Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-07-19

"Bed to warm, eh! I'D warm 1t
for him with vengeance, if I was
YOU"
"Oh! don't you worry!" And
Nancy's blue eyes twinkled with
mischief I have thought of plan.
1 don't believe he will want me to
warm his bed again in a hurry.
am just going to fill the warming
pan with ice, and make the bed as
freezing cold as / can. Maybe the
shock will cure his rheumatism!'
and the naughty girl laughed mer-
rily:
sIt takes you, Nance, to think of
things" said Tom, admiringly.-
"That idea deserves kiss. What
smart wife you'll make me one of
these days, if can only learn to
take care of my ears"
sLook out for them now, to begin
WITH" said Nancy, giving her lover
u tap.
Nancy's tea that night was tri-
umph. The shortcake was done to
a turn, and was crisp and flaky and
brown enough to suit the veriest
epicure; and when the table was
set with It's seductive array of vi
ands-pumpkin pies of shining
amber color, and Clipped beef
transparency thin, honey in the
comb white and translucent, and
wonders and jumbles and election
cake-it was as good a sample OF
an old-fashioned New England tea
table as could have been found
Silas GLADDEN. was SO enraptured
with the feast as to feel tolerant
even of the presence of Tom Spring
er, and ate, and told long stories, of
which he himself was the hero
cackling over them until he almost
choked himself with his tea going
down the wrong way, considering
his Jokes all the better that he
had retailed them hundreds Of times
before.
So absorbed was he in himself,
and so intent was Mrs. Bemis upon
being gracious to him, that neither
Of them noticed the sly glances that
Tom exchanged with Nancy during
the progress of the meal. When it
was finished and Nancy had "clear-
ed away" and tidied up the already
neat kitchen, Tom, according to
preconccrted arrangement, took up
his hat to 60.
"You just walk around outside a
little whilc," whispered Nancy to
him at the door, "and I'll set can
die in the window when I'm ready.
l won't be long,"
"Nancy," said Mr.. GLADDEN., as
she shut Tom out and came up to
the fire, e,"you're splendiferous cook.
A man would be lucky who got you
for wife. Come, now, don't say
No to me this time" leering at her
out of his watery eyes. "I'll make
you a handsome offer: l will leave
you all my property if you will only
marry me and take care of me the
rest of my material life."
"Mr. Gladden." said Nancy, "your
offer is uncommonly kind, but l can
not think of accepting it. l don't
believe in age and youth mating to-
gether. I gave you your answer
once, and l am sorry that you was
not wise enough to take it for an
answer"
eyes; but, Nancy"
ooh! yes; l know what you want
Mr.. Gladden-you want your bed
warmed, so you can go to bed. Old
folks must be tended to; I'll do it
right away. Mother, you just get
the liniment and rub his shoulders
for him, and I will get his bed rea-
dy in ajitfy."
And in a whirl OF energy that
prccluded any farther remarks on
his part, she sped out Of the kitchen
and taking the warming pan from
its placc-it was already filled with
ice-she fastened to perform her
willing duty.
In few minutes she returned
saying: "Now you hurry into bed,
Mr.. GLADDEN.. Everything's ready,
and if you don't make haste, the
sheets'll get cold again."
Quite crestfallen and much 'gainst
his will, the old man allowed him
self to be hustled off. Nancy re-
tired to her own room, which joined
his, for the purpose Of putting on
her cloak and hood. Meanwhile,
seeing the candle in the window,
Tom had entered the kitchen to
wait for her.
Nancy put her ear to the partition
to listen. She heard Mr.. GLADDEN.
get into bed, and in an instant more
heard him come bounding out upon
the floor with the exclamation
"Jerusalem! I'm burnt-I'm burnt
to deathr'
A moment more and his bedroom
door was opened, and out walked
the frantic figure of the old man,
wrapped hastily in one Of the bed
blankets. Mrs. Bemis met him in
her night-cap, the picture of alarm
and astonishment.
"What in nater's the matter,
Mr.. Gladden?'
"Matter? Matter cnough!" growl
: cd he savagely. "That there gals
been and made the bed SO hot it's
burnt me-"
Meanwhile, Nancy and Tom, hav
ing "snickered' their fill over the
joke, had made good their escape
by the back door.
The old man went in and seated
, himself by tho kitchen fire, while
Mrs. Bcmis screamed for Nancy
Failing, for obvious reasons, t.
!, make her hear, she came in and en-
! deavored to comfort Mr.. Gladdel
by abusing her daughter.
, "She's a pesky critter!" said he
! affcctionate mother. 81 shouldn'
wonder if she done it a-purpose.-
i, She was mortal mad because yo,
cum agin to ask her to have YOU
k "Of course she dun it a-purpose,
e burst ont the indignant Gladden.
/, ''But she needn't hurt herself,
shan't ask her again. Gals is meal
J, critters, anyway; like widders
! great deal better, b'licve I ha,