The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-16

" y
How cried Lady Standish, waking
with a start out of the heavy sleep of
trouble and propping herself upon her
elbow to gaze in blinking establishment
1T the irate pink countenance of her
woman. Lady Standish looked very
fair and young, poor little wife, with
Eer half powdered curls of hair escap-
ing in disorder from the laces of her
nightcap, and her soft blue eyes as full
of MISUNDERSTANDING grief as q fright
ened baby's.
Mistress Megrim gazed upon her
coldly and her old maids heart harden
cd within her.
"No, your ladyship,' said she, with a
virtuous sniff, Il shouldn't feel as 1 was
doing my duty to her ladyship, your
mother, nor to my humble self, were I
to remain an hour longer than l could
help, the handmaid of SIM"
ooh, dear" said Lady Standish, let
ting herself fall back on her pillows
with a weary moan, Il do wish you'd
hold your tongue, woman, and allow
me to rest. Pull the curtain again. Oh,
how my head aches"
Every well, my lady," calculated
Megrim, all at once in a towering pas
sion. Se1ce you're that hardened, my
lady, that a sign from heaven couldn't
melt our heart-I allude to that man
Of God. his lordship the bishop (oh,
what a holy gentleman that iso; and,
my lady, me and Mistress Tremlet saw
him out of the pantry window as he
shook the dust of this house of iniquity
from his shoes-if that vessel of right
eousness could not prevail with your
ladyship, what hopes have 1 that
you'll hear the voice of the Lord
through me?"
"Megrim, old your tongue" said her
mistress in u~nwontedly angry tones.
Pull the curtains and go away
With a hand that trembled with fury
Mistress Megrim fell upon the cur
ain and~rattled them along their pole.
Then she CROPPED her way to Lady
Standish's bedside and stood for some
seconds peering ~malevolently at her
through the darkness.
Il wouldn't believe it, my lady," she
Kissed in a CHASTITY whisper, H%although
indeed 1 might have known that such
a gentleman as Sir Jasper would never
have taken on like hat if he hadn't
had grounds. But you've mistaken
your woman when you think you can
max an improper go-between of me.
Oh" cried she. with a rigid shudder,
4 feel myself defled as with pitch,
that these fingers should actually have
touched sich a letter.
For goodness sake moaned the
lady from her pillows, what are you
talking bout now?"
MY lady said Megrim s~epulchrally,
when that mink with her face muffied
up in a hood came and had the brazen
boldness to ask for me this morning,
saying she had some lace of your lady
ships from the members, and that it
was most particular and must be given
my hands alone, my mind mis-
me. Twas like an angels warn
ing. he more SO as there isn't a
scrap of your ladyship's lace as has
been to the members since we came
here"
Mercy. Megrim, how you do ramble
I can't make head or tail of your
stupid story
Even a dove will peck.
.Ho. do I, my lady. Can't you. in
IefudpS your lduySuip VIII I'LL
better when l tell her that
the same bold thing had no lace at all.
but a letter. Give it to YOU Mistress
says she, in secret. and for your life
don't let Sir Jasper sees
We'll, give it to me-" said Lady
Standish, land hold your tongue, and
and pack your trunks as soon as
you like"
"Ho. my lady" cried the incorrupt-
ible Megrim. with an acid laugh. Il
hope l know ny Christian duty better. |
| broughttth the letter tony master, &C
~A-dins te the-vnicae0f So~nseience And |