Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-04-03
The Angel Of a Cupboard

! HI AISONA Va
1t is not the fashion among angels to
reveal themselves to the common eyes of
men. except ROBBED and crowned, curled
and frilled and tuckered, in the verieSt
flillness in fact-of their glory. That is
why it was rash Of Miss Ethel Baines to
90 from the place Of the washing of her
hair, in what was quite an cid dressing
gown, down to the library. there to dry
her long tresses before the fire. She
might have pleaded that DO one could
possibly call at that hour. That was a
certainty, or next door to it. SO she
sat in comfort before the glow, and
thought the pleasant thoughts Of care
less angel Now and again, when the
fire got into her back she would rise for
coolness sake, and look IN the mantei-
glass to see that it was clear and without
flaw What, she saw in it, at least, was
mere than fiawless, and something be-
yond compare, so many people would have
thought, and Miss Baines was not dis
posed to question the fact herself.
But she turned paler than she generally
liked to look at hearing Il sudden knock
at the hall door, followed by Capt.
BaineS' cherry voice:
All, Colmoraud! Delighted to see you
come into the library and smoke. We
shall have it all to ourselves in there
The tread of Capt Baines and his Wis
itor came toward the librarr door. Miss
other people! The idea of discovery was
too ignominious to be faced. Miss
Baines, gathering the long strands of
her hair in one hand, as though they
were skirt impeding her, looked for
some way to escape. Through the door
be Observation-Disclosures, so to speak-in
her quite old dressing gown; nor could
she fly through the windows. Behind
the curtains temporary shelter might be
found, but how unsafe. Suppose her
father drew them to get a breath of
ozone. as he called it, or Mr.. Colmoraud
stumbled against them, and lighted apol-
ogetic upon her toes. There remained
only the misunderstanding mus
ty, abominable place, but seldom visited.
1t was not the haven where she would
be; yet. since time pressed, Miss Baines,
the chaos of maps and dusty tones
silently, like a cat And the door of
the library opened.
You wanted to see me?" Capt. Baines
was saying, cheerfully.
serious matter-at least to me- You see,
I'm off to India tomorrow, unless"
Cant do better than India" said the
captain. Nothing like the climate, il
you don't take too many pegs. Splendid
place. Polo. plenty Of shooting-not too
much work, you know. [ remember
when [ was in those parts | used to tell
cid Jigbury-you heard me speak of
old Jigs?"
Yes said Mr.. Colmoraud, meekiy.
well, as l was saying went on the
captain. ''old Jigs was in India then, too
Madras way. Stuffy down there, ex-
cept in the cold weather. You're not
going to Madras, eh?'
mo. to the northwest provinces. The
climate is not so bad there, is it, even for
ladies'" Mr.. Colmoraud put the question
with eagerness.
Topping climate" said the captain, in
nocently. Nothing ladies like better.
Why, old Jigs used to say that his first
wife-and he had a good many; regular
old sea-dog. Jigs; wife in every port
married once a month, don't you know
said he'd never been to church without
hearing his banns called-his first wife
simply wouldn't come away. Tiger
shooting all day. Sporting woman, she
was. Buried out there, l believe
But she liked the climate?" said Mr..
Colmoraud, uncertain what moral to at
tach to this story.
''Wouldn't have been buried there if
she hadn't" said the captain, logically.
L suppose not said Mr.. Colmoraud,
married that | was going to ask your
opinion, or rather about-about-''
Miss Baines, in the cupboard forgot
for moment that she was being asphyx-
lated, and began to take an interest III
the conversation.
Come now said the captain, jovially
Miss Ethel pictured to herself his limo
cent leer), you're not thinking of it your
self. Ell? One Of the Hemant girls, Miss
Ruby, eh?"
Under other circumstances, said Mr..
Colmoraud, growing bold, | should be
0r3tpfnI R1It
the fact is, | came round to ask YOU as
I'm off to India, if you would mind, you
and Mrs. Baines, if I-if | asked Ethel
to 60 with me as my wife,
Ethel repeated the captain fiabber-
gasted. You don't mean Ethel? Never
thought Of it. Ethel. now-she's a good
girl-Tll say that, but 1 expect she's too
fond of her dad to leave him.
I'm afraid So said Mr.. Colmoraud,
sadly. But would you mind if l
na ~CsTtain !:s, not" said the -, captain,
no one. Wait minute; I'll call her
down and see what she says to it,
But, began Mr.. Colmoraud, terrified
at this imminent deciding of his destiny
Ethel" shouted the captain from the
hail. Ethel"
The angel, as we know, was in the
cupboard, so that the captains maintoI
voice only raised dust in the attics
0uIIOuS IuIuS, lie SdlU. L SAW uol
skipping about few minutes ago. tax
ing a reef in her top-knot." He hailed
again, not knowing the fashions that
prevail among angels. Miss Baines
maid appeared upon the stairs
Where's Miss Ethel?" demanded the
captain.
"And I'm sure, sir" the woman replied
myster;ously, with that conjunctival USE
that shows a fixed belief in the unbroke1
continuity of all remarks-"and I'm sure
sir. [ don't know
''Well,' said the captain, impatiently
lust ask your mistress if she'll come
down for moment"
please don't trouble Mrs. Baines.
said the luckless Colmoraud. I'm afraiC
Miss Ethel saw me coming and perhap
did not wish
''Stern chase, eh?'' asked the captain
commiseratingly. But here's my wife
Have you seen Ethel Lizzie? Here
Colmoraud wanting to get engaged an(
EthePs disappeared"
Mrs. Baines shook hands in her kindli
est way.
1T was great presumption on my part
great indeed Colmoraud began, 'ano
it's uuita clear that Miss Ethel think