Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-12-09
CHAPTER III.

One evening. some W. months later.
Judith was at home with n servant.
the rest of the family being ut the sea-
side. They had zone earlier than usu-
al, because !ohn had not been wen,
ami the doctor had ordered Il change,
which Mrs. Hatfield thought she also
needed.
Judith enjoyed being alone. though
probably the change of air would have
done her more good; out that she was
to have later. by joining the FletcherS
when they went for their summer trip.
She was not happy just because She
had more opportunity to be idle: for,
although the family had been away
four days. she had plenty TO do.
h post brought two letters. one
from her mother, the other from
Grace. She opened her mothers first.
to find ii filled with complaints and re-
quests. Mrs. Hatfield wanted a partic-
ular wrap, "a certain vinnaigrette, and
some warmer clothing, as tile air ut
Scavicw was keener Than she had ex-
pected. The old lady was afraid the
servant they had taken with them
would not be able 10 stay. for she had.
or pretended to have. headache ever
since they had been there.
Mrs. Hatfield thought that. as Ju-
dith had so little TO do. she might have
the chief rooms thoroughly turned out
again, rs the spring cleaning had been
hurried on account of the wedding;
and ii she could manag to get the
fruit-preserving and picking done, it
would be all the better. Perhaps Ju-
dith would be glad to hear that John
seemed To be in his element; hat he
sat sketching OF scribbling by the sea
all day, and sitting by the window
watching it half the night.
The letter from her sister ran as fol-
lows:
My Dear Jdy-As the family are
away, and you have SO much time ON
your hands. will you have little Percy
and his nurse for a week or 500 The
boy is not ut all well-indeed, he is
teething. and the doctor thinks Il
change would do him good. Being to-
tally unable to leave town myself ut
| present, | feel that l ca nsafely trust
him TO your care. His nurse under
stands his treatment, so all you win
have to do is to see that she feeds,
dresses and takes him out, and puts
him to bed at the proper hours, and
that she does not neglect him during
the night. | know you won't mind, for
cannot have baby neglected. Please
reply per return. l don't ask YOU to
have Oracle: for she Is quite well. but
YOU can have her II you like. Have
you heard from Elsie yet? When is
she expected in town? No time for
more-there Is the dinner bell. and
Percy has brought three men home
| with him.
with loye-your affectionate sister,
TRACE Fletcher.
Mrs. Fletcher's cCol demand rather
dismayed Judith, who did not at all
relish having her peace broken ND by n
fractions child and his troublesome
nurse: but she was so unselfish that
she would have said Yes on the i'm
pulse of he moment, and only decided
no TO accept the responsibility after
thinking the matter over. According
ly. she answered Grace's letter at once
Is follows:
My Dear Gracie-Am very sorry to
hear of Little Percy's illness, but | do
not care to undertake the responsible
ity of him ut present, as | do not un-
derstand babies, and have more to do
than you imagine. Why do you not
send him to Grandma Fletcher's.
where there is also pure countr air.
II where there are four young aunts
II three servants to look after him.
while have only Jane? Ii this course
Is not open to you, | suppose l must
have the child. in which case you nav
send him and the nurse without fur
Their notice. We have Tot heard from
Elsie since mamma wrote on Tues
day. l presume she Is still In Paris.
The family appear to be comfortably
settled at Seaview.
with ~love-yours, a~ffectlonately,
Judith"
To Mrs. Hatfield she wrote:
MY Dear Mother-Your parcel shall
be sent of the first thing in the morn
Ing. WIN endeavor to do as you wish.
Please try o to send the girl back
until you are sure Seaview does not
agree with her; the change may have
temporarily upset her. Glad to hear.
indeed. that dear John Ii so happy
No letter from Elsie yet, and Grace
does not appear to have heard, either.
enclose q hotter Jst received FROM