South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1870-11-25
Taken at his Word.

4 vows auu Siiet'uluB tlu pan On the table
full of dewy, scarlet strawberries waiting TO
DC ulled-this is our scene, and our dra.
mats persong consist of Mrs. Perkins, whose
drowsily clicking knitting keep time
to the purr of the oyergrowu Maltese cat,
and pretty young girl with rather flush
ed face, who had just entered from a door
way leading to the hall.
WELL said Mrs Perkins, looking up
with that iuelfably wise expression which is
I impaired to the human counteuance by
round silver spectacles perched obliquely
on the bridge Of the nose, he amt asleep,
is he 2
Yes, he is; wassho answer.
GLORY be thanked for that at least, said
Mrs. Perkins, apparently impaling herself
on long knitting-needle, which, however,
entered barmlessly into the horn sheath
that she wore at her side, cucased in seal
J Hoped red flannel. There will be FIVE mi.
nutes of peace at least. You're tired, ain
/ you, Dora ?
Yes said Theodore White, 1 am ra-
| Their tired
But her languid voice spoke plainly that
/ the more accurate phrase would have been
/ 'rcry tired
I Theodore White was a slender, soft-eyed
/ girl of eighteen, with complexion of pear
/ ly cIearncss, and rose piece on her checks
( "a girl with pure, straight nose aud
/ dimpe on her chin and pretty pleading
/ way of looking at you when she spoke She
sat down beside the window, where the mig
+ uouucuo-scented grape blooms were sway
ing In the summer air, and leaned her fore
head a-aiust :Lc easement
Mrs. Perkins eyed her with an owl-like
glance Of sympathy.
LIS shame. 50 it is,' said Mrs Perkins,
omphatjcaiIy. 4 man hasn't no business
TO bc So tryju mo, not if he was sick forty
times over. Scold, snap, srarl--this ant
right ard tothcr thing i wrong That's
the way he keeps il up. Ia as soon wait
on the 'ald boy himself
Theodore smiled family, aud archcd her
eyebrows
'Why, Mrs. Perkins, you don't moan TO
compare my Uncle Joseph with so obnox-
ions parsonage as you allude to 7 she said
demurely.
well, said Mrs. Perkins, rcnec,i7ely,
they amt so unlike, after all / declare,
sometimes, when he gets in his tan'rums,
I've two minds and a half to give him
good shakin'. There amt no sense in n
mans bajn' SO unreasonable You can't
please him m way you can fix il
Nv e can at least try, Mrs. Perkins.
Yes aud that's Jest what's a spiin' him
He knows very well that if he was TO want
the moon you'd hunt up The longest step
ladder and lry TO reach ii down II apsys
did spoil children to let EN- have all they
t-f g. 49, -
but growel up child
But don't let him have all he wants,
Mrs Perkins
And pretty kettle o. fish thero'd be if
you did. IIumph" and the old housckcep-
err pouncci upon her bal as if she had, for
q moment Identified it with the parsonage
under diseu. sion
'lt migh,n't be such bad idea, said
Theodore fter moments thoughtful ST.
leuco
B. you crazy {? demanded Mrs. Per
kius, tarHy.
Hush Theodore started from her seat
with up'Iftoi finger. lie is awake; he
wants me-
And She was gone, swift, noisolcss as
white winged dove, before Mrs. Perkins
could volunteer 10 go ia Der stead.
yes, said Mrs. Perkins to herself, cit is
a shame. lie seems to think she's made
OF cast iron and India rubbcr-tho old tor.
mcutv
With ills rather illogical expression Of
Der opinion, Mrs Perkins resumed Lev knit
ting more vigorously than ever.
Meanwhile Theodore FASTENED up stairs
INTO closely curtaiaei sick.room, where
quaTpl0us old gentleman lay, tortured With
% great deal af 'hypo' and very little ac'u-
@, illness But Uuc'c Joseph White chose
l' aeiava 'lal be was very i.l ard who.
pray, ua n better Judge of ,ho state Of bis
bodily health than himscIll
Tie screwed bis face up ioiothe s.mb'aoca
oi uu-crckgr ls IBIS niece huTisd'y enc
tered Tho apartment & came % bis bedside.
Two been humping on tbo floor I'LL my
arms arc ready Co drop out Of their sock
c's be groaned. Are you all deaf down
Stairs or bas old Perkins forgotten there's
any one i1 thc world but herself aud her
.uG.bex -
u 90 very sorry, uoc.c!
ACTIONS speak louder tha1 words {" snarl-
cI Uncle Joseph uuguciousIy.
How DO you feel now, Uncle Joseph !"
asked Theodore oatliug'y
I'm worse
Are youV
Pal-o Lighor-sk.n bot--facc flushed
OF course l'm worse This c9ufJuuIod hot
room IS naugh 90 throw any Que into q fe-
ven. Open every door aud wiulow-quick
Without an Instant hesitation Theodore
untaul Coo blinds, aud throw open four
large auiow5 and two doors The light
FINN LIZ -L---- IL. --------- H.. =. Ill