Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1870-10-20

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and set himself to work and study it
meaning.
He, however, saw nothing unusual
and took himself off, feeling highly ella
ted with the consciousness of possess
ing such meek, submissive little wife
so ready to obey his orders.
All, Master Harry! lords of creation
before your day, have found them
selves under woman's control whel
and where they least expected it.
Little Mrs. Nora employed hersel
with her morning duties like an indus
trious little housewife, as she was. Ev
erything else was put in perfect order
but the unfortunate slippers were lef
untouched, in plain sight under th,
sofa. As the clock struck eleven sh,
went out TO the kitchen, to give som,
assistance in the matter of dinner, t
the stout Irish girl who was queen o.
the pots and kettles. This done, sh,
fastened up to her own room, t.
change her dress before dinner.
But before she took off her wrapper
she opened closet, and from peg
within reached down a skeleton hooI
skirt and surveyed it a moment in hel
hand.
81 hate to do it," she said to herself,
"but know Harry too well to O aarrel
with him, and he knows what is right.
| see no way for it but to adopt his own
rule-'a thing looks as well one place
as another So here goes"
And Mrs. Nora marched defantly
down stairs, and hung her hoop skirt
on peg of the hat rack in the hall,
directly opposite 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 brown hair, and before going
down stairs glanced out of the window
to see that Harry was coming, but not
alone; for he was accompanied by a
gentleman whom Nora recognized as
one of his most intimate bachelor
friends--one who had been a comrade
all through the war-and whom Harry
greatly loved. He was very fastidi
Gus, too, and Nora wanted to be the very
tip top of order and neatness when he
came.
For the dinner she was not wor-
ried. Though simple, she knew every
thing would be nice and well prepared;
but she thought with dismay of the
skeleton form suspended in full view
in the hall. Her first impulse was to
rush to the rescue, but their rapidly
nearing footsteps warned her that it
was already too late for that, and the
next instant she had decided not to do
t in any case.
at will only make the lesson more
she said to herself. And
N order that Harry might not have an
to remove the skirt him
self, she ran down and met them at
he door. The Mortified expression of
Harry's face, when he saw the sight
for him, was almost too much
or Nora's gravity. But she retained
t with an effort, and greeted her guest
With an easy grace which set him at
'est Immediately.
After they were seated in the par
or, and had begun a pleasant hum of
in vain did Harry, by
'undry glances and restless move
nents, endeavor to attract Nora's at
ention and give her a hint to alter
arrangements in the hall. That OBJ
lurate little matron remained most
insensible to all his ma
leuvres. At length, Just before din
Ter, Nora saw the skeleton had disap
)eared.
When Harry and his friend had
zone down town again she instituted
search for her property, and found it
ANONYMOUSLY tucked into a closet un-
Ter the stairs.
She had good laugh all to her
elf, as she carried it up stairs to its
proper place.
''Its a poor rule that wont work
wo ways" she said; "now we'll see
What he has to say for himself"
Harry came home to supper a trifie
more thoughtful than common. Nora
watched him closely when he went to
ret his slippers, and fancied that the
Expression of his face was decidedly
heepish. But he said not a word
Intil they came up from supper and
vere disposing themselves for the
vening.
Then, in half-hesitating tone, he
egan. "Nora, did you enjoy Law
ence's visit to-day?"
"Yes-didn't you?" asked Nora in
ocently.
"Weil--yes--pretty well. But l
ras worried little," returned Harry,
lowly.
"Were you2 What was it about?"
sked Nora, with the same sweet inno
ence.
81 wanted Lawrence to think my lit
e wife was a model housekeeper,"
aid Harry, significantly.
"Well, was anything out of order2
Wasn't the dinner good?" asked Nora,
etermined not to commit herself.
''The dinner was we'll enough" re-
lied Harry, "but, o, Nora, that hid
ous thing in the hall"
80, my skirt? What of that? Isn't
a nice oneP' said Nora, still! pursu-
lg her catechism.
at is nice enough in its place." said
larry. feeling inclined to be provoked
nth her.
"Well, what of it?" she asked again.
40, nothing particular" said Har-
Y; "only 1 don't exactly fancy such
place for lady's undergarments-
hats ALL" !