Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-06-14

Home to an early dinner came
Brante Garnet, greeting the pretty nook
and group within it with the satisfied
air of man who fancies himself blest
with the dearest wife, the incest sister,
and the smartest baby in the universe.
This last possession he caught in his
arms unceremoniously, and began tos-
sing it in the air. Then he walked to
Lydia's fower-stand, and showered
down some bright leaves for the young
gentleman's diversion. The scattering
reminds him of gathering, perhaps,
for he turned toward his wife.
"Oh, Lydia the convention meets
here next Thursday, you know"
"Does it? I'd forgotten"
"And there are the delegates to be
accommodated, you see."
Mr.. Garnett paused, brit Mistress Ly-
dia only looked up with smiling un-
concern that conveyed no hope of her
making a suggestion, Or taking hint,
SO he went on:
"The committee wanted to know if
we could take some; and Thought per-
haps.we could've or three"
Nell drew down the corners of her
mouth, and an expression of dismay
fitted over Lydia's face.
"Why, thought said Mr.. Garnet,
noticing these signs" of course, you
needn't have them if you don't want to
to-but | thought you said last year
that we could have accommodated some
of them as we'll as not
eyes, Brante, but that was later in
the season. We were through our
housekeeping, and everything looked
nicely"
ooh, if that is all you needn't be
troubled p exclaimed the gentleman,
relieved. "It is good enough for any
body now. don't see but everything
is all right He glanced first at the
ceiling and then at the baby, and neither
Of them had fallen.
"Noting to have convention in ones
own town is voting to do all the work
while somebody else has all the fun,"
remarked Nell, stirring her coffee medi-
tatively. "You can't see and hear what
is done; you can only stay at home and
take care Of those who are doing it.
It's a sort of diluted glory, like Mrs.
Smiths. She said she didn't know
Washington Irving herself, but she had
walked out of church behind a woman
who had !"
"I was almost as fortunate as that
myself" laughed Braute, "for 1 slept in
a room that he had once occupied. At
least the landlord said that Mr.. Irving
had the room whenever he stopped
there, but after / had tried it for one
night, I had strong suspicion that he
didn't stop there often"
The conversation wandered from
celebrated persons to noted places, and
then drifted away to the trio's pet plans
for visiting these last, and the compar-
ing of various charming routes for their
imaginary trip, prolonged the dinner
marvelously.
''Td no idea it was so late," said Ly-
dia when Brante left them at last.
:You will hardly make any calls to-
day; even on your delectablc neighbor
across the street."
"No, Nell, if there are to be strangers
here we must re-arrange some of the
rooms little" Lydia began very
thoughtfully, "Brante dosen't under
stand about the it, of course; but things
do seem smoked and dusty, and not as
nice as usual, SD late in the season.
Those curtains in the front chamber
must be taken down, washed and put
up fresh"
GAS if the wise specialized gentlemen
that are coming would have any eyes
for such vanities," interposed Nell. cit
will be neatness wasted on desert air"
cit will do me some good at least"
insisted Lydia. 81 don't intend to at
tempt MUCH hough-only few things"
But "few" was a very indefinite
term in Lydia's vocabulary.
eff her fingers touched single link,
she must go the end of the chain" said
her sister, disconsolately.
And so it happened that when cur
| tains were taken down the next day,
the opportunity for washing the win
dows proved too fair to be lost. Then
with windows and shutters both open,
every spot upon the walls became
plainly visible, and must necessarily re-
ceive hydrophobic treatment. Other
rooms came in for a share of atten-
ton, and it was quite late in the after
noon that Lydia, with handkerchief
still fastened over her brown braids,
was hanging the pictures back in
place, while Nell was driving the final
tack in a strip Of drugget.
In upon them, unceremoniously as
before, came the little visitor from the
opposite house-Dick. He came quite
into the room this time, and looked
admiringly at the pictures before he
spoke.
"Uncle Peter wants to know if he
can borrer the loan of half loaf of
bread ?"
can knife to spread 'em," added
Nell, soto voce.
"Cause he hadn't got his bakin'
DONE" pursued Dick"
eyes; I'll ask Bridget to get it for
"Nan."
"And who is Nan; your sister,"
you. Who is sick at your house?"
questioned Lydia.
"No, she's he's-Uncle Peters her
faith err" said Dick, growing rather con-
fused in his efforts to explain the rela-
tionship.
"Is she very sick?"
l