The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-02-20

GU JOuhS Wlles
Just give me the key of the back
stairway door," said Miss Pry. CT will
secrete myself in the china closet that
opens out of the dining-room. I'll
listen. I'll find out the secrets of the
whole tribe and generation of 'em. And
l will tell you every single word l
hear"
"But would that be honorable ?'' hes
itated Mrs. Wrinkfield.
Honorable ~ dolefully repeated Miss
Pry. My poor dear, don't you know
that us women must avail ourselves of
every possible means of keeping even
with those tyrants, the men ?''
Il suppose so," said Mrs. Wrinkfield,
restlessly twining and INTERVIEWING her
fingers. But never could have be-
lieved that Charles would treat me so.''
They're all alike" said Miss Pry.-
And we single women are deal bet
ter off. 1 wouldn't marry, not if forty
men were to go down on their knees to
me at oncel No, indeed value my
own independence q deal too much for
thatp'
And Miss Pry tossed her head with a
sniff, half of triumph, half disdain.
Mrs. Wrinkfield gave her the key
She knew she was soft-hearted, easily
deluded little thing, and she had great
respect for Miss Patty Pry's discrimina-
ton and Judgment. But her conscience
pricked her a little when Wrinkfield
tucked her up in the railway car so COST
ly, and bought oranges for the baby and
little Minnie. She would have con-
fessed all if Miss Patty had not been
down there to see her off.
''I shall count every moment until you
come back, Mary, said Wrinkfield, with
a farewell kiss.
Ah-h-h! the deceiverl' Missed
Miss Pry, on the other side.
Just about dusk Miss Pry carefully
made her way into the china closet and
crept back as much out of sight as pos
sible to avoid being discovered by Bar
bara, the deft little maid, as she tripped
to and fro with the table furniture.
But it won't be long," thought Miss
Patty Pry. "The guests will soon begin
to arrive
Barbara put coal on the CRATE, hung
up the hearth brush, and withdrew. Mr..
Wrinkfield lighted his cigar, and began
to smoke and read, his slippered feet on
the fender. Miss Pry regarded him in
tently through the crack of the door.
Isn't he going to change his coat or
dress himself up?" she asked herself.
Upon my word, he's taking matters
very coolly."
Seven O'Clock struck-eight o'clock
nine o'clock-ten o'clock, and still no
company arrived. Miss Pry began to
fidget fearfully in her cramped up little
den, but still Mr.. Wrinkfield read COM
posedly on, turning leaf after leaf, with
a serenity which was aggravating in the
highest degree to Miss Pry.
Eleven Mr.. Wrinkfield rose, with
prodigious yawn, turned down the gas,
and locked the china closet door on the
ontside.
Then he went up stairs, thinking that
the silver was quite safe in the closet,
and little dreaming of the other valuable
that was incarcerated there.
The next morning, just as Mr.. Wrink-
field was taking in the morning paper,
little Barbara came to him: u Iff 81
90, sir" said she, 81 think there's
burglars in the china closet Such
groaning and shrieking there is therel'
"But it is locked,'' said Mr.. Wrink-
field. "And I've got the key in my
pocket" ...-,.
"Then they're locked in, sir" said
little Barbara, as pale as sheet. so,
sir, the noise is perfectly awful. Won't
you please come and listen for yourself,
sir ?n Iti.
MIR. Wrinkfield got the revolver and
the Kitchen poker, and thus armed UNI
locked the closet. There, ciouched up
in one corner, with a pocket handker-
chief pressed to her face, sat Miss Patty
Pry, the victim of a sharp attack Of
neuralgia in the jawbone, "a
s HoLlol ~ shouted Mr.. Wrinkfeld,
scarcely able TO believe his own eyes.
G Miss Pryl" q0rull ID sIHo ai 3.
'sI was locked in by mistake, . said
Miss Pry, between the jerks, Of pain.
Please let me out. "seN dfssH .aeaoa
At the same moment there was az turn
moil ON the stairs Afrs. Wrinkfeld and
the babies, returning by the early train.
The little wife flew into her husbands
arms. Fo ~ \ R9GRh siihuI fua