The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-07-04
MRS. BOB.
By JOHN STRANGE WINTER.
CHAPTER XIII.

great robbery Mt Little Street Hail was
the means of killing Miss Laviuia Staun-
ton. From that exciting and eyentful
evening it is certain that the oldlady never
looked up again. She remained in n state
Of tca-gowns n nerves, refused to go
out, insisted upon II couple of the men.
servants sleeping in the next room to hers,
had her bedroom windows barred till they
looked like IL prison or mad -house, and
gradually slipped into the position of q
great invalid. III her presence all men.
ton of the robbery became u strictly
tabooed subject; and AZ last. just before
Easter, Miss Lavinia by some means OF
other caught a severe chill and, after four
o. 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 advice of the doctors as soon as
the funeral was over, she left the Hall
aud went to the South Coast for a thor
ough change. With her also went the
faithful Warner. ind n 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
n large well-furnished house standing in
its own grounds. Miss Theodosia's
carriage and horses were sent over, hel
own cook went to cook for her, her own
butler and footinan to wait upon her, and
yet, when the old lady got there, she felt,
more dull and lonely and miserable than
she had done ut home. &.
II an so lost without my sister, DOCTOR
she said TO the local medicine man, whor
Warner called in in Il fright one day, 1--WE
mad really never been parted, and al
though she was ton years younger than
me, and thought herself young enough to
be my daughter, we were always together
and the closest Of companions. And with.
out her feel rs il l had lost myself-and
so | have, my other SELF" and then poor
Miss Theodosia began to cry weakly and
Warner put in her word.
MY ladies always lived a very gay life,
SIR" she said, with a modest cough.
Miss Lavinia-for whom Miss Staunton
Is wearing mourning now, sir-was very
fond of geiety and going out. And l feel
sure Miss Staunton misses the visitors
more than anything. j have been in their
service thirty years.. and l never knew
them to be a week without visitors during
all that time. And now my poor mistress
is all alone in a strange house and She
feels it 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 ~little."
ut is snch a short time since my loss."
answered Miss Theodosia, drying her eyes.
well. every day will mend that" the
doctor said, cheerily. "Supposing you only
ask one or two just at first"
II don't know anyone who would care
to come" sighed Miss Theodosia, wretch
eddy.
"Oh, ma'nm," cried Warner, II mn sure
Mrs. Trafford would be only too glnd to
come and pay you n visit-my Lady's
mother, SIR she explained to the decor.
"You know, ma'am, you said Mrs. Traf.
ford wrote you the sweetest letter OF any
body when poor Miss Lavinia went, and
she sent n lovely wreath with affectionate
remembrances on it."
Yes, Warner, so she did," said Miss
Theodosia, with another sigh. "Yes. she
was very tender and kind. I hin /
might without improperly ask her to
come and spend few weeks with me. II
will be dull for her, but there are lovely
drives, aud / lave the carriage and horses
here
81 dare say she will enjoy it immense
ly," said the doctor. .Is she n cheerful
LADY,"
ooh, most cheerful" cried Miss Theo-
dosia, in quite a sprightly tone, SO much
did the prospect cheer her of haeingsome.
body beside Warner to talk to.
So that very afternoon poor Miss Theo-
dosia sat down and wrote a long letter to
Mrs. Trafford, giving her n detailed ac-
count of her new abode, of her great lone.
illness, and of how the doctor had recon-.
mended cheerful society as her best medi,
cine. "And,'' she ended, "now l am going
to ask you, dear Mrs. Tratford, to do me D
great favor and come and spend a few
weeks with me in this lovely island. J
know it is a great favor to nsk you to
leave London just at this time and shut
yourself up in II house of mourning but.
indeed, l shall be so grateful to you and ]
shall do everything that is consistent with
respect for my sisters memory to make
your visit ms little dull as possible. Ihave
the principal servants and the carriage
and horses here SO that you will be com.
Portable enough aud then there followed
some further explanatory matter and the
letter ended, Yours affectionntely, Theo.
doSia Stanton"
Now, us u matter of fact, Mrs. Tratford
uuu, up W lllC llhic VI IcCelNlllr lnIU leu
ter, had no intention whatever of leaving
London until the end of July. But as
soon as she got Miss Theodosia's letter
which was ut breakfast time-she put on
her bonnie Il went down tho street to
see Julia.
Rather n nuisance for you" was Julia's
remark, when she had read the letter.
"Yes, that is so-but for Lanra's sake
l think l ought to CO." Mrs. Trufford re.
piled.
Yes, it is no slight thing for Larra to
have twelve Thousand n year hanging in
the balance" Julia said, gravely.
ooh! l must 60" Mrs. Trufford said de.
cidedly, 81 really have next to no choice
in the matter. Well, l think l shall let
my fiat, it is just the best time of the year
for that. If l come back before it is free
again l can &C to an hotel.'
COR you can come to u.s." said Julia.
promptly.
Now If she was anything, Mrs. Trafford
was a woman Of action, and she did NOT
then let the grass grow under her feet
She called a cab and trotted off to Il house
agent, aud within n couple Of days she
had let her sweet little flat for the rest Of
the season Mt II rental of nine guineas
week. which, ali things considered, was
not bad business. Mrs. Trafford did not
often do bad business. Then she packed
up>ler things md set her house in order
and finally found herself in the train on
the way to the Isle of Wight.
Miss Theodosia's first words to her were
of heartfelt gratitude for her unaelishness
in giving up the best part of II London
season to come to a house of mcarning
where she could not in the ordinary run
of events possibly have gaiety of any kind.
Mrs. Traiford wa very gentle and tender
with the old lady and lightly put aside
the question Of her unseltishness, her
mind flying straight to tie thought that
she was really doing this for Laura and
to nsu her the twelve thousand a year
which the old lady had to leave, while poor
grateful Miss Theodosia never gave them
a thought ut all and innocently and really
believed in the unauthorized goodness of
Mrs. Trafford's heart.
And III truth Mrs. .rafforl found it
dreadfully dull Mt Boscombe, as the pretty
house was called. There is a certain sat
isfaction in some minds, usually feminine
in sender, when they arc trying some
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