The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-11-02
"Look your pre,tiest tonight, Babette .

quarter past five at the latest"
[ meant that evening, of all evenip o.
in the year, to leave myself ample time t.
make such toilette as my husband bes
! liked. But the moments flew apace, anC
when at last took Allie and went up tc
my chamber 1T was long after four.
| The child was intentionally warm anc
tired from his long confinement in the
| high. chair and his little frock was creas
ed and soiled, for Hannah had given hin
ali sorts of things to play with Hastily
stripping him, | gave him Il bath, arrayec
him in fresh garments, and brushed The
golden brown hair that coiled about nv
fingers in a host of tiny curls. Then
placed him on the bed, to keep him out
o. harms way, and began my own pre-
paratioEs.
But Master Allie raised his voice il
wild lamenf alton and refused to be com
forted, although [ gave him my besl
bracelets and my watch chain. He had
been left to his own devices long enough.
he thought, and no coaxing or cajolery
sutticed to restore his good humor.
| called Hannah.
Dear me, Miss Barbara I'd come il
could, goodness knows But the bis
cult'll burn to cinders if leave 'em, and
besides, I'm picking over the raspberries
fol tea"
"Then you must cry, Allie, | said des-
perately, as turned to my DRESSING bic,
and tried to arrange my hair with hands
that tremoled SO that could not perform
my task. Braids would not stay III place,
and curls were incorrigible.
1t was just ten minutes past five, and |
was still IN my dressing sack, with nv
hair upon my shoulders, after third at
temp to put up the heavy mass, when
heard the sound of wheels A moment
more, and there were footsteps in the hall
below, and my husbands voice called.
" Barbara Barbara ?"
Allie screamed louder than ever, and
answered as we'll as | could from out the
din.
Il will come presently, as soon as can.
[ heard the two walk into the parior
and in another minute Walter came bound
ing upstairs two at time. HIS cheeks
were flushed, and his eyes bright as with
some hidden JOY.
why, what's the matter? 2" he asked,
as his eye took in the state of the case
amy body sick? Is Hannah dead or what
up?"
=" am tired to death, answered, and
Allie is cross as the mischief and Hannah S
busy, and am not dressed"
$50 see, he said, CURLY. {" You ought
20 have begun earlier, instead of fussing
so long in that confounded kitchen"
Now I l<og fl,iu nc yHynl No b,,f
| did not care to be told of 1t just then
So, wOmanlike, | began to CIV, epa little
weep"
There, therer" exclaimed Walter
" don t 60 to crying now, and spoil your
eyes [ wanted you to look your very hest
tonight, and | am SO disappointed, Bar
bara I'll go down town to.morrow morn
ing and get another girl, if things 90 on
at this rate"
This was Walters standing threat
while at the samS time he knew, that one
servant was all he could afford. And one
would have been enough, even in this
emergency, If had not been too ambi-
tiOus. HIS words stung me to the quick.
eco back to Miss Delamater," | said,
and have Hannah show her to her room.
Supper will be ready by the time she is
dressed-and so will /. l am sorry was
not ready to receive your friend, Walter
but by the time she has been married two
or three years, and has tretful baby on
her hands, she will have learned to make
allowances"
Diverted by his fathers entrance, Allie
stopped crying. Pride and little splicing
OF anger gave me strength and calmness,
and | was soon dressed.
Miss Delamater accepted my apologies
with sweetness, praised the house and the
baby, and the beauty OF the little village
nesting amongt the hills She cOngratu
lated Walter upon his patriarchal dignity,
and told him that he wore his new honors
as il to the manor born" Then we went
out to supper and while she did full Jus.
tice to the biscuits and cold chicken, she
remarked to him that she perceived he
had done wisely i'll choosing d wife from
the country. Country girls devoted them.
selves so much more exclusively to domes
tic affairs that it could not be doubted
that they made better housekeepers than
those who had been taught to regard lit
erary and social culture us the zone thing
needful."
Was there la1ent sarcasm underlying
her soft words? I could not tell. But
felt shy and ill at ease, and l was glad
when | could rise from the table and lead
the way back to the parlor. MY good
Hannah came for Allie presently, and |
was at liberty to devote myself to nv
guest.
I had often heard that Miriam Delama-
ter was beautiful-that there was some
rare, subtle charm about her by which
mems hearts were lured from out their
bosoms almost without their knowledge
or consent. But was not prepared for
all that was revealed to me that night 1t