The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-11-03


ing 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 besides, her wife
ly instincts revolted from such piece
of selfishness as that
Six-half- -past-nearly seven, and no
Robert Denwillow! The. little woman's
anger had all gone. She as now seri-
Gus alarmed. Thrice had she descended
to the kitchen, to confer with Ann, each
time less angrily and more anxiously,
and she was already thinking of paying
her servant another visit, when Ann
herself, with hasty and unceremonious
knock, entered the parlor. The girl
looked Aurried and alarmed.
ooh, if you please, ma'am, you're not
to be frightened, but Mr.. Hodges, the
station-master, has sent up to say as
there's accident on the line!"
"Whatp screamed Lima, pale as
death, and with an awful sinking of the
heart.
GA Crystal Palace train have run into
the four-thirty, please, ma'am, and sew
enteen persons are killed, and many
wounded. It's near New Cross, ma'am.
L
Cross"
ooh" sobbed poor Mrs. Denwillow,
"I've lost the best husband-my poor
Robert! And l so wicked to him. Oh !!
oh :"
claw, no, if you please, ma'am, mas
ter amt killed. Here's gram as Mr..
Hodges said was to give you. 1t ought
to have come an hour and half ago, but
were delayed in the confusion. Them
grams always is delayed somehow" add
ed Ann, soliloquizingly.
Lima seized the paper, and tore it open.
1t ran thus:
accident at Nelo Gross. Am making myself
useful to sufferers. Shall take cab home. Don't
toan dinner"
In the intense relief of her heart, Lima
sobbed convulsively, and made an in
ward vow never to be SO petulant and
exacting in future. In mood of mad
penitence, she sat upon the sofa, form
ing hosts of good resolutions, until the
sound of cabwheels fell joyfully on her
ears.
In two minutes more Robert Denwil-
low was in the parlor, clasping the pen
itent little woman in his arms.
"Oh, Bob, dear, I'm so sorry! And
I've been so frightened I'll never be SC
cross again !" sobbed she.
The husband stroked her fair hair ten
derby, but did not reply. He judged il
better to let her tears have their course
At last he said
"Well, dear, it's all right now, so LEI
us go to dinner"
"Oh, those poor people killed!
couldn't eat any dinner"
Nonsense, there were no people
killed; only score Of broken arms an6
legs"
"Why," exclaimed the little woman
in surprise, "Ann told me there were
seventeen persons killed"
Robert Denwillow laughed.
"These sort of things are always
grossly exaggerated" he said. "Bu
come, want my dinner-odd dom
perceive the onions"
"Oh, Bob, dear" sighed his wife, col
oring to the roots of her hair, "I-Pn
so sorry, but there's nothing but BIB
boiled mutton for dinner"
The good fellow WINGED for moment
but he comprehended in an instant how
matters stood, and said, gently
"Well, dearest, certain grand ole
Book says, Better is a dinner of herb
where love is, than,-"
Lima kissed him impetuously.
"You are an angel, Robert-a gooc
man-and l am a weak, silly, wicke'
little thing~
"Not wicked, pet" !"
"Oh, Robert" she said, earnestly, a
! she hung round his neck, "bear wit
me, and forgive me-"
Forgive you, my darlingw said he
husband, returning her caress. "Hav
we not all need of forbearance and for
. giveness!"
Dinners ready, please, sir" erie
Ann, entering, with a covert smile o
her face.
"Well, Ann," returned her master
good-humoredly, and as if boiled NUT
ton were his favorite dish, "I am hun
CRY enough to do credit to your cook
g ing"
Little Mrs Denwillow, with feelin
of intense shame, took her seat at tn
= head of the table. Ann removed tn
covers. The boiled mutton, sadly ovel
done, was there, it is true; but opposit
! her master Ann had placed a splendi
: rump-steak pie, which she had covere
!. over, to produce the greater effect whe
disclosed.
Lima cast grateful glance at her sci
> want, whilst Robert Denwillow said
> "This is famous! But how is it, Ann
l thought boiled mutton"
"Well, sir" said Ann, with gratifie
y smile, and a sly glance at her mistres
al thought, as master don't like mu
ton, and the butchers boy had fiji
steak on his tray, I'd make pie ON N
own 'sponsibility." ...
"You have done quite rightly, Ann
said her mistress, sand show good sense
! Surely a merrier dinner of herbs
= never was than that, seasoned as it WI
by renewal of love and confidence b
O tween the married couple. Mrs. Del
% willow often spoke of it afterwards
= the commencement of a long and hapI
. life.
O A Western editor, from whose mil
q neither the war in Europe nor the fea
Il 4 L