The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-02-11
resolutions Ella determined upon good

uOuI VI pI0CGAVO Gully Ia tAO AAOAA
Jane was rather amazed at the clean
ing the sitting-room received at the
hands of herself and her mistress. The
cradle was banished into the adjoining
bedroom, where baby could still be heard
if he wakened; the fire-shovel assumed
its legitimate place at the hearth. 1t
rather astonished Ella herself to find
how many useless articles were "about, y
and how universally everything was in
the wrong place. But by noon the room
was bright as hands could make it, and
after luncheon q man was sent for to
tune the piano, closed for nearly a year.
The six o'clock dinner brought Win.
Ella was in the hall as he entered, and
led the way to the dining-room, where a
CHEEKY brightness reigned.
Company, Nells" queried Will, his
eyes resting upon his wife. The golden
hair-carefully curled-was gathered in
to mass with comb, and fell in pro-
fusion of natural ringlets upon Elias
shoulders, the waving bands drawn back
from her face. Her dress, of soft blue
merino, was finished with dainty ruffies
at throat and wrists, and Wills last
Christmas gift, set of canoes, held col
lar, cuffs, and dropped from the delicate
ears. Not costly dress, but carefully
adjusted, fitting exquisitely, and certain
~ most becoming.
=" No company" said Ella, "but our
selves, unless you count Harry. l have
made you some of the bread-sauce you
are so fond of, Will"
"You're a jewel. Only don't make
yourself sick in the hot kitchen. Nell!
You are not very strong, you know"
Nell blushed at that, for it reminded
her Of many a neglected duty, many a
lazy hour, for which the plea had been
offered in excuse.
"That did not hurt me-" she said, =" for
I was in the kitchen making some lemon
pies"
"Lemon-pies! You make my mouth
water. Nobody else can make them to
taste like yours"
a good cook, and Will was never sparing
of praise for the dainties she provided.
But she had left the kitchen to Jane so
long that her husband had ceased to look
for the dainty trifles that had graced his
table before Elias health had become
feeble.
Dinner over, Will, in great good humor,
went to the sitting-room. The open
CRATE threw ruddy glow upon the bright
surroundings, and his face lighted with
pleasure. But the large eyes fairly
danced as he cried: "Thc piano open! l
began to think it was buried forever"
"Not OUTER said Ella, laughing, and
yet blushing brightly; II thought from
what you said last night you would like
to hear me sing again!"
"You bet l WOULD" was the emphatic,
if not very elegant, response.
"Let's play dominoes, then, till / can
sing. 1t is too soon after dinner now.
Be merciful, for am out of practice, re-
member"
Here Jane came in with Master Harry,
ready for bed, and after soft kisses he
was taken into the next room and put
into his cradle.
"You will come up if he cries, Jane, "
Ella said, and took down the domino-box.
81 think Harry is old enough now to
spare me in the evening"" she added
in explanation.
"Little monkey, how he grows" was
the reply. "Come, what is your high
est?"
Cunningly Ella kept up the interest of
the game till nearly nine o'clock, when
Will certainly would not go out. Then
she sang for him. Her voice, clear and
sweet, had been highly cultivated, and
she was surprised to find how much
pleasure she felt herself in once more
exercising it.
Eleven o'clock chimed from the little
mantel clock when Will was pleading fol
"just one more" song, and Ella sang the
Goodnight" in answer.
"By Jove" cried Will, II was to meet
Charley at the club-room at eight
Where has the evening gomez"
"Never mind! Any other evening
will do as we'll" said Ella.
The next day was stormy. Ella ap
peared at breakfast with neatest of col
lars and cuffs, hair in knot like bur
nished gold, and face like a sunbeam
Will, who had eaten in solitary state fol
more mornings than his wife cared tc
count, was as attentive as q lover. His
parting kiss accompanied the words:
"Take nap, Nell, this morning. We
must keep you we'll, you know! ]
haven't enjoyed my breakfast so much
for year"
"Don't forget the new songs, Will. II
you will send them round l will try
them over before you come home"
"I'll send them then as / 60 down
town."
Wet and dismally muddy Will came
in from February storm of rain upon
melting snow. Ella was waiting fol
him, and drew him into the bedroom
Before the fire hung q dressing.gown o1
bright cashmere faced with blue silk
while under the dry, warm socks pail
of gorgeous slippers were toastlng.
"Good gracious! Nell, where did those
come from?" said Will, hastily drawing
off his soaked boots.
| "It is your birthday. Have you for
gotten? I bought those to-day for you.
"Out in all this rain?"
81 did not walk much. Try them on
Will
"Fine as Turk!" said Will, twistin,
before q mirror to see how the dressing
gown fitted.
"Now come and have some hot soup
l made it."
"See here, Nell, amt you doing to'
much?"
"Not bit. I needed q good toastinl
over the fire after being out and took
over soup and pudding in the kitchen
instead of over q novel here. That is al
the difference. Jane will ring the tongu
out of that bell if we don't hurry. Tha
is the third time she has summoned US.
Dinner over the new songs vera tried
| few games of checkers preceding th
music. Then there was some animate
chat about . new business interest 9
which Will spoke, and Ella confessed
having read the paper. It was one