The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-10-27

/
| ter?" cried John, rushing 10 with aW-
full visions of scalded hands, sudden
news of affection, and secret conster-
nation at the thought Of the guest in
the garden.
"Oh, John, / am so tired, aud hot.
and crossed and worried I've been
| at it till I'm all worn out. Do come
and help me, or shall de-" and the
exhausted housewife cast herself upon
his breast, giving him a sweet welcome
in every sense Of the word, for her
pinafore had been baptized at the same
fount as the floor.
What worries you, dear? Has any
thing dreadful happened? asked the
anxious John, teuderly. kissing the
crown of the little cap, which was all
askew.
Yes" sobbed Meg, despairingly.
Tell me quick. then; don't cry; l
can bear anything better than that /;
out With, it love.
"The-the jelly won't jell-and 1
don't know what to do"
John Brooke laughed then as he
never dared to laughed afterward; and
the derisIve Scott smiled involuntarily
as he heard the hearty peal, which
put the finishing stroke TO poor Meg's
woe.
as that ALI Fling it out of the
window, ard don't bother any more
/ aboutit. III buy you quarts, 1t you
want il but for heavens sake don't
/ have the Mysteries, for I've brought
Jack Scott home to dinner, and
"A man to dinner, and everything
in mess. John Brooke, how could
you do such a thing2"
Hush, he's IN the garden; l forgot
the jelly, but it can't be helped now"
said John, surveying the prospect
with an anxious eye.
You ought to have sent word, or
told me this morning. and you ought
to remember how busy I was" con-
tinued Meg, petulantly; for even tur-
tie doves will peck when rufied.
II didn't know it this morning, and
there was no time to send word, for |
met him on the way out. / never
thought of asking leave, when you
have always told me to do as | like.
I never tried it before, and hang me if
1 ever do againl" added John, with
an sggrieved air.
II should hope notl Take him
/
there isn't any dinner"
well, l like that Where's the
beef and vegetables | sent home, and
the pudding you promised?" cried
John, rushing to the larder.
Il hadn't time to cook anything; [
meant to dine at mothers. I'm sorry;
but [ was so busy"-and Meg's tears
began again.
John was mild man, but he was
human; and after long days work,
to come home tired, hungry and hope
full, to find Oh lotic house, an empty
table, and cross wife, was not exactly
conducive to Tepose of mind or man
ner. He restrained himself, however,
and the little squall would have blown
over, but for one unlueky word.
Its a scrape, | acknowledge; but
if you will lend a hand, we'll pull
through, and have a good time yet.
Don't cry, dear, but just exert your
self bit, and knock up something to
eat. We're both as hungry as hunters,
so we shan't mind what it is. Give
us the cold meat and cheese. We
don't ask for jelly"
He meant it for good natured Joke;
but that one word sealed his fate.
Meg thought it was cruel to hint about
her sad failure, and the last atom of
patience vanished as he spoke.
you must get yourself out of the
scrape as you can; I'm too used up to
exert myself for any one. It's like
man, 10 propose a bone, and vulgar
bread, and cheese for company. |
won't have anything of the sort in my
house. Take that Scott up to moth
er's and tell him l m away-sick, dead,
anythipg-I won't see him and you two
can laugh at me and my jelly as much
as you like; you won't have anything
else here" and having delivered her
defiance in one breath, Meg cast away
her pinafore, and precipitately left
the field, to bemoan herself In her
own room.
What these two creatures did In
her absence, she never knew; but Mr..
Scott was not taken up to mothers"
and when Meg descended, after they
had strolled away together, she found
traces of promisouous lunch which
filed her With horror. Lottie report
ed that thsy had eaten "a lunch and
greatly laughed; and the master bid
her throw away all the sweet stuff,
and hide the pots"
Meg logged to go home and tell
mother; uut q sense of shame at her
own shortcomings of loyalty to John
who might be cruel, but nobody
should know" restrained her, and,
after a summary cleaning up, she
dressed herself prettily, and sat down
to wait for John to come and be for
given.
Unfortunately, John didn't come,
not seeing the matter in that light
He had carried it off as q good joke
with Scott; excused his little wife as
he could, and played the host so hos
pitably, that his friend enjoyed the
| impromptu dinner, and promised to
come again. But John was angry,
though he did not show it; he felt
that Meg had got him into a scrape,
and then deserted him In his hour of
need. ut wasn't fair TO tell-a man to
| bring folks home any time, with per-
/ feet freedom, and when be took you
at your word, to fare up and blaze at
| him, and leave him In the lurch, to
be laughed at or pitied. No, by George,
it wasn't and Meg must know il.
| He had. fumed inWardly during the
feast, but when the furry was over, aud
be strolled home, after seeing Scott
off, a milder mood came over him.
Poor little thing? 1t was hard upon
her, when she tried so heartily to
please me. She was wrong, of course,
but then sh was young. l must be
patient, and teach her" He hoped
She had not cone home-he hated COS
| sin and interference. For a minute
he was ruff9d again at the mere
thought of it; and then the fear that
Meg would cry herself sick soitened
] III, hnnrtnnd snnt him ON at q nnieker