Fair play., 1874-04-02
MASQUERADlNG.


when you married and went away with
your husband, I'd no more idea that
things would come round rs they did than
lhad of running over to Council Bluffs in
atallOOn to take tea with you. To tell the
truth. 1t was all on account Of that rail.
rpad business, which went cutting into
cur orchard. and running hap-hazarll over
the best pisture-land, and taking right
Of way along the wOOd-lOt and crossing
the highways, SO that there's no peace for
the living, let alone the wicked. lIOwev-
er, Toe no right to complain or it, in the
long run. 1t wasn't rs If our house had
been In the family ever since the Plymouth
folks landed, and the Legislature had Civ
en- the corporation leave to run right
through the best wainscoted parlOr, and
taIe away the Oaken staircase stained by
the blood Of Revolutionary soldier, rs
they did up at Squire Elderly's place.
believe you were here when John Jordan
4aPpened this way civil-engineering and
helping to lay out the railroad; and / dare
ay you've heard me declare that would
nj marry John Jordan, '.n0, not II there
wasn't another man ON earth!' Not that
he had asked me then, yOu know; but
girls aren't SLOW to refuse before they're
ssked. Sht he had waited upon me home
nom esening service and sOciables: and
ne lad dropped in to have rubber ut
Ahtst just when didn't want to be inter-
rupted In the game Of cribbage which Luz
Gus Glover and l were sure to be playing
in the back parlOr. while the family sat at
work the other side Of the folding-lOOrs.
and the mellowed light from the astral
Lamp lent us a twilight atmosphere condu-
Give to Irritation.
sXr. Jordan used to be Il good deal at
otr house, talking with father about the
lay Of the land, and in that way folks came
to coupling our names together-and no
body 50 provoked As 1. Mrs. Scrutiny.
who lived opposite, and watched us as
closely Is cat watches a mOuse-hOlc; {;
who kneY when we heated the brick oven
tor an extra baking, and counted the stock
mgs On the line Mondays, and ran over to
see = We expected Sophronta and her hus-
Dand Gown when We aired the parlOr
caamoef; and who, when We declared
tms ve had nothing to wear to Mrs. Mer-
eye dancinG party, to Thanksgiving ball,
orcaharify fair. would give us an inventory
OF our own wardrObes,
why, wear your blue silk, child, that
was made out OF your mothers pelisse:''
or. "Desr sakcs, there's the white muslin
you nad to stand up with SOphronia in -
~, I'm sure the pink tarlatan that your
-Aunt S.a ni!ty gave You is good as new with
- : ot O daming :" or, '.When was girl.
NJ popan You got of the oltlclOtlles ped
HsI N exchange would nave been thought
PT,ty good enough for charity fairs
Sa!arally John JOrtlan's calls didn't cs-
cape Mrs. Scrutiny. believe She conld
s;,sa :: ene dark, like cat; and she lost no
Cors,a ~ colmui'icating her observation.
sr.. sISuently heard away down at Fish
s.@ Ionn anG away up ut llaverham that
th.,a au Sor'iah had been seen at our door
snS r uays out OF the week. for five weeks:
sas INV ty .1OOdy would believe that lle came to
e",- ia:nsf. but didn't treat John with
,iE.r. r.'u VI iavor. let me tell you! l was
;'sys quarreiing with him because the
n ~ h;S ~ss 10 cut up the Orchard-as il
= vas ms FAULT. or As il cared: but |
Was no,e ean'ng tal, 70 ne dIsagreeable about.
and som.t;,oU ; U Swes. s,ee 70 MN. assure you:
oSs 70 .Mes . s Lucius and would stroll
ns,s". game az Backgammon in the back
some,;,ans -.,o ~ ltaSe 'ohn to the others: and
would sin ont and u%sr '"' o, ou..S :. .
would be pretty sure to be on the arm Of
IN w;,h ms aiways scowled when came
s.Wh~.s ~ !: ne mad the impudence to ask.
please IN ~ HeaSen,s ~ name, do you find to
Smv " ers aus uarlnS that the tears sprang i'll
Id;SnS anu s!a'nmered. Il didn't know
dsj.~ . Ahow 1t was seriOus!'' and that
ons : menu the matter, for it wasn't seri-
tSs Lucli.s had never said anything to
sent;.. st;'. thougi he had dealt largely in
mor. : -: emgmas: and. what WAS
,nd f,EsnI I,n know AS wanted him to :;