The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-12-26

the room.
HE has gone to sleep all right" she
said, cheerily, land the fever has left
him. l don't think il is measles
merely little mild rash, after all.
which few days rest will cure, SO go
to by-by and forget us ell"
but Sir Hugh McGregor?"
"Oh. I'll settle him. Mother and I
have arranged all that. lie is a gentle
man, IL he. is maniac, and he won't
want TO evict us at a 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 ut my expense. III fix
1t all right with the baronet."
New Years day.
| We were a 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 bit of scenery, now to examine
some strange shrub, till even mothers
patience failed her.
"liow you can talk about anything
but that awful old man cannot under
stand. My heart has been in futter
ever since we left the cottage" she
murmured
Putting off the moment of his con-
fessed ignominy," Nell laughed. "Oh.
] dad, thank Providence for these degen-
crate days. If Sir Hugh's feudal priv
ileges had demanded you might have
found yourself swinging from bough
of that grand old elm"
| And serve me right" | snapped.
The gorgeous footman stared at us
good-naturedly, but Of course not with
the servile smirk reserved for "l<erridge
comp'ny."
us the baronct in?'
Sir 'uh an me lady hev druv in the
pony cart to Wilfred cottage 20 call on
| you, sir"
What"
"Hou come up the shrubbery, an
| that's 'ow you missed EN-"
Too shocked for words, we sneaked
| back like baflled 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
Ncll's eyes blazcd. Without 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.
Nell's eyes danced with mischief.
LED TO grace by the innocents," she
laughed. LET us surprise them be-
| fore they can lapse into their primitive
Earbarism."
Very humbly told my story.
An ominous silence.
Lady McGrgor looked at her hus-
land with wistful, hungry eyes.
Still the old man was spccchless.
Nells flushed face and quivering hip
! told that a storm was brewing.
''If you please, Sir Hugh, will take
my child" she said. advancing with
| outstretched arms.
The hard lines of the old mans face
softcned.
"Nay. my dear. not so. have not
had Il child in my arms for ten years
and I--l--did not think-that ] could
ever be so foolish. but l."
He was all but sobbing, and Nell.
with woman's wonderful tact, taking
the situation as n matter of course, said:
Eyes. 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 sophist-y.
And that days dinner at the hall!
| Contrary to all ideas of English domes-
tic etiquette, Charlie and Flossie sat in
state in high chairs, with the resplen-
dent turnkey to wait upon them.
at was all very well for time" de-
clared the baronet, but my heart had
grown very weary for the patter Of
child's footstep in the house and the
music of child's voice. have seen
nearly 20 New Years days. but this
day Of emancipation from foolish
vow is the happiest Of them all"
sand how about the other philos-
hophers-your disciples in Melcomb
,Rog;s?" I could not help mischievously
asking.
"Oh," laughed Nell, with merry
twinkle in her eyes. We'll just turn
tJ,o hob;cs loose in The parish and bowl