Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-06-25
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all up by a string run round IN 1t. On
another post hung an old hoop-skirt
that looked as if it had come out of
Noah's ark after doing good service for
Noah's wife and his sons wives. Stock
ings lay scattered about and shoes just
as they had been kicked off, corsets,
bustles, undertaking, and all the ct
cetero of al bedroom, In dilapidated
condition. Ira acted very naturally,
just as if everything was right and not
unusual.
"Now, Squire, this bedroom is a
good-size, bout square, / should think, !"
said the unimpressible Ira, taking the
rule and beginning to measure from the
wall right opposite the bed take the
measure and see for yourself ;" and he
handed it to the bereft widower.
He took it and continued on with the
same measurement that Ira had CON-
menced. Of course it ran right under
the bed. Now beds UiU get dirty under
them. don't know what's the reason,
but the first sign of disorder in bed
room begins with fuffness on the car
pet under it. Then we women all know
what glorious receptacle under yon
bed :" is for shoes, boxes, dirty clothes,
cast-off buds, and anything one wants
to put out of sight "just for little
while" Good housekeepers sometimes
so far depart from their integrity SD to
let things get in muss in their bed
rooms. 1t is not for us to say whether
Betsey Bobbett's bedroom was gener-
ally tidy or not.
Dreadful, wasn't it that just while
the immaculate. Squire was down on all
feathers, and straw, and boxes, and
bundles, and other things, patting
little trip was heard running up the
stairs, as light as kittens springy
step, and who should come bounding
into the room, curls a-fying, and eyes
sparkling, and cheeks aglow, but Bet
sey Bobbett herself!
"Oh, good heavens !" she screamed,
as one glance of her eye took in the
whole scene.
Ira was standing leaning over, anx-
iously watching the Squire, who was
under the bed, save that his legs were
visible, or as much of them as were
boots
w Hstt QOSS tulS IucdA u Ilhc
to know" she said, in shrill
voice, holding up both trembling hands
as though aghast with horror.
The Squire camea-hustling out, crab
style, from among the debris, with his
hair all pushed the wrong way, and the
tails of his coat turned up over his back.
He made great clang and clatter and
noise, and disarranged the hidden
things generally but ne got out at
last and tried to look like a man
who had been following a legitimate call
ing.
"Now, I say no gentleman will enter
a lady's private room under such cir
cumstances," said she, looking at the
measuring-rule "and especially in her
absence It's horrible ! it's awful !"
and the poor little thing clapped her
hands up to her face and sobbed hyster-
ically.
"He only wanted to measure the
rooms afore he planned his'n," said the
brother, In cringing voice, looking at
his sister and feeling raany svrry sh.-.
matters had taken such an unfavorable
turn. His plan had worked well, but
hadn't stopped there it had gone on
working and he couldn't see, as he
stood there scratching his head, where
the mischief would end.
81 regret exceedingly, Mrs. Bobbett,
that have subjected myself to your dis
pleasure" said the discounted Squire,
twisting his fingers together, and look
ing very miserable and red-faced.
"Well, don't stand here, then Go
home, where you belong; and you
needn't be bit surprised, sir, if have
you up before the sessions at their next
meeting" said the incensed widow,
her eyes flashing fire. Both men were
so scared that they stood like petrifed
men.
"Where in the world did this old
thing come from, I'd like to know ?"
she shrieked out, seizing hold of the
funny flannel night-cap that was perched
up on top of the foot-post, and she gave
it vicious jerk, breaking the string
that held in pucker the back part of it,
and it slipped down over the post.
Enraged, she pulled at it violently, tore
it off and twisting it up in little wad,
threw it at the 'Squire's head. clear
out, say, both of you prowling dogs ;"
and she stamped her little foot very
much in earnest, and followed them to
the head of the stairs.
"Mrs. Bobbett, my dear woman" be-
gan the Squire, alphabetically.
Away with you, don't you go to Mrs.
Bobbetting me !" said she, and she made
the dearest little fist, which she extend
ed in the direction of his face. He
lodged his head, as if a wasp was COM
ing that way. and the two men shambled
off downstairs. She lay prone ON the
floor, in her dire distress, and cried
"rivers of tears" tears of sorrow and
modification, and anger, and spite, and
grief, and disappointment. But time
brought an end to her agony-she grew
calm and her sorrow was of the subdued
kind. While she lay on the floor Sob
bling, her brother Ira was lying on the
floor too, down in the sitting-room, and
he was giving expression to the exalta-
ton that lifted him higher than he'd
ever been before.
No danger now, he thought, of the
poor orphan, Ira Josephus, being turned
out of house and home, to make room
for Squire Wilkins. :. Sold ! sold -
he CIRCULATED, as he lay on his broad