The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1869-07-21

up, as he shut little Freddy"
/ Evelyn's merry, irresistible laugh wa
checked by the arch, peculiar expression j
Clara's blue eyes.
and sharp" said Clara, "and the dark close
Isystem combines both requisites. Tears an
Mysteries were played out long ago in matri
monial skirmishes, you know, Evy."
Nonscnse.' laughed Mrs. Darcy, risin
from the breakfast-ta5le in obedience to he
stairs, while Clara shrugged her shoulders
| and went to look for her work basket.
Luke was standing in front of his burea,
drawer, fineing shirts collars, cravats, ant
stockings rccklessly upon the bed room floor
I'D like to know where my silk handker
chiefs are, Mrs. Darcy he fumed. "Such .
state as my bureau is in, is enough to drive a
man crazyw
1T is enough to drive a woman crazy,
think" said Evelyn, hopelessly stopping tn
pick up few of the scattered articles. "You
cwr s,s fsnft e. TIE bureau last 1t is all your
':My fauit-of coursse.snd fault ~ snarled
Luke, giving Mrs. Darcy's poodle kick that
| sent it bowling to its mistress. Anything
but q wOman's retOrting and recriminating
tongue: Mrs. Darcy, won't endure it any
longerw
"Neither will l." said Evelyn, resolutely
advancing as her husband plunged into the
closet for his business coat, and promptly
shutting and locking the door. 81 think
have endured it quite long enOugh-and here's
an end Of it ~
"Mrs. Darcy open the door," said Luke
scarcelo able to credit the evidence of his own
senses.
IL shall do no such thing" said Mrs. Darcy
c0mpOsedly beginning to rc-arrrange shirts,
stockings, and flannel wrappers in their
appropriate receptacles.
n1r I L. 81
impOtcnt rage, "what on earth do you mean p
II mean to keep you in that clothes press,
until you have made up your mind to
come out in more amiable frame of
mind. If the system succeeds with Fred
dy, it certainly ought to with you; and
am sure your temper is much more intolera-
BILE than his"
There was dead silence for full sixty sec
Onds in then a sudden burst of vocal wrath.
''Mrs. Darcy! open the door this instant,
madamv'
But Evelyn went on humming saucy
little opera air, and arranging her clothes
"DO you hear me -
'Yes, hear you"
"Will you obey me. -
''Not until you have solennly promised me
to put some sort of control on that temper of
after to treat your wife as a lady should
be treated, not as a menial.'
II won't !"
"No! then in that case / hope YOU don't
find the atmosphere at all oppressive there.
think it probable you will remain there
for some timew
Another sixty seconds Of dead silence.
Then sudden rain of heels and hands
against the wooden pannels.
Let NE out, l say, Mrs. Darcy! Madam:
how dare you perpetrate this monstrOus
piece of audacity -
''My dear Luke, how strongly you do re-
mind me of Freddy! You see there is. 11oth-
ing have SO little tolerance for as a bad tenn
per. 1t ought to have been checked long ago,
only you know l am SO ridicul0usly .ilsl0l-
WI. Uarcy WINGED little at the familiar
sound of his own worsls.
Tap, tap, tap. came softly to the door. Mrs.
Darcy cOmpOsedly opened it, and saw her
husbands little Office boy.
ssPlease, mem, there's some gentlemen at
the office in great hurry to see MIR. Darcy.
It's about the Applegate will case.'
Mrs. Darcy hesitated an instant; there was
a triumphant rustic in the closet, and her de-
termination was taken.
'sTell the gentlemen that your master has a
bad headache and won't he down town tbis
morning."
Luke CRASHED his teeth audibly, as sooI
"a the closing of the door admonished
him that he might do SO with safety.
Mrs, Darcy, do you presume to interfere
with the transaction Of business that is vi
| tally important, ma'am, vitality important 7
| Mrs, Darcy nonchalantly took up the littl'
0pera air where she had left it, letting tn
soft Italian words ripple mnsically off he
tongue:
4 "Vhat is it Luke - she asked mildly.
aPlease let me out. My dear, this may b
q joke to you, but"
SI assure you, Luke, it is nothing Of tn
kind: it is the sOberest Of serious matters t
me. It is q question as to whether my FL
ture life shall be miserable or happy"
/ There was third brief interval of silence
Evelyn" said Luke presently, in subdue
voice twill you open this door -
"On one condition only"
"And what is that :"
"Ah! ah!" thought the little lieutenant
/, general, 'she's beginning to entertain terms {
canitulation. is he :" "On condition." sE
added aloud, 'sthat you will break yourself {
the habit of speaking sharply and GROSSLY
me, and ON all occasions keep your temper
'!My temper, indeed sputtcred Luke.
}, "Just your temper" returned his wifi
sternly. "Will You promise "
! seNever, madam"
i Mrs. Darcy quietly took up pair OF h0'
that required mending and prepared to lea,
!, SAVOA
Il hinges, however, q voice came shrilly tliroug
tho opposite key-hole
'Mrs. Darcy! Evelyn! wife,
"Ycs." c
, "You arc not going down stairs to leave II
in this place ~ 2
IL 'I am !"
s'Well, look hcrc-I promise
II '"All and everything that require
+ "Yes, eyerythipg and aa'that you reqnir
Il Wisely deaf to the muttered sequel, MI
X Darcy opcnetl the door, and Luke stalked OF
looking right over the top Of her shin''
i Suddenly a little OBTAINING hand was Ia
on his coat sleeve.
nj Luke, dear"
o "WellT
ol sssSvon't you give me . kiss :"
Ard Mrs. Darcy burst out crying on
Il husl,and,s shoulder.
"Wellw calculated the puzzled Luke,
=, You AMT the greatest enigma gong. ks
CT Ycs, q half dozen of tem, if YOU want,
at kinsl-hearted little turnkey. Do not cry,
y I, I'm not angry with you' although supp
he And may let Freddy out ="
"Yes, on the same terms that papa was
q leased. Evelyn, was very intOlerable.
ed "If you hadn't been, Luke, never sho
hc have ventured on such a violent remedy"
r. .Did make yo" very unhappy
ler every"
ne And the gush of warm: sparkling t
supplied . dictionary full Of words.
Lake Darcy buttoncd up his oyercoat,
I , an HIS hat, slaoulderca his umbrella and v
q = the Applegatc willsDasc, musing as he
t ma the new state Of affairs that had
Z esnted itself COZ consideration.
al sBy Jove,1 he calculated, "that little
l< wkno IN \ hold woman and a plucky OI