Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1900-05-02
MRS. MANSFIELD, STRATEGIST.
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latter he had made a lavish display in
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 Dir. Mansfield
had never set eyes on-a goverhess in
n 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 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.y &. -.
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 fiend' could have left.the doo..'
of Miss. Ansom's room SO. invitingly
open, displaying, as 1t did, the very
drawer in which the much discussed
photograph was supposed. TO lie? :, s.
Mrs. Mansfield had, as She well knew,
struck her husbands weak spot when
she mentioned curiosity -
1t would be the work of a moment. y
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 1t was
the very first thing that caught his eye
Ills own photography
1t was as his wife had stated, one of
the few he had had taken about two
years ago.
Horrorl Somebody was coming!
| A light step on the stairs, and sweet
voice humming the refrain of a song,
heralded the approach of Miss Ansom
! herself.
/ What was to be done? Could he al
low her to find him in her room prying
about like curious housemaid? He,
] Alderman Mansfield, Mayor of Pim-
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
et," 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 Mansfeld'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 barks and yelps,
at the same time dancing about with
cry 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 very ruffled ap-
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., MansfeldH' she, calculated, In
tones of incredulous astonishment.
"Er--I must, of course, explain, and
humbly apologize for my despicable
conductv' 81
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 IT'S depths two more photographs.
whic6 She ..I{ut, int6 Afs hands, sayiag;:
You see, Raye photographs of ot9=
members Of the family as wen.
Mr. Mansfield gazed at them In aston
ishment. They were pictures Of his
wife and son!