Middletown transcript., 1869-06-19

"No? Then in that case I hope you
don't find the atmosphere at all oppressive
there. think it is probable you will re-
main there some time"
Another sixty seconds of dead silence,
and then sudden rain of heels and hands
against the wooden panels.
" Let me out, | say, Mrs. Darcy.
How dare you, madam, perpetrate this
monstrous piece of audacity?
"My dear Luke, how strong you do
remind me of Freddy. You see there is
nothing I have so little tolerance for as
bad temper. 1t ought to have been check
ed long ago, only you know I am so ri
diculously indulgent."
Mr.. Darcy WINGED little at the IA
miliar sound of his own words.
Tap, tap, tap, came softly at the door
Mrs. Darcy composedly opened it, and
saw his little ofice-boy
Please, mem, there's some gentlemen
at the Office in great hurry to see Mr..
Darcy. It's about the Appleton will
case"
Mrs. Darcy hesitated moment; there
was triumphant rustic in the closet, and
her determination was taken.
Tell the gentlemen that your master
has bad headache, and will not be down
this morning"
Luke gnashed his teeth audibly as soon
as the closing of the door admonishcd him
that he might do so with safety
=" Mrs. Darcy, do you presume to in
terfere with the transaction of busnes that
is vitality important ma'am-yitally i'm
portant p
Mrs. Darcy nonchalantly took up the
little opera air where she had left it, let
ting the soft, italian words ripple musi-
cally off her tongue.
Evelyn, dear"
"What is it, Luke ?" she asked, mildly.
Please let me out. My dear, this
may be a joke to you, but"
Il assure you, Luke, it's nothing of
the kind ; it is the soberest of serious
matters to me. 1t is question as to
whether my future life shall be miserable
or happy"
There was another brief interval of
silence
Evelyn" said Luke presently, in
subdued voice, 'will you open this
door ?"
"On one condition only"
" And what is that p
"Ah. ah !" thought the little Lieu
tenat General, " he's beginning to enter
tain terms of capitulation, is he? On
conditions" she added, aloud, :" that
you will break yourself of the habit of
speaking sharply and GROSSLY to me, and
on all occasions keep your temper"
My temper, indeed" sputtered Luke
"Just your temper returned his wife,
sternly. Will you promise -
Never, madam 2"
Mrs. Darcy quietly took up pair of
hose that required mcnding, and prepared
to leave the apartment. AS the door
creaked on its hinges, however, voice
came shrilly through the oppose key-holc.
Mrs. Darcy! Evelyn! wife !'
YES"
" You are not going down stairs to
leave me in this place p
"I am"
"Well, look herc-I promise"
Z" All and everything require 2"
g Yes, all and everything that you re-
quire-confound 1t all P'
Wisely deaf to the muttcred sequel,
Mrs. Darcy opened the door, and Luke
stalked out, looking right over the top of
her shining brown hair.
Suddenly little detaining hand was
laid on his coat sleeve.
" Luke, dear p
"Well?"
Won't you give me kiss 2"
And Mrs. Darcy burst out crying on
her husbands shoulder.
Well," calculated the puzzled Luke,
"if you aren't the greatest enigma going
A kiss? +? Yes, half-dozen of 'em, if you
want, you kind-hearted little turnkey
Do not cry, pet; I'm not angry with you,
although suppose | ought to be-"
And may let Freddy out ?''
eyes, on the same terms that papa
was released. Evelyn, was I very in
tolerable ?"
eff you hadn't been, Luke, I never
should have ventured upon such violent
remedy"
:" Did I make you very unhappy
" Very"
And the gush of warm, sparkling tears
supplied dictionary full of words
Luke Darcy buttoned up his overcoat,
put on his hat, shouldered his umbrella,
and went to the Applegate will case, mu-
sing, as he went, upon the new state of
affairs that had presented itself for his
consideration.
"By Jovep he calculated, "that lit
tie wife of mine is bold woman, and
plucky onep'
And thus he burst out laughing on the
steps. 1t is more than probable that he
left his stock of bad temper at the law
building that day, for Evelyn and Clara
never saw any more of it; and Freddy is
d.ily getting the better of the pcppery
element in his infantile disposition.
Men, after all, are but children of lar
ger growth; and SO Mrs. Evelyn Darcy
had reasoned.
Fifteen quarts of milk will give one
n NM