Middletown transcript., 1905-04-29
[ooNrINuEp FROM LAST WEEK ]

under which Mrs. Lavender's dignity
melted.
"Come in," she said, with wave oil
her hand. t.'Come in, and sit down a
minute. You women as work hard with
the brain always have my sympathy. 1
know what it means"
Thus did Christian gain an ingress to
the Hall by another way than through
friendship with Fred Parsons; and Mrs.
Meldrum, the wealthy farmers wife,
wondered little the following week at
the earnestness of the schoolmistress' S
thanks for the slight favor which she had
done her.
But Christian did not mention the fact
to Mr.. Parsons, although she established
herself as a firm friend and ardent ad-
mirer Of Mrs. Lavender. She asked for
homely cures, begged for receipts, and
sat for many odd leisure hours in the
big dim still room watching the presiding
genius at her tasks. She came to like
Mrs. Lavender, quite apart from the
motive which had pushed her into the
friendship, and the worthy lady was
always pleased to sit down and gossip to
her. As rule. the gossip was about the
"Family." Mrs. Lavender always thought
and spoke of the lonely great man-her
master-with capital letters. To her the
Capel-Copelands were the cream OF Eng
lish county families, and Sir Nathaniel was
the foremost of English gentlemen.
''Temper, my dear Miss Earle? Bless
you, like bit Of temper-shows high
spirit and blood. lie is the greatest
gentleman OF his day in spite OF the
bath chair"
81 have never seen him." said her
visitor.
"Neyer seen him %
''The Squire is so seldom out" Chris
tian explained.
"Well, the summer days will set that
right" said the housekeeper compla-
Gently. "He's often on the terrace all
day in summer"
81 should like to see him one day
when he is not in a temper" Christian
reflected, as if to herself. Il wonder
when he is in his best humor ?''
"After dinner" said Mrs. Lavender.
"And, if you are at all set on it, I'll put
you in the way of doing it. Since his
gout is worse, Sir Nathaniel dimes early,
and goes to bed at nine. If you could
manage to take supper with me at eight,
I'd send you into the library-he dimes
mostly in the library now 'tisn't so big
and wnely as the dining-room- if he
asks what you want-he'll use all adjec-
tive or two, but you needn't be fright
ened-tell him that Mrs Lavender sent
you for the Kings Own Cookery Book.
It's valuable ancient book which look |
at now and again."
Perhaps should do better to wait for |
the fine days and to see him on the
terrace" said Christian diffidentIy, but
she had no intention OF postponing the |
momentous event.
"Better not, to my thinking" advised
Mrs. Lavender. "The Squire is better |
than he has been for many long day,
and my name will settle his temper at |
once"
Suppose he fumed himself into fit
at strangers disturbing him?"
''He won't do that. He likes to feel /
he has something Of scholar for house
keeper. We often discuss the menu
together
"He has not got weak heart, i sup
pose ?"
"Bless you, no! Except for the gout,
he's as sound as the best of us
Christian asked no more questions, but
sat very still, watching the purple pigeons
as they sidled and preened OH the sun
baked wall. Mrs. Lavender put aside
the jam pots which she had been filling,
and came and dropped into a rocking
chair.
'It's odd," she said suddenly, as Miss
Earle was leaning against the wide win
dow-sill and talking to the pigeons, "but
you have trick with you, just the born
image of the masters himself! He
always lifts his left eyebrow when he
high and quick, and have
seen you do it ten times in the last
quarter OF an hour"
Christian held on to tile window-sill
tightly, and laughed high uncertain
laugh.
"All of us do it in my family, believe"
she said hurriedly. "Shall | come TO-
for the headache cure? ?'' I
"Do and take supper with me, if YOU
don't think it liberty am asking Of {
young scholar such as i
you."
"a liberty, Mrs. Lavender y cried the |
and she babe the chief
lady Of the Hall goodbye. II
On her homeward way she stood still |
frequently, as if she was very tired or i'll, |
and even her lips were white.
81 must be strong | have lived for a
this day." she said Ii
Outside the park she came across Mr.. !
Parsons, who was riding home at can i
ter. He jumped off his horse and walked
by her side until he left her at the Cot. I
tage and then rode on slowly.
by Jove, she is beautiful girl and {
no mistake p he said to himself. "But
she looks i'll and iaded to-day. I'd give 5
4 good deal to find out what made the ,
governor turn sick at the sight of her |
and, unless I'm very much deceived IIll
find out before long. He was keen on a
1er age, that's Glue No. l. Clue No. Q
The Squire loved woman once. Cine y
No. 3-Five years. blank in the governors
annals of the Hall, which otherwise
know pretty much by heart Well. IFS /
hide-and-seek worth playing, and if F 5
:. Parsons gains fine lady for his wife
'ub-rosa sort of business-it will be off U
With the auctioneering and on with the O
ryopflopaou