The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-07-19

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expected it,
Little Mrs. Nora employed herself will
her morning duties like an industrious
little housewife, as she was. Everything
else was put in perfect order, but the uu.
fortunate slippers were left untouched, in
plain sight under the sofa As the clock
struck eleven she went out to the kitchen
to give some assistance, in the matter ol
dinner, to the stout Irish girl who was
queen Of the pots and kettles. This
done, she hastened up to her room, tc
change her dress before dinner.
But before she took off her wrapper
she opened closet, and from peg with.
in reached down skeleton hoop skirt
and surveyed it moment in her hand
" hate to do it." she said to herself
d" but | know Harry too well to quarrel
with him, and he knows what is right. |
sec no way for it but to adopt his own
rule-'a thing looks as well in one place
as another So here goes
And Mrs Nora marched defiantly down
stairs, and hung her hoop skirt on peg
of the hat rack in the hall, directly oppo-
site the front door.
Then she went back to her room and
began to dress. She pinned her pretty
collar, and gave the last touch to her
hair, and before going down stairs, glanced
out of the window TO see that Harry was
coming, but not alone for he was ac-
companied by gentleman whom Nora
recognized as one Of his most intimate
friends-onc who had been comrade all
through the war--and whom Harry
greatly loved. lie was very tastidious
too, and Nora wanted to be the very
tip-top of order and neatncss when he
came.
For the dinner she was not worried.
Though simple, she knew everything
would be nice and well prepared; hut
she thought with dismay of the skeleton
form suspended in full view in the hall.
Her first impulse was to rush to the res
cue, but their rapidly nearing footsteps
warned her that it was already too late
for that, and the next instant she had de-
cded not to do it in any case.
1t will only make the lesson more
complete" she said to herself And in
order that Harry might not have an op-
portunity to remove the skirt himself, she
ran down and met them at the door. The
Mortified expression of Harry's face, when
he saw the sight prepared for him, was
almost too much for Noras gravity. But
she retained it with an effort, and greeted
her guest with an easy grace which set
him at ease Immediately.
After they were seated in the parlor,
and had begun a pleasant hum of conver-
sation, in vain did Harry, by sundry
glances and restless movements, endeavor
to attrac, Nora's attention and give her a
hint to alter arrangements in the hall
That obdurate little matron remained
most provokingly insensible to all his
manoeuvers At length, just before din
ner, Nora, saw the skeleton had disap-
peared.
When Harry aud his friend had gone
down town again She instituted n search
for her property, asd found if ignom-
inously tucked into a closet under the
stairs
She had good ugh all To herself.
rs she carried il mp stairs to lis proper
place.
1t, poor rule that won't work Two
ways she said now we'll see what he
has to say for himself
Harry came home 10 supper a trife
more thoughtful than common Nora
watched him closely when he Went to get
his slippers, and fancied that the expires.
sion of his face was decidedly sheepish
But he said not a word until they came
up from supper and were disposing them.
selves for the evening.
Then, in halfhestating tone, he be.
gan. Nora, did you enjoy lawrence
visit to-day? ?"
Yes-didnt you?" asked Nora in.
nocently.
" Well-yes-pretty well. But |
was worried little" returned Harry
slowly.
Were you? What was it about ?
asked Nora, with the same sweet limo.
cence.
Il wanted Lawrence to think my little
wife was a model housekeeper," said
Henry, significantly.
Well, was anything out of order
Wasn't the dinner good" asked Nora
determined not to commit herself.
"The dinner was well enough" re.
piled Harry, " hut, q that hideous thing
in the hall !"
go, my skirt? What of that? Isn't
it nice one?" said Nora, still pursuing
her catechism.
" II is nice enough in lis place. SAID
Harry, feeling inclined TO be provoked
with her
"Well, what about it, she asked
again.
90, nothing particularly" said Har
ry; " only | don't exactly fancy such ;
place for ladies' undergarment- that
all"
Dun't Suu >" said Sv.~, ia,nuraiy
" I'm sure you said, only this morning
that a thing was as well in one place az
another"
! Harry's color rose, bur he looked stead
ily at her for few minutes then h,
broke into laugh
sold, by Jupiter ?" he cried. "Com'
Nora, I'll own up; the gray mare is thu
better horse this time. Keep your hoop
ont of the hall, and III put my slipper
in the closet
" It's bargain - said Nora, Laughing
-" III agree to it AS long as YOU do"
Now kiss and be friends" said Har
ry, and III behave myself for the fu
, tnre. "
suppose the kissing operation wa
satisfactorily gone through with, thougl
caunot undertake to describe the de
scribe the details,lesi fail to do justice t,
the subject.
But one thing will undertake to say
That il, that Mr.. Harry kept his promis