The Portland daily press., 1899-08-18
II,r ainmanrr OF
aliutlsn s11prfsEtnuse.
BY Mrs. Isabel Smith.

s's'eF;'s'ss
The guardians OF Mutby workhouse
had just finished their ordinary meeting,
when the master, with rather sheepish
expression OF countenance, observedi
Il think, gentlemen, ought TO lay be-
\ fore you a letter / received yesterday.
First one Of the sort ever had.'
Dear me, Tripp, what's that7" ex-
claimed the chaplain, otherwise the rec
tor Of Mutby, commonly called Parson
| Weaver, a round, rosy faced man, who
more resembled farmer than a clergy
man.
The other members Of the board ceas-
| ed their various conversations and looked
expectant, all except DIR. Evesham, the
medical officer
For the last half hour he had heard ev-
| cry impatient thud OF his handsome
chestnut's hoofs on the gravel outside
and felt that what might be an agreea-
Bile method of passing little spare time
| to his confreres was a waste of precious
moments to busy man like himself.
The whole business might be settled so
much more quickly had they been con-
else instead Of rambling and disputatiye.
He had just been wondering how it
could ever have been accepted as pop
ular fact that his sex were behindhand in
the matter of speech when this new de-
lay occurred. He was man of about So,
quiet and reserved, Lying by himself and
accustomed to long, lonely drives about
the Suffolk country on his professional
errands.
"Well, Trip, what Is It'll" repeated
Parson Weaver rather impatiently. He
had been interrupted in an interesting
n
about the trotting hackney and gate
post" mangolds that he had got first
prizes for ut the recent agricultural
show.
The master cleared his throat and read
somewhat nervously the following epistle:
To the Master of the Mutby Workhouse:
Sir-I am native of Thorpe St. Barna-
has and left this country 40 years ago for
australia where / made a comfortable
fortune. am now returned TO my native
land. but find nearly all my friends are
Strong and SsaT ana wa ann o. WIFE e S o
spend my savings. Can you recommend
me nice. respectable young woman
single woman. not a widow, and would
make her good husband. Please write
Rko rStu &C. B S sssRssp sa naFsy Bell Inn
A smile appeared on most of the faces
round the baize covered table as the
master finished.
Dear me, Tripp," said the parson, care
you to be turned into matrimonial
agent in your old age?'
1T would seem so, sir. Curious letter,
isn't 1t, gentlemen? But l thought it
my duty to show it to you"
Certainly, certainly" echoed all. DIR.
Eyesham was gazing absently out of the
big window at 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
little interest in the subject, so that he
could get back the sooner to the more
interesting enc Of agriculture and CON
vince Parson Weaver that the prize for
mangolds had been unfairly bestowed.
My opinion? / have hardly had time
to form one," answered the doctor eoolly.
But / don't know that should take
any notice of the letter.
The master coughed deprecatingly.
"Well, sir, IL l may be so bold as to
suggest, l just mentioned the matter to
my wife, and she says she thinks he
might do for Susannah West"
"Susannah WestP' exclaimed the doc.
tor, bringing the legs Of his chair to the
ground so violently as to make the 9TH
ers start.
rs that the girl with the reddish
hairf'' asked the squire, screwing up his
eyes meditatively.
And violet eyes," said the parson;
very much like some of the old masters
portraits OF the Madonna"
THE young woman's father was a
small farmer at Cutton All Saints" said
the master, "and failed. She was Ill for
a long while after she got here. 1t SEEM
ed to prey upon her mind"
'Yes, yes; we all remember" said the
medical officer. 'She had low fever
1t was tough job to pull her through"
"You ordered port wine for her, SIR"
said the butcher cheerfully. He did not
object to what some members called ex-
trayagance In the sick dieting, which
generally included good supply of beef
tea.
"A sad case, n sad case" said the
squire. But don't see why the young
woman can't go out to service"
mot strong enough" replied the doc
tor, "nor brought up to that sort of
work. She has the instincts Of a lady,
but unfortunately not enough Of educa-
ton to fit her for teaching"
"Then, for what I can see of it." said
the squire, "she win be here for the rest
of her days-like old Molly Mobbs, that
was reckoned TO have cost the ratepayers
over $1,000 altogether"
"Unless she accepts this Offer" said
the chaplain. "Eh, gentlemenP
AT that moment troop of little work
house children filed past the window, fol-
lowed by a young woman, clad in lilac
check union gown and hideous black
straw union bonnet with its purple rib
bon.
There goes Susannah Westp' ex-
claimed the master. "She's just bring
ing the little ones home from walk. A
rare hand she is with them too."
The sun was shining straight upon the
young woman in question and the board
caught glimpse of dazzling wild rose
complexion and bands of red gold way
ing hair.
"a very respectable girl, indeed"
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