River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-09-05
SLIPSHOD WAYS.
MRS. ANNE PRESTON.

week. Dropping into the Taylor sitting
room one evening, Mark found Aunt Mary
assisting Jane about some of her elabor
ale and mysterious brid4l preparations
Aunt Mary was always corsiderate anC
sympathetic in her words aud ways, anC
Mark liked her. He sat down by hel
NV in uuwonted silence, and with 1
clouded brow.
Jane looked at him furtively from be
hind the clouds of white lace and muslin
10 her lap, as he mechanically pokeC
over the multitudinious trifles in heI
dainty work basket, making as vague
and unsatisfactory answers 10 her num-
eTous questions as if be were guessing
conundrums. After ten minutes had been
spent in this rather stupid way, Aunt
Mary asked, suddenly:
"Well, Mark, what is it,
The young man started, and looked at
her with smile as bright as if heavy
fog had been lifted off his mental horizon
as he said:
II declare Aunt Mary, didn't mean
10 speak OF it, nut | am as nervous as q
girl over-over-nex Thursday; not the
ceremony itself, mind you; shall really
enjoy the display in the ehurch--but !
refer TO all the Inf. that is TO follow"
Marriage is indeed the most import
ant event of lifetime, and the outlook
10 every reflective mind, Rust
re serious one, said the sweet faced old
lady; "but may | ask what has brough,
ap the subject SO impressively before you
to-nightl'
S,1'h, faot ;r A,,,+ Me-, i,ra,,I;.j NTarl,
besitatingly, Il have just come from
Cousin Iienry's. As | was passing the
gate on my way here, | heard the wood
shed door open, and Susan voice call
ont, 'Suppers ready The pleasing VS.
ion OF a neat dining room, cOsey tea TIA
l,le, and two happy, cOntente young
souls enjoying the nicely cooked, taste
fully served evening meal rose up before
Inc, and | could not resist the impulse to
tara back and take look at them. l
ian in BnceremoniC usly, as in my wont,
announcing myself. as | opened the sit
tlng-ro0n door, by a hearty Good even
ug' TheJe was no tie in the room, but
pienty OF dust al d disorder.
Come right in here" shouted out
Henry, and followed his vo ce through
the diniBg-TOnm, unwarmed except by
the fdr-away warmth Of the kitchen fire.
4 large basket of rough, unfolded, and
unironed clothes was turned bottom
wards on the extension table, an immense
ciothes-horse filed half the room, and
every CHAIR was loaded with coats, hats.
cloaks and shawls.
We Just use the dining-room as q sort OF
"gangR in he winter said Henry
and den up here, except when we have
company II any body runs in upon US,
they must take us as they find us This
was not an over-cordial welcome, but
vent along into the kitchen, where Henry
was seating himself at the tea able which,
II ycu will believe me, Aunt Mary, was
their little hangniug cooking-table Gov
cred over with strip Of OF cloth. 4 few
odd pieces of crockery we're scattered up
on it without regard TO order.
"The hole bit Of kitchen was untidy,
the stove dirty and rusty. There W re
memories of Saturdays baking In the
shape and appearance of flour, dough and
grease on the flour, table and door latches,
and sail cod fish, with a cotton string
tied around its tail, was hanging to the
knob of the closet door. Susan's hair
vas rough and frowsy, and her gown was
torn aud soiled. Dear me. who could
have imagined that such state of things
was 50 soon To follow their great ana ex-
pensive wedding! What a picture Of
inveiness the bride was They might as
we'll hire two or three rooms in a flat to
'Gen mp in as to own that large, elegant
Is. furnished house and not use it, or tC
81 misuse it.
This scene rather discouraged me
Were Jane and l to deteriorate in that
way, think | would rather have every
thing stop Just where it is. believe il
would save us a world of trouble, and We
would go on looking at married life, as
we would have made It, through rose
colored glasses . and Mark moved uneas
ily. got up nervousIy, and going around
the table. seated himself by James side
and tendevly kissed the pretty, reproach-
ful face she raised toward him, while
Aunt Mary was considerably looking
another way.
"Perhaps Henry is not altogether
hlameless in the premises" said Aunt
Mary, coming back to the table with 8
red tece at er an energetic hunt for tho
shears; "did he fix himself up for tea!"
20, dear, no, replied Mari; "he sal
down and ate his bread and milk in his
,airt sleeves, coIarless and cravatless, and
with unbrushed hair and whIskers. He
would not have shown himself to Susan
in such plight before his marriage,
assure you
Aunt Mary looked at the pretty Susie:
I clock on the mantcl, took out her GOLD
| pencil, wrote little note, and then salC
to the young man, II wish, Mark, dear
| Won would carry this billet over TO my
nephew, Horace Alden's. for me. They
| live in the east tenement in the RuIher
fcrd Block, you know, and on the strength
| of your cDusinship that is to be, | war
Won to run in without ceremony
Mark came back in ha,f an hour witt
1 a radiant face. Removing his hat, ht
made Aunt Mary low bow, saying, an
very much Obliged 10 you; wouldn,
surrender toe opportunity that may o'
graciously given me of helping make {
home with Jane here for any earthly con
sideration.'
Indeed" cried Aunt Mary, in seem
ING surprise, perhaps you viii be goot
enough 10 tell us what has changed you
mind so suddenly"
well. YOU see" said Mark, II ran ~
stats and opened the door at the top,
YOU told me. and such a charming pc
| lure that | saw. A llvins-rocm, Ielghe
parlor, diniDg-room nor kitchen, but
happy combination Of the three, mad
attractive and homelike by perfect neat
ness. order and good taste. Such cor
dial welcome that L had, to be sure.
vas heartily ashamed when it came owe
nae how we'll used to know both HOr
ace and his charming wife, and that
had not called on them before.
Il gave Juia your note, and she rea'
i. with a little laugh, and insisted that
should take cf my overcaat and take tc
with them. The cosev round table, wit
its snow-shIte cloth and pretty tea-ser
vice, looked so inviting could not resis
the temptation. Horace does not &c
our of the store till seven; he sees TO tn
closing up, so we have cur tea at bali
past seven Mrs. Alden said. Julia
dress was plain, but tasty and neat, Sc
of by a dainty white apr IN, and her sim
pie toilet was completed by geraniuI
leaf and verbena blossom IN her shinin
hair. Horace, in handsome dressing
gown and embroidered slippers, locke
every inch a gentleman, as he is.
"The situation made us confidential, an
asked Mrs. Alden how she had man
aged to settle down into being such
eondeIful little housekeeper, and sh