The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-11-01

Taken Mt His Word.

A wide kitchen, with breath OF
grape blossoms coming in at the open win.
dows and glistening tin pan on the table,
full OF berries waiting to be stemmed-this
is our scene; and our dramatis persona con-
sists OF Mrs. Perkins, who drowsily click
ing knitting needles keeps time to the pur
of the overgrown Maltese cat, and pretty
young girl, with rather flushed face who
had just entered from 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 u.s." was the answer.
"Glory be thanked for that, at least
said Mrs. Perkins, apparently impaling her.
self on long knitting needle which, how
ever, entered harmlessly into the horn sheath
that she wore at her side, incased in a scol-
loped red flannel. There will be five min.
utes of peace, at least. You're tired amt
you, Dora?"
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 tender, soft-eyed
girl IS, with complexion ofpearly clear
ness, and rose apiece on her cheeks-a girl
with poor straight nose and dimp,e on
her chin, and pretty, pleading way of
looking at you when she spoke. She sat
down beside the window, where the migno-
nette-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.
offs shame, so it u.s." said Mrs. Perkins,
emphatically. a man hasn't no business
to be so tryln'-no,.n mot if he was sick forty
times over! Scold, snap, snarl-this amt
right and t'other thing is wrong! 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 mean to
compare my Uncle Joseph with so obnox-
ious parsonage as you allude to ?" she said
demurely.
"Well," said Mrs. Perkins refectively
"they amt so unlike, after all. | declare
when he gets in his tantrums, I've two
minds and a-half to give him good shak
in. There amt no sense in mans being
so unreasonable. You can't please him no
way you fix it."
eve can at least try, Mrs. Perkins"
eyes, and that's jest what's spilin' him.
He knows very well that if he was to want
the moon, you'd hunt up the longest step
| ladder and try to reach it down. 1t ALWAYS
| oh 70 lat IL -
want, and your Uncle Joseph amt nothn'
but grown-up child"
"But | don't let him have all he wants,
Mrs. Perkins"
Sand pretty kettle o. fish there'd be if
| you did. Humph !"
And the old house keeper pounded upon
! her ball as if she had, for moment, iden
tilted it with the parsonage under discus,
sion.
sit mightn't be such bad idea" said
| Theodore, after a moments thoughtful sill
! ence.
"Are you crazy9" demanded Mrs. Per-
kins, tartly.
"Hush !" Theodore started from her seat
with unified finger. "He is awake; he
wants me-"
And she was gone, swift, noiseess as a
white winged dove, before Mrs. Perkins
could volunteer to go in her stead.
YES" said Mrs. Perkins to herself, 'it is
a shame. He seems to think she's made OF
cast-iron and India .rubber-the old tor
ment !"
With this rather illogical expression OF
her opinion, Mrs Perkins resumed her knit
ting more vigorously than ever.
Meanwhile Theodore fastened up stairs
into closely curtained sick room, where
a querulous old gentleman lay tortured
with great deal of "hypo" and 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 up into the semblance
of u nut-cracker as his niece hurriedy en-
tered the apartment and came to his bed
side.
give been humping on the floor till my
arms are ready to drop out of their sockets'
he groaned. "Arc you all deaf down stairsi
or has old Perkins forgotten there is any
one in the world but herself and her snuff.
box"
"rm very sorry, uncle"
factions speak louder than words =
snarled Uncle Joseph, ungraciously.
"How do you feel now, Uncle Joseph p
asked Theodore, soothingly.
"Im worse !"
"Are you ?"
pulse higher -skin hot-face flushed; O.
course Pm worse. This COMPOUNDED ho
room is enough to throw any one into 9
fever! Open every door and window
quick! |"
Without an instant's hesitation Theodore
unbarred the blinds, and threw open thu
four large windows and two doors. TIT
light from the western sky streamed like {
| food of fiery radiance into the room; thu