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

Between eight Ia i'd nine o'clock on a
fine September m rning, young mar
ried couple stood. together at the win
dow of a charming little house, pleas
antly situated at Norwood.
The neatly-appointed breakfast equip
age had not been as yet removed by the
spruce maid-servant, but the meal had
concluded, and the master of the little
cottage was about to take his departure
by train for the scene of his daily labors.
Robert Denwillow was only solicit
or's confidential clerk, on salary of
rather less than the much-abused three
hundred pounds per annum yet he
contrived to find life very tolerable on
the whole. He was fine, honest-faced
stalwart person, about thirty-two or
three, who loved his friends, his old
mother and sisters, and adored his pret-
ty, spoilt wilful, loving wife-a bright
eyed, petulant, chirping little woman,
ten years his junior. ...
The morning was splendid the room
was cheerful, the servant-maid brisk
and willing, and the eggs and rashers
had been unexceptional, the coffee clear,
the rolls crisp, and the butter, really but
ter. Yet for all that, as she stood amid
the flowers in her ay-window-herself,
in her white dress and blue ribbons, the
most attractive object there-there was
a sullen pout on Selma Denwillow's
pretty mouth that was not pleasant to
see.
"Come, dear, must go in two min
utes," said her husband. al think /
shall be home early to-day. You prom
ised me a roast leg of pork, you know"
"And you promised me that gray
n,oire antique at Swan and Edgar's," re-
torted the lady, snlkily.
"But, Lima, dear, had no notion
mao"es were SO expensive. Why, they
wanted twenty guineas for it"
D. "Went"
"Well! Why, it is the twelfth part
of our whole years income"
"But if it was to please meI"
"To please you / would make good
many sacrifices, you know well, my dear
Lima; but if 1 were to try to please you
at that rate, 1 should soon be in the
Bankruptcy Court"
Lima tossed her golden hand con-
temptuously.
Besides, what does my little wife
want with such superb fabrics!" said
her husband, laughing. "No, no, Lima.
Leave moires to duchesses like you
best in your white muslin. There,
must gol Give me kiss, and don't
forget the pork. Bye-byel You'll be
better tempered when come home,
poppit."
And whistling cheerily, away hurried
Robert Denwillow to catch the train to
London-bridge.
Like most of her sex, Lima could have
borne any opposition better than her
husbands imperturbable good temper.
She was out of humor, and she knew it.
She wanted to quarrel, and she would
quarrel, and she couldn't, because it
takes two parties to a quarrel, and her
husband had not afforded her the slight
est excuse for giving way to her ill-hu-
NOR.
No sooner was he fairly out of sight
than the little woman rang the bell fu-
riously.
Gam p
"Yes, ma a'am."
when the greengrocer calls, turnip'
and potatoes"
"Yes, ma'am."
"And when the butcher calls, leg o.
mutton for boiling"
Mrs. Denwillow's eyes.
Ann opened her mouth wide with as.
tonishment.
"Lor', ma'am, thought master said
something about roast pork"
"Never mind what your master
said"
"But, ma'am," demonstrated Ann
boldly, "master can't bear boiled NUT.
30, nd fhnY, T,x,a bo Co., ! h.
stufing."
"Put on your bonnet Immediately
Ann" returned her mistress, with sterI
dignity, sand go to the italian ware
house, and order bottle of capers."
And with a look of dismay Ann van
ished. ...
"Oh, my amt she tartar p' NUT
tered she, as she quilted.
Mrs. Denwillow watched her servan
close the door, and then smiled trium
phantly.
"Therew exclaimed she, in such
tone as Alexander the Great might hav
adopted after decisive victory; "there
think I've done it now."
Five o'clock approached Denwil
lows usual dinner-hour. The boiling
mutton began to give signs and token
of its presence in the house, and Lima
favorite little dog shifted the SAVIOR!
odor in the passages, and slobbered an
ticipatingly.
"Dear me! Iwish Robert would come,
thought little Mrs. Denwillow. 9Th
mutton will be boiled to rags"
A quarter past five-half-past-but N
master of the house forthcoming. Lin
grew exceedingly angry.
How dare he tease me like this 7" sh
asked herself.
1t must be known that there is moth
ing in all the world SO trying as waitin
for an expected person who does nc
come; and the little woman had thi
additional incentive to anger, that sh
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