Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-08-15
How John Smithson got q Dinner
Under False Prctenses.


those tiny gems Of houses, with
which the great suburban ring en-
closing London is so thickty studded
IA villa overhung by laburnums, and
shaded lilacs, with a garden at the
back as big as . dtawing-room table,
and lawn in front nearly as large;
at the parlor window OF this little
Arcadia, gazing wistfully over the
trim little grass-plot, there sat the
other morning as trim q little figure
as ever newly-made Benedict would
wish to call his own.
How pretty she was in her morn
ing dress, with her fair hair, and her
blue eyes, and her white fingers =
Aid to any one there to see it, there
was q new look about the broad gold
ring on her left hand, aud some
thing in the way she fidgeted it with
her fingers, which showed certain
strangeness in its presence there, and
betrayed unmistakably-the bride.
And so she was. She had been
married three months; and it the
truth must be told, she was tired Of
it already.
Breakfast was over and DONE
Johns armchair (empty) stood by
the fireplace. Johns breakfast cup
(empty also) stood on the table. And
John himself was gone to the city.
there to remain all tho long dull
day.
ut is so dull said tho little mat.
ron to herself "John wont come
home to dinner to-day again, | dare
say, (it's only cold meat if he does);
and l shall be by myself all the
evening. It is SO dull. =
Four hours later there was
knock at the door Of the trim little
villa.
Rat tat! Sharp and quick Is sound
ed, like the knock of . man in .
hurry.
Kat-tat!
It was the postman. "Miss Ara.
bella Smithson why, it 10 for me-"
said the little servant who had an
swered tho door, "and Johns writ
ing, too. What can be the matter :"
"MY DEAR ARABELLA: Thinking
you would be dull to day, l have do
cided to bring some one TO dinner
some one you know well. an old and
true friend. 1 am sure you will do
your best, for I may tell you in con-
fidence it is mt every day he gets
such cozy little dinner as you can
give hmm ii you like. I.
Your loving husband, Jous..
N. 3. Six, sharp" ).
From that time up till $50 p. NJ,
hustle and commot;on, and high
jinks in the cooking line, reigned sn-
preme in the trim little villa. And
when the appointed hour came. 1t
was with an exultant, albeit . slight.
" flushed face lat The thought OF the
gastronomic triumph in store tor "the
old and true irieni" whom her hus-
band was to bring home), that Ara
bella ran to the door TO answer her
husbands knock. For, let me say in
q whiaper, 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 he ?"
"IIe, my deas Who? ?"
"Why, the gentleman"
"Here he is, my DEAR answered.
John, dcmurely.
"What, you ?"
"Ycs-none other"
"But you said I knew him well"
contsnued Arabella, nearly crying.
"Werl, do mt your" asked John,
witha sly twinkle in bis eye.
"Aud he was an old and true
friend" Arabellr went on.
"Well, is mt he ?"
"Oh, John. it is too bad, you-you
wicked -," aud here Arabella
fairly broke down, and burst into
tears.
OF course, things smoothed them
selues out after awhile; John presid.
Cd the dinner, which was to have as.
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