Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-12-05
MRS. ANDREWS.

cts no use. can't put it off another
day." remarked more to myself than my
great lazy blother, who lay stretched out
on the library lounge, just after breakfast
reading the newspaper.
Cant put what OFF," he inquired,
tossing the carefully peIused sheet on to
the foor-his usual habit.
"Can't put off having my dresses
made" replied, little petulantly, am
afraid, for knew my answer would dis
appoint him. Men generally have very
little sympathy with housekeeping and
dress making trials-at least my brother
had none. "Women spend altogether too
much time over these things" l had
heard him say time and time again, and
naturally was vexed at myself for giving
utterance to this thought before him.
"Oh, dresses" he replied, in his usual
tormenting tone when q subject didn't
please him. 81 thought from your mar
Der that it was something ofimportance." ."
every probably, Mr.. John Bittinger," -"
I answered, wrathfully, elf you hadn't
a decent coat to your back, you would
think"
"That it was a matter to be attended
to Immediately" he interrupted. "And
l should go ct once to my tailors's; but
then l should never wait to get in such a
fix"
Oh, the tantalizing manner with which
this was spoken If you had heard it you
would have longed to box his ears just
as did.
ST you had baby to take care of, and
a house to attend to, and all your own
marketing to attend to-" | began, my
burning cheeks fully testifying to my vex-
alton. But he again stopped me with.
"If had baby 70 take care of, and q
nurse to do it, and house to attend to,
with an experienced housekeeper at the
head of the establishment, i don't think I
should have any excuse for not having q
decent dress to my back, or for being
served more than once with rump-steak,
especially when paid for porter house" "
This was q sore spot, and John knew it;
and thought it was real hateful Of him
to revert to the matter again, especially
as so much fun had been made of me in
the past; but one can never be angry with
John for more than a minute-at least
never could. lie saw my red face, and
concluded he had gone about far enough,
for, jumping up quickly, he pulled me
down on his knee (the great, rough, shag-
gy fellow and said, while both arms held
me tight.
"The little woman can't take joke
any better now than before she was a
matron, | discover. l was only in fun
Kate. Pull my whislers, box my ears,
do anything you choose-only do some
thing. There ."-as l couldn't help
laughing to see how much in earnest lie
was growing.
"Now it's all right, isn't it? She shall
bother about dress making, and buy tough
steak, and be just as ridiculous as she
choOses-only she must never on any sc
count be angry with her brother for more
than a second at time. And row what
kind Of dresses is she going TO buy, and
how is she going to have them made
Pompadour and pelerine and founces, and
all that sort OF thing, suppose!"
81 know exactly how [ want them
made replied, laughing; for this was
an unusual condescension of Johns
"The only thing that bothers me is @ho
I can get to mako them. Somebody told
n A., A,,1ro.,., 6o EEko1 boo,,
tifully."
"Mrs. who did you say y inquired my
brother, loosing his hold of me, and look,
ing into my face eagerly and almost stern
~, thought.
Mrs. Andrews | answered, wonder
ing what iu the world had come over
him. "But what makes you act so fun
ny about it?"
'Funny?" he repeated after me, hal
musingly. "Do | act funny? | didn't
mean to. But truly, Kate, If there is one
name that hate more than another ii
the whole vocabulary OF names, that ont
is Andrews"
"But surely, John," l said, "you mus
have reason for this. What can it beg
and slipped off his knee on to the lounge
and made preparations to listen comfort
ably to a long story; for my brother haC
been great traveller, and had the power
when he felt like it, of taking his heareI:
with him to every place he had visited.
soon found that this was one of the time.
when he didn't feel like it, for he said
with smile and good-natured shrug 0
his broad shoulders.
you got all fixed for it, didn't you
little curiosity-sbop? but it's no go.
had friend once Swho bore that name