strictly
tabooed subject; and at last. Just before
Easter, Miss Eavinia by some means OF
other caught a severe chill and, after four
or five days OF severe illness. she died and
the secret Of the jewel robbery was safe
for ever.
Miss Theodosia felt the loss terribly.
and by the adv vice Of the doctors as soon as
the funeral was over, she left the Hall
and went to the South Coast for a thor
ough change. With her also went the
faithful Warner. and a young person OF
more frivolous mind who had replaced
Phoebe.
The place they chose was in the Isle OF
Wight. They were lucky enough to find
q large well -furnished house standing in
its wi grounds. Miss Theodosia's owr
carriage and horses were sent over, hei
own cool went to cook for her, her own
butler and footman to wait upon her, and
yet, when the old lady got there, She fell
more dull and lonely and miserable thar
she had done at home.
81 am so lost without my sister, DOCTOR
| aha amid "a tho local paaAfoisa tnnu xphA,x
Warner called in IN a Alright one day. 'w,
had really never been parted, aad al
though she was tea years younger thsr
me, and thought herself young enough I'd
be my daughter, we were always together
and the closest Of companions. Aud with.
out her | feel as II | had lost myself-and
so | have, my other SELF and then pool
Miss T~heodosia began to cry weakly and
Warner put in her word.
my ladies always lived q very gay life
sir" she said, with q modest cougb.
Miss Lavinia-for whom Miss Stauntor
Is wearing mourning now, sir-was very
fond of gaiety and going ont. And I feel
sure Miss Staunton misses the visitors
more than anything. l have been in their
service thirty years, and I never knew
them TO be n week without visitors during
all that time. Aud now my poor mistress
Is all alone In n strange house and she
feels IL dreadfully."
But, my dear lady," said the doctor
"why don't you have a few people to stay
with You and cheer you up a littleg"
ut is such n short time since my less
answered Miss T~heodosia, drying her eyes
well. every day will mend that" tn,
/ InntD. ..EI .I...1. C.--aIr. 80. ..l
ask one or two just at first
III don't know anyone who would car,
to come" sighed Miss Theodosia, wretch
eddy.
"Oh, ma'am," cried Warner. 81 am sure
Mrs. Trsfford would be only too glad Il
come and pay you n visit-my Lady's
mother. SIR she explained to the doctor
You know, ma'am. you said Mrs. Traf
ford wrote you the sweetest letter OF any
body when poor Miss Lavinia went. anC
she sent a lovely wreath with affectionate
membranes on it,"
Eyes, Warner. so she did," said Mis-
Theodosia, with another sigh. Eyes. she
was very tender and kind. I think
might without improperly ask her e
come and spend a few weeks with me. |
will be dull for her, but there arc lovely
drives, aud / have the carriage aud horse.
here"
81 dare say she will enjoy 1t immense
~" said the doctor. '.Is she a cheerful
LADY,"
"Oh, most cheerful" cried Miss Theo
dosia. in quite a sprightly tone, so much
did the prospect cheer her of having some
boiy ss..as wa.ass 10 talk to.
dosia sat down and wrote HlohSTr tttf~r
Mrs. Trafford, giving her n detailed az
count OF her new abode. OF her great lone
illness, md of how the doctor had recon
mended cheerful society as her best med
cine. and" she ended, now am goin
TO ask ou, dear Mrs. Trafford, to do me
great favor and come and spend n fe,
weeks with me In this lovely island.
know IL is a great favor to ask you I
leave London just at this time aud shu
yourself up In "a house of mourning but
indeed, l shall be so grateful to you and
shall do everything that is consistent will
respect for my sisters memory TO max,
yonr visit us little dull ms possible. I hav,
the principal servants and the carriag,
and horses here so that you will be com
Portable enough" and then there FOLLOWED
some further explanatory matter and tn,
letter ended, Yours af%fectionately. Theo
G)sia Stauuton."
Now, IS n matter Of fact, Mrs. Traffort
had, up to the time OF receiving that let
ter. had no intention whatever OF leaving
London until the end of July. But IA
soou as she got Miss Theodosia's letter
which was at breakfast time-she put or
her bonnet and went down the street tC
see Julia.
Rather a nuisance for you," was Julia's
remark, when she had read the letter.
Yes, that is so-but for Laura's sake
] think l ought to CO." Mrs. Trafford re-
piled.
"Yes, It Is no slight thing for Laura to
have twelve thousand a year hanging in
the balance" Julia said, gravely.
ooh. / must GO" Mrs. Trafford said de
cidedly, II really have next To no choice
in the matter. Well, | think ! shall lie,
my fiat, 1t is just the best time OF the year
for that. IL / come back before it is free
again / can 90 to an hotel"
o you can come to u.s." said Julia.
promptly.
Now il she was anything, Mrs. Trafrord
was a woman OF action, and she did no
then let the grass grow under her feet
She called a cab and trotted Off to a house.
agent, and within q couple of days she
had let her sweet little flat for the rest OF
the season ut n rental OF nine guineas 9
week, which, all things considered. was
not bad business. Mrs. Trafford did not
often do bad business. Then she packed
uptier things and set her house in order
and finally found herself In the train on
the way TO the Isle of Wight.
Miss T~heodosia's first words to her were
OF heartfelt gratitude for her un~selfshness
In giving up the best part Of a London
season to come to u house of mourning
where she could not In the ordinary run
OF events possibly nave gaiety of any kind.
Mrs. Trafford was very gentle and tender
with the old lady aud lightly put aside
the question OF her unselishness, her
mind flying straight to tie thought that
she was really doing this for Laura and
to ensure her the twelve thousand a year
which the old lady had to leave, while poor
grateful Miss Theodosia never gave them
a thought at all and innocently and really
believed In the unadulterated goodness OF
Mrs. Trafford's heart.
Aud In truth Mrs. Trafford found IL
dreadfully dull at Boscombe. rs the pretty
house was called. There is a certain sat
tsfaction In some minds, usually feminine
in gender. when they are trying some
thing new, living In n new house, starting
a new custom, doing In fact anything out