The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-09-12


and announced:
sPlease, sir, two gentlemen ?
And Messrs. Howard and Talboys en-
tered, considerably surprised at the state
of things before them.
'Hallo ? exclaimed Mr.. Talboys.
sWhy, what's the matter, Verdon !?
queried Mr.. Howard. Not case of
spontaneous combustion, ehp
While Alexander, scarlet and confused
fnmbled yainly for the linen cuffs, gar
nished with gold sloeye-buttons, that had
blazed into light cinders long ago!
IL he stammered. 'Very stupid
of the girl to bring you down here-I
just came down for glass of water-let
me escort you up stairs
He preceded his guests up the narrow
stairway. blissfully unaware of the ashes
besprinkled neither garments and sooty
countenance that gave his friends such
task to keep their countenances.
Excuse me one minute, gentlemen,
he said, growing hot all over, as he
caught a glimpse Of himself in the parlo
mirror, aud lodged out to renoVate his
toilet, muttering to himself:
sWhat has bee )me of Cathie? I'd give
hundred dollar note if she was only
hereP
AS he issued once more from his room
soft familiar voice sounded on his ear,
and his heart gave great bound Of de.
light. Cathie had returned Yes, she
had returned aud was in the parlor at
that instant talking to his friends.
"Cathiep he whispered, holding the
door half ajar, 'Cathie?
But she was too busy descanting on
the merits of some Pre-Raphalite artist
to pay any attention to her husbands
husky summons.
ITS burning, Cathie! F.! he whispered
coming into the room and gently tWitch.
ing her sleeve.
Il smell the cabbage quite plainlyP
But Cathie never stirred, nor broke off
in her pretty, enthusiastic chatter.
I think 1 ought to have creased the
inside of that pot thought Mr.. Verdon,
Nothing but tongue and cabbage for din.
ner. And Howard boards at the Cos
mopolitan, and Talboys keep French
cook. What aciU they think Cathie, 1
say-it's almost three o'clock
"Dinner's ready calculated Miss
Polly, throwing open the door.
Dinner was ready, as Mr.. Verdon
found to his cost, as he and Talboys fol-
lowed Mrs. Verdon and Mr.. Howard into
the dining room, where, upon greasy
table, cloth, reposed a skinned tongue,
with one side nesrly calcined, and hand
ful of burned cabbage leaves forming a
green island in the center of mammoth
platter. There was half loaf of bread,
a sooty pot of butter and tall tin coffee
pot wherein Polly had brewed muddy
and villainous mixture that she fOndly
fancied to be coffee.
/ Alexander Verdou looked with eyes
of piteous appeal to his wife.
'Cathie, perhaps these gentlemen
wouldn't object to waiting until-ahem
our cook could preParea more suitable
repass"
! Very good, indeed said Mr.. Talboys.
'Oh, excellent chimed in Howard.
'And after ALL resumed Cathie, 'it's
of very little consequence wha. we eat or
drink, as long as the higher cravings Of
the intellectual appetite are satisfied
Mr.. Verdon coughed obviously, and
began to carve the tongle, Vowing never
again to invite company when Cathie was
occupied in cultivatipg her mind.
The gentleman played with their tea
spoons, and dallied with their forks, but
neither Of them essayed cecond mouth
I full of either tongue, cabbage or coffee.
Mr.. Verdon noticed this fact with deep
modification.
fYou don't eat anything Howard
'Oh,I have dined very heartily, I assure
you,' politely responed Mr.. Howard.
Have little more of the tongue, Tai
boys
No more, thank you,' returned Talboys,
spasmodieally holding on to his plate.
Howard, l think We have an engage
ment at four?
IF our charming and intellectual hos
tess will excuse US z said Howard, ,boWing
courteOusly.
Won't you stay for little ice cream
-and-calves' foot jelly? questioned
Mr. Verdon, drawing on his Imagination
for hypothetical desert.
/ Thank you, we couldn't possibly said
Mr.. Talboys. And Mr.. Eerdon could
not avoid dim PERCEPTION that his guests
were glad to depart.
When he returned from seeing them of
Cathio was sitting in the parlor, cutting
the leaves Of a new volume
/ oh, Catherine.' he said, half sadly,
half angryly, why didn't you 80 doRn
.rl SO nL.rE 1innnr