Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1904-05-12
CHAPTER XIII.
A GIRL TO THE FRONT.

n MI HE days were getting
.lMaT very long at Spanish
-~*s u Town, although there
were no more hours of sunlight than
was usual at the season; and even the
optimism of Dame Charter was scarce
ly able to brighten her own soul, much
less that OF Kate Bonnet, who had al
most forgotten what 1t was to be OBJ
timistic. Poor Mr. Delaplaine, whose
life had begun to cheer up wonderfully
since the arrival of his niece and her
triumphant entry into the society OF
the town, became more gloomy than he
had been since the months which fol-
lowed the death of his wife. Over and
over did he wish that his brother-in-
law Bonnet had long since been shut
up in some place where his eccentrici-
ties could do no harm to his fellow
creatures, especially to his most lovely
daughter.
Mistress Kate Bonnet was not girl
to sit quietly under the tremendous
strain which bore upon her.
Uncle" she said, 81 cannot bear 1t
any longer, must do something"
But, my dear" he asked, looking
down upon her with infinite affection,
what can you do? We are here upon
an immovable island, and your father
is sailing upon the sea, nobody knows
where"
Il thought about 1t all last night, ="
said Kate, "and this is what | will do
will go to the governor; | will tell
him all about my father ! do not
think it will be wrong even to tell him
why think his mind has become I'M
settled, for If that woman in Bridge
town has behaved wickodly, her wick
edness should be known. Then | will
ask him to give me written authority
to take my father wherever may find
him, and to bring him here, where 1t
shall be decided what shall be done
with him; and | am sure the decision
will be that he must be treated as a
man whose mind is not right, and who
should be put somewhere where he can
have nothing to do with ships
This was quite childish to Mr., Della
PLANE, but, for Hates dear sake he
treated her scheme seriously.
But tell me, my dear" said he,
"how are you going to find your father,
and in what way can you bring him
back here with your"
"The first thing to do" said Kate, is
to hire a ship; know that my little
property will yield me money enough
for that AS for bringing him back,
that's for me to do. With my arms
around his neck he cannot be a pirate
captain. And think of it, uncle! If my
arms are not soon around his neck, it
may be the hangmans rope which will
be there"
Mr. Delaplaine was troubled far
more than he had yet been. His So
rowing niece believed that there was
something which might be done for her
father, but ne, her practical uncle, did
not believe that anything could be
done. And even if this were possible,
he did not wish to do it. If, by some
unheard-of miracle, his niece should be
enabled to carry out her scheme, she
could not go alone, and thoughts Of
sailing upon the sea, and the dangers
from pirates, storms, and wrecks, were
very terrible to the quiet merchant He
could not encourage this night-born
scheme of his niece.
But there is one thing can do,'
cried Kate, land | must co it this very
day. | must go up to the governors
house, and l pray you, uncle, that lou
will go with me-"
It was not half an hour after TIA
Kate and her uncle entered the gromt.
of the governors marsion.