The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-07-28


cancelled
"And you, Charles, will, of course,
stick to your last winters overcoat and
thick pants So far retrenchment has
been entirely on my side"
" Now, my dear, | will convince you
that you are mistaken we must curtail
our dinners. In place of three courses
we will only have one, and dessert must
be correspondingly plain"
From time to time, my dear, other
title retrenchments will present them
selves and | am very glad you take
the same view Of the matter that | do.
There is nothing like unity of feeling
between husband and wife"
And Mr.. Cary stroled his new beaver
complacently, kissed the brown-eyed,
fair-haired little woman good-by, and
started for business, leaving the partner
of his joys and sorrows TO put the new
ideas into immediate execution.
Annie was dismissed, and sent to
friend, but with flea in her ear, whose
buzz roguishly said
I" Be ready to return when | send for
YOU"
Cook was informed of the change in
the bill of fare, and supposing some
misfortune the cause of so great and
sudden fall, gave notice she should
leave Immediately, and twelve o'clock
found her among the missing.
The performance has commenced
early" laughed Clara, and nothing
daunted, ordered dinner, and prepared,
with the assistance of the waitress, to
cook it.
Plain roast beef, potatoes, and celery,
a delicate and digestible pudding of corn
starch. with few oranges, formed the
repast.
Mrs. Cary denied herself to all callers,
and, instead of the unexceptionably
dressed and elegant lady who presided
at Mr.. Cary's dinner-table, was to be
seen flushed little woman in merino
mornng-wrapper, white apron, line col.
lar, minus the mornings immaculate
cuffs, deliberately trimmed sleeves,
caught up at the shoulder, displaying a
| white, symmetrical arm, marked hOwev-
er. with an occasional black line denOt.
ing unmistakable contact with pots and
kettles.
Such was the appearance of the fasci-
mating and fastidious Mrs. Clara Cary,
whose presence at party, opera, morning
call, or reception, was attended with an
eclQt conceded only to those whose moral
and intellectual attainments are equal
to social position and beauty. Highly
educated, refined, with quick wit,
which was never at a loss for repartee,
correct and brilliant musician, it was
not to be wondered at that her invita-
tons to sOirees, dinner-parties, and little
evenings entertainments, should be
eagerly accepted by all her friends.
Her husband, too, always delighted
at the sensation she created, liked this
genial, generous sort Of life; but now,
without being aware how completely
his own comfort as we'll as expenses
were curtailed by the proposed retrench-
ment, attended to his legitimate bust
ness, specialized a trihe son the sly"
lucky as usual-somehow, everything
which Charles Cary touched, turned in
to gold-and, at the usual time, started
for his pleasant home and sweet little
wife, having entirely forgotten the plain
dinner he had proposed.
Tom Taylor dropped in, just before
closing. to have chat. Tom Taylor's
wife was quite i'll, and Tom proposed
that " Charley" should dine with him at
at hOtel-not that he had the reno
test idea his friend would accept his
invitation but Tom was cunning and so
it proved.
$50 to a hotel p laughed Charles,
merrily. Not much Come home
with me. We generally have something
to eat
No question about that, Charlie.
But, do you know, | have got the
oldest idea into my head feel all the
time Just as if your wife couldn't bear
the sight of me =
- You may well call it an odd idea,
Tom. My wife always speaks very
highly of YOU"
How men wiH falsYyi
The library looked very cheerful and
inviting with its grate-fi fire of blazing
anthracite. And Clara, whose quick
ears had detected two steps instead Of
one, sent Mary to discover who the in
truder was.
at is Mr.. Taylor, ma am y exclaimed
the girl, in dismay at her mistress's APP
pearance. "What will you do? You
will be compelled to dress now, Mrs.
Cary"
Not II Mrs. Cary Is acquainted with
herself, and ! really think an introduce
ton after this episode would be super
iuous. Ring the bell, Mary" and our
lady unpinned her sleeves.
And moment after the gentlemen
entered the dining. room-Charles bliss
fully unconscious, Tom bowling and
scraping, endeavoring to propitiate the
goddess, if possible.
Mr.. Cary did observe that his wife
looked unusually flushed and excited,
and that something YVES amiss with her
dress, but far too polite to remark upon
it, kept up little fire of small-talk,
which concealed for a moment the true
state of affairs.
You look very warm, Mrs. Cary"
remarked Tom, considerably.
Unfortunate Tom
o Do /, indeed? 1t is hardly gallant
to notice it, Mr.. Taylor. But, by the
way, Charles informs me that your wife
excels in the domestic department"
a smart kick from Charles under the
table