Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-01-02

sweet in her dressing-robe. came into
the room.
He has gone to sleep all right" she
said, cheerily, "and the fever has left
him. don't think it is measles
merely a little mild rash, after all,
which few days rest will cure, so go
to by-by and forget us all"
"But Sir Hugh McGregorY"
"Oh. I'll settle him. Mother and I
have arranged all that. He is a gentles
man, il he is maniac, and he won't
want to evict us at moments notice.
as they do the poor Irish peasants. I'll
tell him that our coming was accidental,
and that while we stay we will have a
board nailed on the garden gate marked:
BEWARE! CHILDREN HERE!
and that when we leave the house shall
be disinfected at my expense. I'll fix
it all right with the baronet."
New Years day.
We were miserable party as we
trudged through the muddy lanes to
Melcomb Regis hall. How our foot
steps halted. On what paltry pretense
delayed the half-hour's walk, now to
admire a bit Of scenery, now to examine
some strange shrub. till even mothers
patience failed her.
"How you car talk about anything
but that awful old man cannot under
stand. My heart has been in flutter
ever since we left the cottage" she
murmureda
Putting IF the moment Of his con-
fessed ignonAny," Nell laughed. "oh,
dad, thank PrdGidence for these degen-
crate days. IfEir Hugh's feudal priv
ileges had demaR led you might have
found yourself swA ,ging from bough
of that grand old eAm."
"And serve me right,"" snapped.
The gorgeous footman stared at us
good-naturedly, but of course not with
the servile smirk reserved for 'kerridge
comp'ny."
"Is the baronet imp
"Sir 'uh an me lady hev druv in the
pony cart to Wilfred cottage to call on
you, sir"
WHAT"
"You come up the shrubbery, an
that's 'ow you missed EN-"
Too shocked for words, we sneaked
back like baffied conspirators.
Said mother, in an awed whisper:
"You don't think he'll do anything
to the children, If he finds them You
see, he is more or less mad, and"
Nell's eyes blazed. Without a word
she started on a run. Mother and I
followed more sedately, though must
confess when saw the empty carriage
at our gate, my heart beat like trip
hammer.
Nell was standing peeping in at the
parlor window.
She put her finger to her lips to mo-
ton silence.
/ shall never forget the sight.
There sat the old baronet, with Char
lie on his knee, riding cock-horse, while
on low rocker Lady McGregor re-
clined, clasping Flossie in her arms.
Neals eyes danced with mischief.
Lied TO grace by the innocents," she
laughed. Let us surprise them be-
fore they can lapse into their primitive
barbarism."
Very humbly told my story.
An ominous silence.
Lady McGregor looked at her hus-
band with wistful, hungry eyes.
Still the old man was speechless.
Nell's flushed face and quivering lip
told that a storm was brewing.
eff you please, Sir Hugh, will take
my child" she said, advancing with
outstretched arms.
The hard lines of the old mans face
softened.
NAY, my dear, not so. I have not
had child in my arms for ten years
and I-I-did not think-that / could
ever be so foolish, but I"
He was all but sobbing, and Nell.
with woman's wonderful tact, taking
the situation as mai ter of course, said:
"Yes, and children are so quick to
discover who are really fond of them"
The shameless little hussie never even
blushed when she propounded this
mendacious bit of sophistry.
And that days dinner at the halli
Contrary to all ideas of English domes.
tic etiquette, Charlie and Flossie sat ia
state in high chairs, with the resplen-
dent turnkey to wait upon them.
1T was all very well for a time" de-
clared the baronet, "but my heart had
grown very weary for the patter Of n
child's footstep in the house and the
music of child's voice. ! have seen
nearly 70 New Years days, but this
day of emancipation from foolish
VOW is the happiest of them ALL
"And how about the other philos-
ophers-your disciples in Melcomb
Regis" could not help mschievously
asking.
"Oh," laughed Nell, with merry
twinkle in her eyes. We'll just turn
the babies loose in the parish and bowl
them over like nine-pins."
We did.
BERNARD BIGeBY.