Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-08-10
False Pretenses.

Al the WINDOW OF Trim nttle Wis,
in neat little suburb. one of those
tiny gems of houses with which the
great suburban ring inclosing London
is so thickly studded, villa ovcrhung
by laburnums, and shaded by lllacs,
with q garden at the back rs big as
drawing room table, and a lawn in front
nearly as large; at the parlor window OF
this little Arcadia, gaz ng wistfully over
the trim little grass-plot there Fat. the
other morning, as trim little figure as
ever newly made BENEDICT could wish
To call Iii. own.
How pretty she was in her morning
dress, with her fair hair, and her blue
eyes, AMI white fingers And to any
one there to see it there was new look
about the broad gold ring on her lett
hand, and a something in the way she
d.e,, d with her fingers which showed
a certain strangeness in its presence
there. and betrayed unmistakably-the
bride.
Breakfast was over and done. John 5
arm. chair (empty) stood by the fire
place. Johns breakfast cup (empiy
a!so) stood on the table. And John
himself was gone to the city, there to
1t is not 80 dull said the little ma
iron to hers If; lit is not so dull
John won't come home to dinner to-day
again, dare say it's only cold meat it
he does) and | shall be by myself all
the evening. 1t is so dull
Four hours later there was knock at
the door of the trim little villa.
Rlt-tat Sharp and quick it sounded,
like the knock of a man i'll hurry.
Rat-tatl
1t was the postman. "Miss Arabella
Smthson? why, it is for me, said the
little matron to the trim little servant
who had answered the door, land
Johns writing, too. What can be the
| matter
"My DEAR ARABELLA: Thinking you
| would be dull to day, | have decided to
bring some one to dinner-some one
you know well, an old and true friend.
| an sure you will do your best, for |
may tell you in confidence it is It every
day he gets such coy little dinner as
you can give him if you like. Your
loving husband. JOHN
| IN. B.-Six sharp"
| From that time up till $50 p. m.
hustle and commotion and high jlnks
in the cooking line reigned supreme III
the trim little villa. And when the APP
pointed hour came it was with an ex-
ultant, albeit a slightly flushed, face lat
the thought of the gastronomic triumph
in store for "the old and true friend
whom her husband was to bring home)
that Arabella ran to to the door to an,
swer her husbands knock. For, letm
say in whisper, this was an office she
had not learned to delegate to the trim
| little servant.
When the door opened there stood
John, radiant, smiling, but-alone!
"Why, John" said Arabella, "where
is hep"
"He, my dear7 Who?'
"Why, the gentleman
"Here he is, my DEAR" answered
John, dcmurely.
| "What, you p
| "Yes-none other"
| "But you said knew him we'll, con
tinued Arabella, nearly crying.
| "Well, don't your asked John,
with a sly twinkle in his eye.
| "And he was an old and true friend,
Arabella went on.
"Well, isn't hep
"Oh, John, it is too bad, you-you--
wicked-;" and here Arabella fairly
broke down, and burst into tears.
OF course, things smoothed themselves
out after while; John presided at the
dinner, which was to have astonished
"the old and true friend,'' and Arabella
sat at the foot of the table. There can
be no doubt that fellow John enjoyed
the cozy little dinner he had obtained
under such outrageously false pretenses ;
but it is question whether Arabella
has forgiven him the fraud he practiced
| to this very day.