The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-03-18

"Oh, not at ALL" said Percival, striving
to speak with off-hand nonchalance. Gone
of you will have to drink out OF a china
mug, the other from antiquated Pompeian
vase"
"We don't mind that at ALL" laughed
Mary. 81 didn't think Percy, when you
were up in the mountains last summer, and
invited us to one Of your important break
fasts, we should be here to test your hospi-
tality soon."
"Nor either" groaned Mr.. Kent suite
voice. "Hallo not grain of white
sugar9 viii you excuse me a moment
girlsP''
Certainly-to be sure" cried Kate and
Mary, in chorus. Don't be at all punct-
illious with us, beg.
And away sped Mr.. Kent on the wings
of haste to the nearest grocery.
"And now cried Kate Wallace, spring
ing up, I'll see what's behind that red
curtain" "Kate ~ cried her cousin warn
ingly.
"Well, why not? know there's some
mystery. Cousin Percy looked SO queer
when we mentioned it, Perhaps it's the
Bluebeard chamber, where he keeps his
dead wives. Perhaps he has sweetheart
hidden in there
"What nonsense, Kate ~
"Hush Don't you hear rustling
and rafting ?" cried Kate, am sure
"Hi-kisk-um-m ~ came an unvoluntry
explosion from behind the curtain, at this
very eventful moment.
"Its robber ~ shrieked Mary.
cts Bluebea1ds wife ~ cried Kate
half laughing and half frightened
"Oh, Kate don't go near it ~ whispered
Mary, who had grown quite white.
But 1 shall, though ~ cried Kate.
"Didn't shoot bear in Uncle Hirams
pine woods? And do you suppose am
going to be frightened by sneezeP"
And tripping valorously forward she
drew back the curtains with jerk.
There stood John St. John, red and
flushed with cooking, and the white sheet
relieving his rosy countenance, while his
nose and hair were powdered with flour,
and sundry cabalistic tokens of charcoal
he had handled, ornamented his brow and
in front of him the ancient fowl was friz-
zling away on the bars of gridiron, and
the pot of chocolate, frothed merrily on
the glowing Gals.
Mary uttered a shrek, and even Kate
recoiled at this unexpected tableau. While
Mr.. st. John retreating backward on n
pile of clay holdings, upset the chocolate
pot on his own feet and ankles, and with
how like that of wild Indian, tumbled
prone over knocking an easel full of sketch
es into the fire.
The next instance the rcd curtain was in
a blaze.
The scene of turmoil and confusion that
ensued next may easier be imagined than
described. Kate, preserving her presence
of mind, threw her thick shawl over Mr..
st. Johns face, well-nigh smothering him.
Mary emptied tumbler of water into the
flames, and cried +" Fire Fire p at the top
of her lungs. Mr.. Barrett; the Italian
artist across the hall, and Mr.. Wakeburn,
who printed in water colors next door,
rushed to the rescue. And when Perciyal
Kent returned with five cents worth ol
milk in a cracked pitcher and cone-shaped
package of sugar, he found John st. John
sitting on the floor, with his left whiskei
singed, and Kate applying cold cream to
his scorched nose, while Mary, with hei
handkerchief drenched in COLOGNE, was
trying to take the fowl off of the gridiror
bars, to which he persistently clung.
"I'm sorry, old fellow" grimaced St
John, "but the breakfast is spoiled"
"Never mind the breakfast" said Kate
"We have some crackers in our bag
said Mary. And it was all Kate's fault fo
being so curious"
EYES," said Kate, it was all my fault
I wanted to see what was behind the rec
curtain. Aud l did see. "Does you
nose feel very bad now ?"
" Not so very" said Mr.. St. John, 70
the velvet touch of the soft femenine fing
ers was not disagreeable.
And that was the end of Mr.. Perc
Kent's boasting about bachelor housekeep
ing; and the beginning of the acquaintance
ship there, ended in Kate Valance chang
ing her name to Kate st. John.
| a.. A.