The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-04-15
lie ROMANCE OF MUTBY
NCRKHOUSE
Ey Mrs. Isabel Smith


TIE guardians of the Mutby work
nousr had gust finished their or
Ginary meeting, when the master, with
rather d -hecpish expression OF u
tcnamcc. observed:
y think. gentlemen. ought to lay
before you a letter ! received ycst"r-
day. First one of that sort | ever had.
Dear me, Tripp, what's that?." ~
claimed Tire chaplain. otherwise the
rector of Nutby. commonly called Par
son Weaver. 4 round. rosy-faced man.
who mere r~cScmbIrd Il farmer than a
clergyman.
The other members of the board
ceased their various conversations and
Looked rNpcctant. all eNccII DE-.
Evesham. the medical officer. For the
last half-uuur he had heard every I'M
patient thud Of Lis handsome chest
nuts h0ufs on the gravel outside, and
felt that what might hr an agreeable
method az pa-siu" 4 little spare tinrt"
lis ,puirsry= WAS Il waste of precious
moments 10 = busy man like himself.
The whole business might be settled 50
r.Hrh usc-, quickly had they been con
else instead Of rambling and Gispu1a-
tive. IT, had Just been wondering how
II could ever have been accepted rs a
popular fact that his scv were behind
hand in III, matter o f>pcrch. when this
nry. delay occurred. lie WAS Il INA OF
abou: %. quiet and reserved, living
10y himself. and accustomed to long.
lonely drives about the Suffolk country
on his professional crrand:.
We'll. Tripp. what IS it," repeated
T'arsun Weaver. rather impaticntIy. IIe
mad been interrupted in an interesting
discussion with his ~nci~hhor, the squire.
about the trottin@ hackney and ''gat"
post" m"n@oIds that ne had got first
prizc for at the recent agricultural
show.
Thr master cleared his throat. and
read. som what u~ervously. the follow
ir@ c~;.isrie:
Sept. Is. IS
To the Master Of Mutby Workhouse:
Sir: am a native of Thorpe 81. Parma
has. and l'f5 this country r. years Z for
Australia. where | made a comfortable for
,ure. lam ROW returned to my native land.
but find nearly all my friends are gone and
scattered. am = years of age, strong
and hearty, and want a wife TO help
spend my savings. Can You recommend
me a nice, respectable young woman among
yoUr inmates? | should prefer a single
woman. NOT a widow, and would make her
A good husband. Please write 10y return to
Stephen YaxIey. Bell Inn, Thorpe St.
EarnaLas. Suffolk.
y. smile appeared on most of the
faces round the baize-covered table as
the master finished.
Dear me. Tripp." said the parson.
are YOU to be turned into Il matri-
monial agent in your old age"
The master half laughed. 1T would
seem so. sir. Curious letter. isn't it.
gentlemen? But I thought it my duty
to show it to you"
Certainly, certainly" echoed all.
Er. EveshaIn was gazing absently out
Of the big window at a distant view of
stained wherry-sails gliding up the
river.
What is your opinion, Evesham?'
asked the squire, rather pettishly. He
thought the medical officer might take
a little interest in the subject, SO that
he could get back the sooner to the
more interesting one of agriculture.
and convince Parson Weaver that the
prize for mangolds HAD been unfairly
bestowed.
MY opinion? Ihave hardly had time
to form enc" answered the doctor.
{. oily. But | don know that | should
take any notice of the letter"
The master coughed deprecatingly.
We'll. sir, if | may he so bold as to
suggest. | just mentioned the matter
to my wife, and she says she thinks
he might do for Susannah West"
"~Susannah Vest" exclaimed the
doctor, bringing the legs of his chair
IL the ground so violently as to make
the others start.
is that the girl with the reddish
hair" 8sked the squire. screwing up
his eyes meditatively.
And violent eyes," said the parson:
very much like some of the old mas
ters' portraits of the Madonna"
The Young woman's father was a
small farmer at Cutton All Saints"
said the master. land failed. She was
i'll for a long while after she got here.
1t seemed to rrey upon ker mind"