Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-05-28
SCELLANE GUS.
WORKING BOTH WAYS.


SgSc friend, Josiah Clemmouts, on the same
day, in the same church, married Augusta
Lawton and her dearest friend, Anathusia
Meakim, contract was made between the
two ooupies--a contract entirely independent
of that which in the eye of tho law they had
made when each answered, ri WILL" in res
ply to the somewhat inquisitive question put
by the clergyman in regard to their future
intentions as to supporting, loving and hon.
oring each other. 1t was this They bound
themselves that if one family had son and
the other daughter, that son and daughter,
when they arrived at a proper age, should
become man and wife. There was nothing
SO novel or original in such an agreement; if
there had been, the parties to tho contract
would never have made it for they were nei-
ther novel nor original in anything-they
were simply maudlin with romance, and this
covenant was merely tho effect of which a
strict attention to novels, loye>tales and plays
was the cause.
So much by way of prologue. Now for
our story.
Flipper and Clemments had died full of
years and gout and rheumatism, and left
each large fortune to his wife. They had
each left, as well, a child-Flipper daugh-
ter named Kittie, Clemmcnts, son named
Richard, otherwise Dick. The old men had
forgotten long before their deaths all about
the agreement on their wedding day, but
not so with the mothers. They had been in
correspondence the last Eve years abou. moth
ing else. The children had now reached the
age of ma jority, and the mothers were anx-
ious for tho contamination of the plan.
"Mother," said Dick. at the breakfast ta-
Bile, "there's no use urging that girl Kitty's
cuif for | I haro
GLOW do you know, my son? You have
not seen her for twelve years, and you might
be delighted with her." returned Mrs. Glenn
ments, coaxiugly.
"I know l shouldn't" Dick said. She
was a red d-headed abomination when she was
a child, and Pm certain she's the same now"
"Oh Richard !"
Gwen if she was as handsome as Hebe, I
wouldn't marry her. I'd feel disgusted the
moment l met her, and SO would she if she
had any sense. We'd be introduced, we'd
look at each other, aud say to ourselves 'And
this is the person I've got to marry then
We would hate each other"
"Well, it seems to me. Dick, that you might
at least wait until you do see each other be-
fore you make up your mind. This is too
sad" whined Mrs. Clemments, wipipg her
eyes with her napkin, and not discovering
her mistake until she rubbed some mustard
into her blue orbs, which occasioned the use of
her handkerchiefin good earnest-'just when
I thought had such good news for you"
"What is the newsY'
"She's coming here"
"Who? Kitty Flipper ?"
"Yes. received letter this morning
from her mother, saying Kittie would start
in day or two"
go Lord !" groaned Dick. "You must
stop her," he said seriously. "1f she comes,
l go. know what she'll be; stuckup lit
tie MINK, full of French airs she's acquired
by studying abroad for twelve years. She'll
swear Mon Dieu,' ina soi,' and she'll talk
about her Daivette, and her gaucherie and
her chic J.; she'll speak bad French in the
present tense, indicative mood, of the first
conjugStion, and she'll commence all her
questions with Esber,' and then stick ike the
young man at Veneerings' party. I shsn't
see her, that's settled. Write to Mrs. Flip
per (mellifuous appellation } and say we
are going on visit aud we don't know when
We will return or, better, go to town, see
Mrs. F., explain to her openly that will
never marry Frenchiied wax. doll, but that
l want a wife who knows how to keep house
in order, can cook, preserve, bake, darn, sew,
mend, dust, sweep, and as the Advertisements
say, make herself generally useful. In short
woman like my respected ma aud, so you
may kill two birds with one stone, find cook
that can cook and bring her back with you.
An idea seemed to strike Mrs. Clemments,
and she answered gsyly:
"WelI, Dick, everything is for the best.
If you won't marry her, you won't, SO III do
as you say"
After breakfast she made hurried toilet,
and took the first train for the city. Toward
evening she returned with as pretty little
femininity as Dick had ever seen withai.-
The dainty, curly-baired little wotnan went
straightway to the kitchen, and then Mrs:
Clemmepts Informed her son that she had
made matters all right with Mrs. Flipper,
and the pretty conglomeration of muslin,
curls, and pink and white was new cook
she had engaged.
Ia