The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-07-05
Mrs. Andrews.

Mrs. Andrews.
"lts no use. | can't put it off another
day" l remarked more to myself than my
great lazy brother, who lay stretched out on
the library lounge, just after breakfast, read
ing the newspaper
Can't put off what?" he inquired. toss
ing the carefully perused sheet on the floor
his usual habit.
Can't put off having my dresses made, !"
! replied, little petulantly ! am afraid, for
l Knew my answer would disappoint him.
Men generally have very lite sympathy
with housekeeping and dressmaking trials
at least my brother had none women
spend altogether too much time over these
things, heard him say time and time again,
and naturally was vexed at myself for
giving uiterauce to this thought before him
"Oh, dresses !" he replied, in his usual
tormenting tone when subject didn't please
him. Il thought from your manner that it
was something of importance"
Very probable, Mr.. John Bittinger,"
answered, wrathfully, " if you hadn't a de-
cent coat. to your back, you would think"
That it was matter to be attended to
immediately" he interrupted. "And
should go at once to my tailors; but then
should never wait to get into such fix"
Oh, the tantalIzlng manner with which
this was spoken If you had heard it you
would have longed to box his ears just as
did
"If you had baby to take care of and
house to attend to, and all your own market
ing to attend to-" | began. my burning
cheeks fully testifying to my vexation. But
he again stopped me with:
If | had baby to take care of. and
nurse to do it: aud a house to attend to,
with an experienced housekeeper at the
head of the establishment, | don't think |
should have any excuse for not having de
cent dress to my back, or for being served
more than once with rump steak, especially
when paid for porter-house.'
This was a 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 minute-at least never could
He Saw my red face, and concluded he had
gone far enough, for, jumping up quickly he
pulled me down on his knee 1.-THE great
rough shaggy fellow and SAID, while both
arms held me tight:
1.-The little woman can't take joke any
better now than before she was matron, |
discover. 1t was only in fun, Kate. Pull
my whiskers, box my ears, do anything you
choose-only do something. There!" as
couldn't help laughing to see how much
in earnest he was growing.
Now it's all right, isn't it? She shall
bother about dressmaking and buy tough
steak, and be just as ridiculous as she choos-
es only she must never on any account be
angry with her brother for more than a sec
ond at a time. And now what kind of
dresses is she going to buy, and how is she
going to have them made? Pompadour
and pelerine and hounces, and all that sort
of thing, | SUPPOSE
al don't know exactly how | want them
made,' replied, laughing; for this was an
unusual condeScension of Johns. The only
thing that bothers me is who | can get to
make them. Somebody told me about a
Mrs. Andrews who fitted beautifully"
Mrs. who, ibid you say?" inquired my
brother loosing his hold of me, and looking
into my face eagerly and almost sternly, l
thought.
Mrs. Andrews" answered, wondering
what in the world had come over him,
But what makes you act so funny about
it2"
Funny ?" he repeated after me, half mus
ingly. do act funny? didn't mean to.
But truly. Kate. if there is one name that
hate more than another in the whole vocab-
ulary Of names, that one is Andrews
But surely John,' l said. You must
have reason for this. What can it be ?"
and slipped off his knee on to the lounge
and made Preparations TO listen comforta-
bly, to long story for my brother had
been great traveller, and had the power,
when he felt like it, OF taking his hearers
with him to every place he had visited l
soon found that this was one of the times
when he didn't feel like it. for be said, with
a smile and good uatured shrug of his
broad shoulders,
"You got all fixed for it, didn't you, little
curiosity shop? But it's no go. had a
friend once who bore that nane-thst's all !;
and he disgraced himself and his name, and
caused few of US good deal of trouble.
That's the sum and substance of it; but all
this happened good while ago, and it ism I
worth thinking about. Come. off with you
to the dressmaker with the odous name,
while / go down town and see what the
news is" ~ -..-
:. 1t was natural. suppose, that should
speculate little about this secret of John :
for it was secret 1 was quite sure by
the way he dismissed me from his confidence ;
and 50 as 4 rode along TO the street and
number where was. directed 10 fnd this
wonderful dressmaker, who could fit with
out measurement, and trim without patterns,
I imagined all sorts of strange adventures
for my Brother, in which everything con-
ceivable figured. pistols and coffee, etc,