Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-10-30

ing manner. Jacks surprise found vent
in low whistle, at which Minnie turned
round with suddenness that sent pile
of egg shells at her elbow flying from the
table to the floor.
"Oh dearr' she exclaimed. "Really,
gentlemen didn't ought to come into the
Kitchen as cook used to be so fond of re-
marking"
used to be-" repeated Jack, ruefully
surveying his own mischief Cook
hasn't departed this life, has shey'
mo, but she has departed this house,
and under peculiar circumstances-for
further particulars inquire Within" added
Minnie, mysteriously tapping black
bottle in the chimney-corn land as
Bridget knows about as much Of civilized
cooking as a wild Pawnee, Aunt Fanny
and have sent her up stairs about her
business; and if all that isn't explanation
enough"
add that Miss Minnie seizes the oppor-
tunity to practice upon us for the benefit
of Mr.. Ned Wyndham's household" mis-
chievously put in Mrs. Heaton, appearing
from the next room with handkerchief
tied over her head.
as that so, Minnieg" asked Jack, after
pause, in which he had attentively con-
sidered Minnie, who had fallen to beating
the eggs again with still greater energy,
which was perhaps what made her cheeks
so red.
"The ideaw answered Miss Minnie,
with a toss of the head that sent Laff a
score of little curls flying loose. Before
he can have household he must have a
house; and, though l dare say the Wills
good enough, if l wait till he can take
me home" and Minnie completed her
broken sentence with an expressive flour.
ish of the egg-beatei.
"Well, but you can take him home,
them" said Mrs. Heaton. at comes to
the same thing"
"Same difficulty in the way" replied
Minnie, seeing I'm not an Aladdin to
make palace out of toad-stoo
"And if you were, would you make
young Wyndham King Toads" asked
Jack, laughingiy, but watching her close
ly the while.
ooh, you uncivilized John! did you
never hear that direct questions were the
bane of existence?" exclaimed Minnie,
vanishing into the pantry in search of a
nutmeg-g crater, as she said
as it really true?" asked Jack of his
mother, in low voice.
"Why, where have your eyes been?"
answered Mrs. Heaton, in the same tone
1t was scarcely week later that Mrs
HeatOn was thrown into regular furry
by observing what looked suspiciously
like building preparations in the vacant
lot adjoining, an open green, forming a
part of their grounds Had Jack sold it
to some building spectators That was
an important question under the circum-
stances, for, as there was only the garden
fence between, great deal would be de-
pending on the sort of tenants the new
house might have. Mrs. Heaton could
hardly wait Jacks coming home to satisfy
her Impotence.
"Jack"-she began the attack directly
''there seems to have been some kind of
building people in the vacant lot this
morning"
81 know it," answered Jack; and after
a little pause, In fact, sent them"
ooh, Jack!" exclaimed his mother re-
proachfully, 81 never thought you would
have sold that ground"
II haven't sold it." answered Jack; and
added, II think of building myself"
"Your' said Mrs. Hcaton, in tone of
surprise-"you, of all people in the world,
turning Spectator! But now, my dear
boy, have you considered the risk you
run? 1t is so near: disagreeable people
there could make themselves SO Gerry dis
agreeable to u.s."
"I'll promise to take nobody into the
new house who can disturb the peace of
the old one" replied Jack, with smile
Besides, mother, it isn't even begun yet ;
time enough to worry when you see the
states on the roof and the chimney smok-
ing"
"Ah, that won't be long first, I'm afraid ="
said Mrs. Heaton, ruefully.
81 hope not" rejoined her son. Pm
bound to get the thing through as soon as
possible"
"But what fory" replied Mrs. Heaton;
"what good is it all going to do?'
ooh, building pays" answered Jack,
vaguely, and changing the subject.
1t looked as if Jack meant to lose no
time from the way things went ahead
Minnie declared that he had made some
unholy compact, and that invisible hands
at night took up the work where his Irish
hod carriers had left it. And certainly
the house-that is, myself, you under
stand-grew with rapidity that gave
some color to her accusation.
Inilly the udy Cdulc WITCH L Stoou III
ished from head to foot, or, if you prefer
it, from roof to basement And though
say it, that perhaps should not say it,
was handsome structure. / had a
piazza, balcony, a bay window; no mod
crn improvement or adornment had been
spared on me. was as yet, empty, to be
sure, but that was lack easily supplied;
all the more easily that Jack the very
evening | was done brought over his
woman kind, with the addition of young
Ned Wyndham, who happened to be max
ing a call at the old house, to give their
united voice about the furnishing.
/ remember just how the party looked
as they entered. Minnie came first of all
She wore a thin white dress, covered with
flounces and puffings, and the folds of
which she had gathered up out of the
dust, SO that / had peep at the rosettes
on her little high -heeled slippers. Her
black wavy hair had red rosebud on the
left side, to balance the pink dimple in
her right cheek, suppose, and her black
ewes were wide open and sparkling.
Altogether approved of her, and if | had
not been afraid, being so new, Of doing
some harm to myself, | should have Civ
en- some sign of satisfaction. Ned Wynd-
ole 1pISy