The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1878-10-19
SCI ZECTEP
SLIPSHOD WAYS.

Mark and Jane are to be married in week.
Dropping into the Taylor sitting room one evening,
Mark found Aunt Mary assisting Jane about some
of her elaborate and mysterious bridal pre-
parations Aunt Mary was always considerate
and sympathetic in her words and ways, and Mark
liked her. He sat down by her in unwonted 81
lence and with cl0uded brow.
Jane looked at him furtively from behind the
clouds of white lace and muslin in her lap, as he
mechanically poked over the multitudinous trineS
in her dainty worl-basket, making as vague and
unsatisfactory answers to her numerous questions
as if he were guessing conundrums AFTER ten
minutes had been spent in this rather stupid way
Aunt Mary asked, suddenly
"Well, Mark, what is it z!
The Young man started and looked up at her
with smile, as bright as if a heavy fog had been
lifted off his mental horizon, as he said
"I declare, Aunt, Mary, didn't mean to speak
of It. but am as nervous as girl over-Over-
next Thursday; not the ceremony itself, mind
YOU shall really enjoy the display in the church
but 1 refer to all the life that is to follow.
"The fact is, Aunt" replied Mark, hesitatngly,
az have lust come from Cousin Henry's. AS
was passing the gate on my way here, heard the
woodshed door Open and Susan's voice call ont !:
rSupper's ready The pleasing vision of neat
din;ng. room, q cosy a-table and two happy,
contented young souls enjoying the nicely cooKed'
tastefully served evening meal rose up before me,
L
take a look at them. l ran in unceremOnlousiy,
as is nv wont. announcing myself, as IOpened the
sttine-room door, by hearty Good evening"
There was no fire in the room but plenty OF dust
and disorder.
msCome right in here shouted out Henry; and
followed his voice through the dining room, un-
warmed except by the far-away warmth OF the
kitchen fire. A large basket of rough, unfOlded
and unironed clothes was turned bottom upward
ON the extension table, an immense clothes horse
filed half the room, and every chair was loaded
with coats hats, clOaks and shawls.
"tWe lust use the dining-room as sort OF
soanOway, in the winter said Henry, and den
M here, except when we have company ii any
body runs in upon they must take us as tney
find u.s. This was not an oVer-coruiai "eIIone'
but 7 went along into the kitchen where Henry
was seating himself at the tea table, which, it you
will believe Aunt Mary, was their little hanging
cooking table covered with strip OF oil CLOTH
few old pieces of crOckery were scattered upon IL
| without regard to order
"The little bit of kitchen was untidy, the stove
| dirty and rusty There memories of Satur-
! DAYS baking in the shape and appearance OF nour'
do1ph and grease, on the floor, table and door
latches and salt Goldfish, with cotton string tied
around its tail, was hanging to the knob OF the
| closet door. Susan's hair was rough and irowzy,
and her gown was torn and sOied. Dear me, VINO
could have imagined that such state OF things
j was to follow their great and expensive weddlng
\ What picture of lOveliness the bride was! Ihey
might as we'll hire two or three rooms in HAT to
den up in as to own that large and eegantly-fur-
! n;shed house and not use it or to so misuse it,
| "This scene rather discouraged me. Were Jane
| and to deteriorate in that way l think would
rather have everything stop just where II Is:
| believe it would save world of trouble, ana we
! would 90 on looking at married life as we would
have made it, through rOse-colored glasses ); and
Mark moved uneasily, got up nervously, and 60
ing around the table, seated himself by James siue
| and tenderly kissed the pretty, reproachful face
she raised to ward him while Aund Mary was con-
sideratey looking another way.
| "Perhaps Henry is not altogether blameless II
| the premises" said Aunt Mary, coming back tt
the table with red face after energetic hunt fol
the shears; "did he fix himself up for tea 2"
"Oh, dear, no." replied Mark, she sat down ant
ate his bread and milk in his shirt-sleeves, collar
less and cravatless and with unbrushed hair anl
whiskers He would not have shown himself tt
Susan in such plight before his marriage, assure
you"
Aunt Mary looked at the pretty Swiss clock OF
| the mantei took out her gold pencil wrote litt
| note and then said to the young man 81 wish
Mark, dear, you would carry this billet over to my
nephew, Horace Alden's, for me- They live IL
the east tenement in the Rutherford Block, yo'
know, and ON the strength of your cousnship tina
is TO be, want you to run in without ceremony.
Mark came back in an hour with a radiant face
Removing his hat, he made Aunt Mary low bov
saying: 81 am very much obliged to you;
graciously given me of helping make home will
Jane here for any earthly consideration"
NIndeed," cried Aunt Mary in seeming surprise
"perhaps you will be good enough to tell us wha
has changed your mind so suddenly"
"Well, you see" said Mark, 81 ran up the stair