Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1872-01-16
"Surprs~cd."

for it's journey ont into the solitude
of country wiids, when a tall, hand
some man of seven or eight-and-twen.
ty darted frantically into the depot
and swung himself, after a rather
perilous fashion, upon the platform OF
the moving ears.
"Just saved myself was his com
placent remark, as he seated himself
on the velvet cushions under the lamp
"Yes-exactly-iustN " commenced
gentleman who sat opposite. | tel
you what, Harry Kneller, | shouldn't
repeat that kind of experiment very
often, if / were YOU
"Well, you see, / was in hurry
I have just been getting a little sur
prise for my wife, and somehow | got
behind time"
"a surprise, ch p
"You Sec" went on Mr.. Kncllcr
confdentally, leaning over toward his
friend, "she's exceedingly fond of fried
oysters, and up in the country We
never get any of that sort of thing"
so that's the secret of the tin pail
eh ?' said George Arden, laughing
good humoredly.
Mr. Kncllcr, on getting home. de
posted his precious burden carefully
in the corner of the porch, and walked
in with n nochalent air.
"Well, Matte ~ as the little blue
eyed woman came to meet him, and
put up a rosy mouth to be kissed 'is
supper aeady?'
"Yes-and I'm so glad you came
home early, Harry, for Miss Evarts is
sick, and they want me to sit up with
her tonight"
"All right " said Harry, good hu-
morcdly. "Go, by all means, my pet.''
And he rubbed his hands, thinking
gleefully of the fine field he should
have Cor his surprise.
Il viii be back before seven to-
morrow, Harry went on Mary Knel-
Ter, making musical clinking among
tie tea cups "and you shall have your
breakfast in time for the train"
"Shall l - thought Harry, nearly
choking himself with scalding tea, in
his strong sense of the implied Joke.
"Couldn't have happened BETTER"
he pondered as he toased his slippers
soles before the fire, while Mary wash
ed the china and lowering about the
apartment, "on household thoughts III
tent,"-for Mr.. and Mrs. Harry Knel-
ler were young people of limited in
come, and had not yet aspired to the
dignity of "help"-"no, it couldn't
possible happened better A fair field
aud no favor and when Matte comes
back tomorrow morning, shall find
breakfast ready, fried oysters and all.
or Tn uncommonly mistaken Wont
IL be a Jolly surprise ~
Good gracious, Harry what are
you doing ?" calculated Mary as her
husband gave vent to very audible
"What pleases you so
much ~
"Pleases me a.? Nothing !" said Har-
ry, trying to be austere all of a sud
den, and failing utterly. "I-I was
how lonely should be with
out you, dear"
So Mrs. Harry Kneller tied little
white Cashmere hood over her brown
and envelopcd herself in a
prodigious Scotch plaid shawl, and
trippcd away, under her husbands arm,
to Miss Evarts' half mile beyond.
"Good night, darling" said Harry,
to kiss her rosy check at the
door.
"Good night, Harry"
"And say, Matte" pursued Kneller,
unable to repress brief flush exulta-
ton, "don't be astonished at any little
surprise | may have in store for you
tomorrow morning"
Surprise ?"
But Harry was off before the dis
syllable had fairly passed Mary's lips.
ut will be jolly fun, though"
thought Harry.
With the first gray dawn of the
chilly morning, Harry Kneller was up
and string, with vivid remembrance
Of the laurel he was to reap by that
work
"Whcre are tide oysters ?" pondered
he, carefully holding the skirts Of his
wrapper so the fire should
not endanger them. "I-I remember
| left them on the piazza"
"Frozen ! Just my luck exactly
frozen like a rock. However, they're
EASILY thawed out again on a good hot
ire, and I'll put the coffee stewing
loo. ! don't know just exactly what