Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-07-06
How a Scandal
Was Averted 8
By w. NEWMAN FLOWER

F" pretenSe OF being something
the city. This he did purely as hot
by, because he had realized large for
tune out of pork, but finding idle re
ttrement rather monotonous he begal
to go to the city again with the EARL
est, and only reached home at nigh
when most people would have though
of going to bed
What his occupation consisted of M
one knew, not even his wife and fam
lily, and no one who knew JOSIAH
Wagstaff cared to ask.
Wagstaff was the autocrat of his OWE
home, When his brow appeared puck
cred the whole family trembled, and II
was very puckered Just now, SO that
Mrs. Wagstaff, the three Misses Wag-
stan, and Master Timothy, aged IA, sat
mutely round the breakfast table at the
prospect OF coming storm.
Kitty" he began, lowering his cot
fee cup into the middle of the saucer
with mathematical precision. "Your
conduct has astonished and amazed me.
Last evening youth can call him
little else, although he's 25-called to
see me, and actually-yes, actually
asked for my permission to marry you.
OF course, should have granted his
request could he have satisfied me as
to his prospects. He is one of those
writing chaps, and turns out noyelettes
in the same way as my machinery used
to turn out sausages.
But that is not the greatest trouble
which you have been the means of
bringing upon me. Not only do you fall
In love with a supplemented idiot,
whose sole ambition is writing senti-
mental trash, but | actually find you
reading one of these driveling rags. the
publication of which any sensible gov
eminent would at once suspend.
Il found this in the pocket of your
macintosh last evening. The name.
The Lovers Companion is very ap-
and, no doubt. your lover.
Herbert Grant, is a contributor to it,"
Yes, he is, and he makes s.. 900 a year
by writing, at any rate" replied Kitty.
Well let him go on making II. but
you shall not add to the success of such
a journal by reading 1t. And, bear this
In mind, my girl; that If catch you
reading such piffie again, | shall not
only stop your pocket-money, but take
very stringent measures to prevent
'our reading anything but your Bible |
md catechism in future. AS for this |
Herbert Grant, the sooner you forget
III about him the better, for such a |
inion will never have my sanction"
The family began to breathe again
3ut Timothy, the Wagstaffs' son and
leir, was up in arms at his sisters dis
say, pater," he said. Its a BIT
ough on sis, because when she wrote |
Q the editor for advice he told her to
tick to her lover through thick and
hin, and that her pater would knuckle
Inder If her chap was a really decent
Dung man. And Grants all that, |
an tell you. Why. | saw him knock a
ad down yesterday because he made a
oke about his height, and asked him il
was cold up there"
Timothy. leave the rooml" said Mr..
Vagstaff who had paled somewhat. in
voice OF thunder. When | wish you
D be master here I'll say so. And now.
.itty," he said when the lad had
Iosed the door behind hsn, Il ask
on If you dared to drag the family
anne into a paper like that by writing
} the editor.
Il had to take a nom de plume. so
ren the editor didn't know who | was. .
Kitty.
Very we'll | viii say no more about
this time. but bear in mind my warn
lg, that's all
And just then Mr. Wagstaff discov-
red that he had five minutes in which
, catch his train. So he hurried from
be room. much TO the relief OF his
5sembled offspring.