The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-02-06
TAKEN AT HIS WORD.

TAKEN AT HIS WORD.
A wide cook kitchen, with breath Of
grape blossoms coming in at the open
windows, and a glistening tin pan on
the table full of dewy. scarlet straw
berries waiting to be hulled-this is our
scene; and our dramatis person9 con-
sist of Mrs. Perkins, whose drowsily-
clicking knitting-needles, keep time to
the purr of the overgrown Maltese cat,
and pretty young girl with rather a
flushed face, who had just entered from
u doorway leading to the hall.
"Well," said Mrs. Perkins, looking
up with that ineffably wise expression
which is impaired to the human
countenance by round silver spectacles
perched obliquely on the bridge of the
nose. "he amt asleep, is he?"
eyes, he is, was the answer.
"Glory be thanked for that, at least, "
said Mrs. Perkins, apparently impaling
herself on long knitting needle. which,
however, entered harmlessly into the
horn sheath that she wore at her side,
encased III a scallcped red flannel.
"There will be five minutes of peace, ut
least. You're tired, amt you, Dora p
eyes," said Theodore White, II am
rather tired"
But her languid voice spoke plainly
that the more accurate phrase would
have been every tired"
Theodore White was a tender, soft
eyed girl of eighteen, with complexion
of pearly clearness, and rose apiece on
her cheeks-a girl with pure, straight
nose and dimple on her chin, and a
pretty, pleading way OF looking at you
when she spoke. She sat down beside
the window, where the mignonnette-
scented grape blossoms were swaying in
the summer air, and leaned her forehead
against the easement.
Mrs. Perkins eyed her with an owl.
like glance of sympathy.
"Its a shame, 80 it is" said Mrs.
Perkins, emphatically. GA man hasn't
no business to be 80 tryin'-no, not il
he was sick forty times over Scold,
snap, snarl-this amt right and t'othel
thing is wronel That's the way he
keeps it up. I'd as soon wait on the
old boy himself"
Theodore smiled family, and arched
her eyebrows.
"Why, Mrs. Perkins, you don't NEAR
to compare my Uncle Joseph with &C
obnoxious a parsonage as you allude
?" she said demurely.
"Well," said Mrs. Perkins, reflective.
". "they amt so unlike, after all. ]
declare, sometimes, when he gets in his
tantrums, I've two minds and a half tt
give him O good shakin'. There AIM
no sense in mans bein' so unreason
able. You can't please him no way you
can fix it."
"We can at least try, Mrs. Perkins.
eyes. and that's jest what's a spilin
him. He knows very well that if ht
was to want the moon, you'd hunt uF
the longest step ladder and try to reach
it down. Ital'avs did spoil children te
let 'em have all they want, and your Uncle
Joseph amt nothin' but a grown-ur
child"
"But don't let him have all he
wants, Mrs. Perkins.
And pretty kettle O fish there'o
be if you did. Humph y and the old
housekeeper pounced upon her ball as
if she had, for moment. identified II
with the parsonage under discussion.
cit mightn't he such a bad idea,
said Theodore, after moments thought
full silence.
"Be you crazy demanded Mrs.
Perkins, tartly.
"Hush |" Theodore started from he,
scat with uplifted finger. "He is
awake; he wants me"
And she was gone, swift, noiseless as
white-winged dove, before Mrs. Per.
kins could volunteer to 60 in her stead.
"Yes," said Mrs. Perkins to herself,
cit is "a shame. He seems to think she's
made of cast iron and India rubbcr-the
old torment !"
With this rather illogical expression
of her opinion, Mrs. Perkins resumed
her knitting III re vigorously than
ever.
Meanwhile Theodore hastened up
stairs into closely curtained sick-room,
where querrulous old gentleman lay,
tortured with a great deal OF "hvpo
and a very little actual illness. But
Uncle Joseph White chose to believe
that he was very i'll +; and who, pray,
was better Judge of the state OF his
bodily health than himself?
He screwed his face mp into the sem
hlance of nut-cracker as his niece hur'
riedly entered the apartment and came
to his bedside.
Give been humping on the floor till
my arms are ready to drop ont of their
sockets!" he groaned. care YOU all
deaf down stairs or has old Perkins
forgotten there is any one in the world
but herself and her snuff.box?"
"I'm very sorry, uncle2"
factions sreak louder than words !!
snarled Uncle Joseph, ungraciouslv.
"How do you feel now, Uncle
Joseph ?" asked Theodore, soothingly.
"I'm worse |"
care you p
"Pllse higher-skin hot-face flush
ed; of course I'm worse. This con
founded hot room is enough to throw
any one into fever q! Open every door
and window-quick !"
Without nm instant's hesitation Theo-
dora unbarred the blinds, and threw
open the four large windows and two
doors. The light from the western SKY
steamed like a food of fiery radiance
into the room the draft, whirline
through, caught up newspapers, hutter
ed the leaves of books, and even upset
Uncle Joseph's pet bottle of medicine.
"O-w-w-w!" roared the sick mai
with vehemence, that proved his lungs
at least to be quite free from disease
edo you want to blind me-to blow mt
away2"
"You told me to do it, Uncle
Joseph |"
"Shut the windows, quick-draw tn
curtains p groaned Uncle Joseph
"Whos that battering down the door I
"It's only very gentle knocking
uncle" ..
"Then, I'm nervous. Go and see |"
Presently Thesdora returned.
"It's Major Crowfoot, uncle; b
sends his compliments, and wishes t.
learn how you are"
| SToll 1,So, 70 M m f1,o ,1or,ca ~