Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-11-14
Gales and Skttthes.
A DINNER OF HERBS.

fine September morning, young mar
ried couple stood togther at the window
of a charming little house, pleasantly sit
uated at Norwood.
The neatly appointed breakfast equip
age had not been as yet removed by the
spruce maid-seryant, but the meal had
concluded. and the master ct the little
cottage was about to take his departure
by train for the scene of his daily labors.
Rub't Denwillow was only a solicitors
confidential clerk, on salary OF rather
less than the much-abused three hundred
pounds per annum; yet he contrived to
find life very tolerable on the whole. lie
was fine, honest-faced, stalwart person
of about thirty-two or three, who loved
his friends, his old mother and sisters,
and adored his pretty, spoit, will
tul, loving wife-a bright eyed. petulant,
chipping little woman, ten years his jun
iur.
The morning was splendid; the room
was cheerful, the servant-maid brisk and
willing, and the eggs and rashers had
been unexceptionable, the coffee clear, the
rolls crisp, and the butter, really butter.
Yet for all that, as she stood amid the
flowers in her bay window-herself, in
her white dress and blue ribbons, the
most attractive object there-there was Il
sullen pout on Selma Denwillow's pretty
mouth that was not pleasant to see.
Come. dear, | must 90 in two min
utes!" said her husband. II think shall
be home early to-day. You promised me
a roast leg OF pork, you know"
And you promised me that gray INQUIRE
antique at Swan and Edgars," retorted
the lady, sulkily.
But, Lima, dear, / had no notion
moires We're so expensive. Why, they
wanted twenty guineas for it,.
"Well?n
"Well! Why, it is twelfth part of our
whole years income"
"But if it were to please me ?"
ITO please you | would make IL great
many sacrifices, you know well, my dear
Lima but if l were to try to please at that
rate, | should soon be in the Bankruptcy
Court"
Lima tossed her golden head contempt
uously.
"Besides, what does my little wife want
with such supurb fabrics?n said her hus-
band, laughing mo. no, Lima. Leave
naoires to duchesses. like you best in
your white muslin. There, l must go !!
Give me kiss, and don't forget the pork.
Bye-bye! You'll be better-tempered when
| come home, poppet."
And whistling cheerily, away hurried
Robert Denwillow to catch the train to
London-bridge.
Like most of her sex, Lima could hav G
borne any opposition better than her hus-
bands impeturbable good temper. She
was out of humor, and she knew it, She
wanted to quarrel, and she would quarrel,
| and she couldn't, because it takes TWO par
ties to quarrel, and her husband had not
afforded her the slightest excuse for Civ
ing way to her ill humor.
No sooner was he fairly out of sight
than the little woman rang the bell turi-
ously.
"Annm
Eyes ma'am."
"When the greengrocer calls, turnips
and potatoes"
Yes ma'am."
"And when the butcher calls, leg of
mutton for boiling"
| And there was malicious twinkle in
Mrs Denwillow's eyes.
Ann opened her mouth wide with aston
ishment.
"Lor, ma'am l thought master said
something about roast pork"
| "Never mind what your master said"
| ''But ma'am," demonstrated Ann, bold
| ly, .master can't bear boiled mutton, and
then I've got the onions for the stutling."
''Put on your bonnet Immediately. Ann,
returned her mistress, with stern dignity,
land 60 to the Italian warehouse, and or
der Il bottle of capers.'
| And with look of dismay Ann van
ished.
"Oh, my amt she tartar. muttered
she, as she Quilted
| Mrs. Denwillow watched her servant
close the door, and then smiled triumph
antly.
"Thcre y exclaimed she, in such Il tone
as Alexander the Great might have adopt
ed after decisive victory 'there | think
I've done it now"
Five o'clock approached-the Denwil-
lows usual dinner-hour. The boiling
mutton began to give signs and token CT
its presence in the house, and Lina's lavol-
te little dog shifted the savory odor i'll the
passages, and slobbered anticipatingly.
Dear me ! | wish Robert would come. y
thought little Mrs. Denwillow. 1.-The
mutton will be boiled to rags
a quarter past iive-halt past-but no
master of the house forthcoming. Lima
grew exceedingly angry.
"How dare he tease me like this ?" she
asked herself.
1t must be owned that there is nothing
in all the world so trying as waiting Tor
an expected person who does not come ;
and the little woman had this additional
incentive to anger, that she had intended
to play her husband trick, and it seemed
as if he were turning the tables on her.
She thought of serving up dinner-she
was fond of boiled mutton-but then she
would lose her anticipated laugh; and be,
sides, her wilely instincts revolted from
such piece of selfishness as that.
Six--halt-past-nearly seven, and nc
Robert Denwillow The little woman's an
ger had all gone. She was now seriously
alarmed. Thrice Lad she descended t
the kitchen, to confer with Ann. each time
less angrily and more anxiously, and sh,
was already thinking of paying her ser
want another visit, when Ann herself, will
a hasty and unceremonious knock. entere,
the parlor. The girl looked flurried anC
alarmed,