The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-18


/ before?'
In the midst of Mrs Townley's explain
| atoms as to why she had absented her
| self, there burst through the open French
/ window, like the advent of a whirlwind.
the puppy, Sport, in full cry, followed by
Eddy. Round and round the room they
| circled for some moments, and then ODE
dent to the oft-repeated commands of his
| mother, the little youth turned and en-
| braced their visitor with much heartiness
| The peace that followed these demonstra-
| tons was rudely put to flight by the click
Of the front gate and the cry from Ed
dy, who was stationed at the window, an
nouncing ." a lady coming"
Somebody to call. How provoking!" said
Mrs. Spreadbrow with quicker of her
placid brow. Come, Maria, let's go up
stairs before Della goes to the door There
goes the bell! Never mind your things
In an instant the room was cleared Of
all save the black and white puppy, who
shambled about for a moment, then trot-
ted laboriously out into the garden by the
same route he had come in.
IT'S a young lady, Mrs. Spreadbrow,
and she says she wants to see you on
business" announced Della, a moment lat
er thrusting her head through the door
of the room TO which Mrs. Spreadbrow and
her friend had retreated.
Dear me! What can she want?' the
lady's voice expressed as much irritation
as that kindly organ could embody.
AS she entered the parlor a tall slim
girl, who had been standing, nervously in
the middle of the room, advanced to neer
her, and the icy tone and manner that
Mrs. SpTeadbrow had determined to as
sumo toward the disturber of her seclu-
sion melted quite away as the pretty young
creature lifted a pair of sad dark eyes
to her face and said in an embarrassed
voice:
have come Toto"
Pray, sit down., interrupted Mrs.
SpreadbroW, cheerily.
Thank you" said the girl, and drop
ped into a chair. II will not detain you
long. 1 have here children's history
and from the depths of a roomy sachel
she produced a small book-'that Catcham
81 Teasam are publishing"
Ali Now Mrs. Spreadbrow knew the
worst. But L don't want it," she said,
gently.
1T won't do any-any-harm-to-
look at it," The girl spoke as if trying
to repeat a lesson, and with a wistful
look in her face.
Eyes, it will; because if I let you show
it to me may buy it, and really don't
want It."
Nobody does; but you have put your
rejection of it very kindly" said the girl,
rising to go. Her voice trembled, and
ty lips into was far from cheerful. Mrs
Spreadbrow was touched. There was
something so pathetic about the voice and
manner, and " was so very young and
SO very pretty. The motherly lady laid
her hand on the girls arm, saying, softly;
Let me give you glass of claret be-
fore you set out again in the heat OF"
For the little book agent had turned away
to hide the tears she could not restrain.
Excuse me" she murmured, its the
hot weather, and-and not being accus-
toned to the work II began only yes
terday, and it's a long trip to and from
New York"
"Sit down." urged Mrs. Spreadbrow,
gently, land 1 will go and get the wine
When she returned the girl had quite
recovered and was sitting quietly at the
window smiling at the gambols of the
puppy. She apologized for having given
way to her emotions, slipped her wine and
then rose to go.
THANK you so much for your kindness"
she said warmly, land goodby!"
Stop" exclaimed Mrs. Spreadbrow,
I've changed my mind about the book;
I'll take it,
you really need it?'' with perceptible
Frightening of the eyes.
L can't get on without a history for Ed
dy. I never thought of Sports having de-
stroyed the one he had
When the necessary negotiations had
been concluded and the pretty book
agent had departed, Mrs. Spreadbrow re-
turned TO her guest with many apologies
for her long absence and bubblng over
with the pathetic romance she had woven
from the materials furnished by the young
girls words and manner. The two ladies'
talked over this and similar instances until
they were both in a fearful state, and
Mrs Townley, to turn the tide of feeling,
proposed going into the parlor and opening
the nubbly little package she had bought,
and which she said contained some trifes
for the children. This proposition was
hailed with joy by Mrs. Spreadbrow. Mrs.
Townley was in the act of untying the
last string, when she suddenly bethought
her of her black satchel in which it was
her custom to carry her purse, and which
had been deposited with her bonnet and
parasol in a chair in the corner of the
room. With the precipitancy invariably
dispayed by her sex at such junctures,
she rose and stepped over to get it. The
parasol and bonnet were on the chair, but
not the satchel.
"Are you sure you didn't take it into the
library?' asked Mrs. Spreadbrow after
the parlor had been searched.
Il know didn't responded Mrs. Town
ley with tremulous irritation. But of
course we can look.
The satchel was not in the library the
only room occupied by the ladies since
Mrs. Townley's arrival; nor did it turn up
anywhere in the house, which with anX
ious inconsistency was searched from top
to bottom. Mrs. Townley had become very
pale and Mrs. Spreadbrow trembled with
excitement and cnagrin.
80, this is dreadful" she said at last. L
I hate to think 1t possible, but it must
have been stolen. How much was in the
purse?"
"A hundred dollars" replied Mrs. Town
ley. Il brought it with me for safety. But
who-wno? There has been no one"
"The little book agent!" gasped Mrs.
Spreadbrow 'She is the only person who
has been in the parlor beside myself since
you left it. Is 1t possible-can 1t be-that
that inuocent-loOkng-O, dear!'
But Mrs. Spreadbrow was a woman of
action, albeit mild and gentle and she
sprang to her feet fiercely clenching her
small soft fists. "I'll follow hertz she cried.
Do you go one way, Maria; 1 will go an
other and Della and the children shah go
in other directions. o. we Will run her
| down. The little hypocrite."
frxrv anfc fhsa hon ,fry