Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-05-17

going to shut her up and feed her on bread
aud water, If she dared to say she wouldn't
do it!'
"A cosy little arrangement, Mr.. Pepper,
said soft voice 5ehnd kim.
Mr.. p. started up, and there stood Mrs. p.
right behind his chair, laughing just as hard
as she could. MIR. Pepper put on a severe
look.
'Slt down in that chair, madsm,' he said,
pointing to the one he had Just vacated,
l"while | have a little conversation with
you"
J "Now should be pleased to know WHY
you did not obey my commands this morn
ing, and where you have been all the fore
| noonp
Where | have been this forenoon, Mr..
! Pepper, have not the least objection to tell
! you; have b. en- down town doing a little
shopping. have purchased some lovely
napkins; just look at them, said she, held.
ing them up, demurely for his inspection;
81 only paid dollar piece for them-ex-
treme'y cheap don't you think sor she ad.
| ded.
! Mr.. Pepper was astonished; how she Ja-
red to turn the conversation in this wa;,
was a mystery to him. Suddenly his bottled
wrath broke loose. Turning iiercely upon
her, he sad--
Betsy Jane, YOU disgust me- you seem to
make very light of this matter; but il is
more serious than you imagine, as you
Will find to your cost presently. II you do
not instantly beg my pardon, in submissive
manner, lshall exert my authority TO bring
yen to proper sense of your misconduct, by
imprisoning you in one ofmy chuwoers until
you are willing to promise strict Obedience
to my wishes
AT the close Of this very eloquent and dig.
niied speech Mr.. Pepper drew himself up
to his full height, and stationed himself be-
TO- c Mrs, p. ready to receive expressions of
sorrow and penitcnce; ne had no doubt but
that she would fall down at his feet, and
say
Dear. Phlander, won't you please for.
give me this time, and I'll never do SO any
mUre!'
And he was going TO say. Betsy Jane,
you'd better not;' hut instead of doing all
this, what do you think she did! Laughed
HIM right in he face!
up IN voice of thunder, and said:
Mrs. Pepper, walk right up stairs, this
very minute, and don't you let the grass
grow under your feet while you are going
neither. You have begun your Antics in
good season. Mrs. Pepper, but III have you
to know that it won't pay to continue the Al
any length of time with me, Mrs. Pepper
Again | command you to walk up stairs"
'Well, really, Mr.. p, it is not at all nee.
essary for you to speak so loud-l am not
SO deaf as all that comes to; but as for walk
ing up stars have not the slightest objection
to doing so, if you will wait until have re-
covered from my fatigue; but can't think o.!
doing SO before"
But you must, Mrs. p"
Then all I've got to cay is this you'll have
to carry me, for | acont walk"
Mr. p looked at his wife for u moment
with the greatest astonishment; but as she
began to laugh at him again he thought to
himself
She thinks | won't DO it, and hopes to
ret off in that way; but it won't do; up stairs
she's got to go, if have to carry her; so
here goes" and taking the form of his lady
in his arms, he soon had the satisfaction of
seeing her safely lodged in her prison, and
carefully locking her in, he stationed little !
red headed youth on the front door-steps, to .
attend to callers and also see that Mrs P. +
did not escape; and then he betook himself
to restaurant for his dinner, and after des
patching that, he hurried off to his Office, and
was soon engrosSed in business.
About the middle of the afternoon, our
young sentinel rushed into the office, and
said, never stopping to taxi breath:
'Mr. Pepper bad better run home, just!as
fast as ne can, for that woman what is shut
up be making an awful racket, and she be
tearing around there, and rafting things the
most distressingest kind, and if she beant
splitting up something or other, then don't
know what splitting be!'
Without waiting to hear more, Mr. P.
seized his hat, and hurried off home at most
drnifed pncr.
Opening the hall door, he stole up stairs
as CT refully as possible, and applying his
eyes to the keyhole, he behed sight which
mnde him fairly boil with rage.
Mrs p. was sitting in front Of the fire.
place, reading some o: his old love letters
| The one she was engaged in peruslng at
| that particular moment,was from Miss Pol
| " Primrose, who it appeared had once look
ed favorably on the suit Of Mr.. Pepper; but
more dashing lover appearing on tie
scene, Miss Polly sent him letter of dis
missal, promising her undying friendship, and
acc ompanying the same with lock of her
hair, ana some walnut meats.
Bat il was not the love letter alone that
made Mr., p. so outrageous. He had been
something of a traveller in his day, and had
collected a great many curosities in his ram
bles, which he had deposited in cupboard
in the very room where he had confined Mrs
p. and she had got at them.
: She had split up an elegant writing desk
with his Indian batte-axe, in order to have
fire. as the day was rather chilly. In one
corner o. the fireplace was Mr.. P.'s best bea-
yer, filled up with love letters.
On small table, close to Mrs. p, was {
beautiful fiat China dish, filled with bears