The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1870-12-10


bordered walk leading to DR.. SeacreSts
stately doorway, with the assurance OF
welcome guest; and tapping confidently
on the open door, stepped IN with little
nod and q courtesy, as much OF respect to
herself as of Difference to Mrs. Seacrestend
her daughter Miriam, sitting sewing and
looking tranquil as though no storm had
ever passed over either vineyard or spirit
Dear me Is it you, Mrs. Woodcock?
How you startled me Como in. We
were speaking Of you not half an hour
ago." cried Mrs. Seacrest, who was live
| IL, cordial woman, es round end flushed as
e poppy; and always sitting in the sun
shine, no matter what clouds there might
be in the sky.
Mrs. Wcodcock came in. ''Quite o
shower we have had" said she. dropping
upon q velvet sofa with an air OF being very
much at home on velvet 81 noticed, as
came along. Mr.. Hulbert's oats are beaten
| fiat, and [ shouldn't wonder if good deal
Of injury was done by the hail"
every likely" replied Mrs. Seaerest,
serenely. THE hailstones were very
large. But it has come off beautifully
now, and the air seems SO much purer for
| the storm"
Some people might have felt put aside
at this, but not Mrs. Woodcock. She per-
! ceived that something lay under this
| placid surface, and, never being troubled
! by excess of delicacy, proceeded at once
| TO send ont her blood-hounds.
How was it here p said she, boldly
Anything damaged about your grounds?"
! THE dahlias; some Of them were bro
| ken off didn't father say?' responded
| Mrs. Seaerest, appealing to her daughter.
'sAnd, I think, some glass was broken il
the dollhouse. The doctor has just or
dered different style of sash, SO these
are out of the way just in time"
| Everything was always fish that came TO
| Mrs Seacrest's net.
''Tisn't that" said Mrs. Woodcock to
| herself. Something heavier than hail
stone is on her mind,
! So she started another trail.
Heard from Ernest lately?" she asked
''Not very long since" replied Mrs
| Seacrest, carelessly, but with the faintest
shadow of q shade slipping across her
sunny face for an instant.
THAT is il" said the visitor, inwardly,
| noddIng approYingly 10 herself. For it is
not everybody who would have had the
! skill to touch upon the sore spot so soon.
But before she had decided on her next
question, Mrs. Seacrest spoke again.
| ssWe are expecting HIM home soon, Mrs.
/ Woodcock. with his wife"
'tHis wife!' cried Mrs WOodcock.
Even with her discerning forethought,
she was not prepared for this announce
ment. Ernest Seacrest being yet junior
in the State University.
! Miriam looked steadily upon her work,
| flushing with look OF painful annoy.
ance, but hex mothers tone was as bIthe
as ever.
Eyes, said she. Ernest is young, isn't
! he? But, after al. he is as old as I was
when I married. Our children take us by
| surprise, coming to be men and women so
/ much sooner than we expect
/ "When DO you lock fer him-them?"
! faltered IIrs. Woodcock, too much Devil
dered for her usual aptness Of question
ing.
"Aimost any tins; l shall not be sur
| prised If they come to-day" answered Mrs.
/ Seacrest, not able to conceal some nervous
dread.
Not dread that the married pair might
arrive before hrs. NOOdc0ck should go
away, with her long eyes, deep ears, and
broad tongue On, no! Mrs. Woodcook
would have scorned herself with contempt
I uous scorning If such unworthy jealousy
/ had crossed her self-assured mind.
/ So she sat, and sat, and sat, and sat,
while Mrs. Seacr6st sewed, and sewed, a4d
/ seWed, a0d sewed.
Miriam, evidently unable to bear the
slow torture, soon found 81 GRAND 10 her
chamber, and found no reason iOr return
/ ing.
J ~ asut your sons marriage a little sUG-
\ den 10 your asked Mrs. Woodcock, as
+ soon as size had collected her ideas.
+ Somewhat. but il Is 20 much better
/ for Young Taa0 10 settle upon some one
/ lady Ea2a=e than fall into habit Of airt-
/ ing, replied Mrs. S=acrest, with a cheer
fnI Satisfaction. and have always been
/ ii favor Of early marriages. Whe1e pao-
pie wait TIL their habits are crystalized, il
is much harder adapting themselves ~"
Mrs. Seacrests sentence was brought TO
an Uutimely end by the stopping OF q car
riage at the gate-the doctors carriage,
90, with tne doctor himself to drive.
$50 It seems she knew eli the time they
/ We're coming this very day, though she
made it SO vague. And there ] was rs my
| good fortune would have If, right III the
midst OF the home coming" said Mrs.
Woodcock, afterward, IN relating the story
TO Mademolsella Wldgar.
MademoiseiIe Widger was the nliilines
who lived only three doors from Mrs
| Woodc0ck, and said ''mon Dieu," 70 ap
pear like French woman. She was equally
fond OF cup Of tea and dish of GOSSIP
and made ali Mrs. Woodcock's bonnets tol
nothing.
$50 there J. sat and saw it ali, persisted
Mrs Wo0dcock aud what do YOU thinh
Mademoiselle, but Ernest cane in with s
lady on his arm older than MS mother. y
"My wife," said he. and you might have
kuocs ed me over with one Of your feather
peoples. There was never such a surprise
in Throckmorton before"
"Non diea T. crieh Mademoisalle. with a
little foreign scream. Old you learn how
it happened p
No more than the dead, replied Mrs
WoodCock, solemnly. Mrs Seacrest tried
to pass it off with her smooth it.awaf
manner, but she couldn't deceive me.
could see she had hnr3 work o keep hei
feelings in. But there she poured the tea
and passed The cake 20 that old thiIg a.
smiling IS the moon. She is such hanC
to cover up, and make as though every
thing is just right that happens TO her"
$50 you Staid to iunch p querisd Ma
demoiselle, helping herself ta a third CUT
Of that beverage from Mrs. Woodcockl
round black pot as she spoke.
Yes, they asked me. and / didn't weii
to be urged. / thought il would be {
good chance to see the bride. how SD.
looked, and how she appeared"
"Weil, how was it p asked the MILNE,
between her sips OF tea.
"She appeared we'll enough, far as ina
went, il she hadn't seemed old enough Il
be his grandmother. Y0u know Ernest Il
master young looking for his years, and ]
don't suppose lie is q day over twenty"
Mon dieu But didn't you have any
snrtnisp how II ha.nra,taa u tal.n NJ .