The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1899-04-15
THE ROMANCE OF MUTBY
WORKHOUSE
Ely Mrs. Isabel Smith

TUE guardians of the Mutby work
house had just finished their or
binary meeting, when the master, with
rather sheepish expression of coun-
tcnance, observed:
Il think, gentlemen, ought to lay
before YOU letter | received yester-
day. First one of that sort | ever had
Dear me, Trip, what's that eN-
claimed the chaplain, otherwise the
rector of Mutby, commonly called Par
son Weaver. a round, rosy-faced man,
who more resembled farmer than a
clergyman.
The other members of the board
ceased their various conversations and
looked eXpectant, all except DR..
Evesham, the medical officer. For the
last half-hour he had heard every inn
patient thud of his handsome chest
nuts hoofs on the gravel outside, and
felt that what might be an agreeable
method of passing little spare time to
his confreres was n waste of precious
moments to busy man like himself.
The whole business might he settled so
much more quickly had they been con-
else instead of rambling and disputa-
tive. He had just been wondering how
it could ever have been accepted as a
popular fact that his sex were behind
hand in the matter of speech, when this
new delay occurred. He was n man of
about 35, quiet and reserved, living
by himself, and accustomed to long,
lonely drives about the Suffolk country
OH his professional errands.
"Well, Trip, what is it?' repeated
Parson Weaver, rather impatiently. He
had been interrupted in an interesting
discussion with his neighbour, the squire,
about the trotting hackney and gate
post" mangolds that he had got first
prize for ut the recent agricultural
show.
The master cleared his throat, and
read. somewhat nervously, the follow
ing epistle:
Sept ls, 1s-.
To the Master of Mutby Workhouse:
Sir: / am n native of Thorpe ST. Barna-
has, and left this country 10 years ago for
Australia, where made comfortable for
tune. / am now returned to my native land
but find nearly all my friends are gone and
and hearty, and want 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 by return TO
Stephen Yaxey, Bell Inn, Thorpe St.
Barnabas, Suffolk.
a smile appeared on most of the
faces round the baize-covercd table as
the master finished.
Dear me, Tripp,' said the parson,
''are you to be turned into a matri-
monial agent in your old age?"
The master half laughed. 1T would
seem so, sir. Curious letter, isn't it,,
gentlemen? But thought it my duty
to show IL to YOU"
Certainly, certainly" echoed all.
DIR. Evesham was gazing absently out
of the big window at II distant view of
stained wherry-sails gliding up the
river.
"What is your opinion, Eyesham?"
asked the squire, rather pettishly. He
thought the medical officer might take
n little interest in the subject, so that
he could get back the sooner to the
llOTt interesting ohV VI hSi -
and convince Parson Weaver that the
prize for mangolds had been unfairly
bestowed.
''My opinion? have hardly had time
to form one" answered the doctor,
coolly. But / don't know that should
take any notice of the letter."
The master coughed deprecatingly.
"Well, sir, If l may be so bold as TO
suggest, / just mentioned the matter
to my wife, and she says she thinks
he might do for Susannah West"
.Susannah West!" exclaimed the
doctor, bringing the legs of his chair
to the ground so violently as to make
the others start.
"Is that the girl with the reddish
hair?" asked 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, "and failed. She was
ill for long while after she got here.
IL seemed to prey upon her mind"