The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1900-05-12
MRS. MANSFIELD, STRATEGIST.
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his home, as Mrs. Mansfield found to
her cost.
1t was only twelve months ago that
his unbending will had driven their
only son, Jack, to South Africa.
Mr.. Mansfield had determined that
his son should marry rank and beauty
in the person of a daughter of a local
magistrate.
But handsome Jack Mansfield elect
ed to manage his own matrimonial af-
fairs, and upset all his fathers brill
liant plans by falling in love with a
pretty nobody, whom Mr.. Mansfield
had never set eyes on-a governess in
house where he was visiting.
Finding all arguments, persuasions
and commands alike useless, Mr.. Mans
field finally told his son he must either
fall in with his wishes or leave his
home forever, and look for no further
assistance from himself Jack chose
the latter course, and within a week
set sail for South Africa.
The loss of her only son was a source
of great grief to Mrs. Mansfield. But
all her tears, pleadings and reproaches
could not prevail on her husband to re-
lent, and as time rolled on her importu-
mites ceased.
Having dressed himself to his salts
faction, Mr.. Mansfield left the room.
Suddenly his progress was checked
by the sight of a wide-open door, What
tempting tiend could have left the door
of Miss Ansom's room so invitingly
open, displaying, as it did, the very
drawer in which the much discussed
photograph was supposed to lieY
Mrs. Mansfield had, as she we'll knew.
struck her husbands weak spot when
she mentioned curiosity.
at would be the work of moment"
he reflected, Ito take just one glance
into that drawer to satisfy myself of
the truth of James story"
With cautious look round, he noise
lessly enter the room, partially closing
the door behind him. He opened the
drawer boldly, and-yes there it was
the very first thing that caught his eye
his own photograph
1t was as his wife had stated. one of
the few he had had taken about two
years ago
! Horror! Somebody was coming!
A light step on the stairs, and a sweet
voice humming the refrain of a song,
heralded the approach of Miss Ansom
herselfl
What was to be done? Could he al
low her to find him in her room. prying
about like a curious hOusemaid? He.
J Alderman Mansfield. Mayor of PIN
perne! There was only one thing to be
done.
Miss Ansom entered and closed the
door behind her. Mr.. Mansfield could
hear her moving about the room, still
singing lightly to herself.
''She is taking off her hat and Jack
ct" he thought In a few minutes
she will leave the room. Then can
slip out unobserved
Everything, no doubt, would have
happened just as he wished, had Tiny
Mrs. Mansfield's darling pugJnot fol-
lowed Miss Ansom into the room.
The spirit of investigation was strong
in Tiny. In the course of his present
explorations he naturally looked under
the bed. He Immediately sent up an
ear-splitting series of banks and yelps.
at the same time dancing about with
every canine token of delight.
Mr.. Mansfield responded to Tiny's
joyful recognition with silent curses,
and, hearing Miss Ansom's expressions
of surprise, and that she was approach
ing the bed to learn the cause Of Tiny's
excitement, he slowly emerged with
a very red face and a very rutfled APP
pearance generally.
Don't be alarmed, Miss Ansom,
beg" he cried, seeing that that lady
looked dangerously like shrieking.
"Er-my unexpected appearance fills
you with amazement, no doubt"
Mr.. Mansfeldr she calculated, in
tones of incredulous establishment.
Ell must, of course, explain, and
humbly apologize for my despicable
conduct"
His worship then proceeded, with
abrupt and jerky sentences, quite de-
void of their usual fowery trimmings,
to explain his presence in her room.
Greatly to his relief, she did not look
very angry when he had finished. She
said nothing at first, but, opening the
fatal drawer, produced somewhere
from its depths two more photographs,
which she put into his hands, saying:
"You see, have photographs of 9TH
er members of the family as WELL"