The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-05-04

sashes blew in and stats blew out; women
screamed and men shouted; while everybody
ran over everybody else 1t had taken Jennie
sixty minutes to put in three panes OF glass
j. last night, and it took those hailstones just
about three minutes to dash sixty pancs tC
atoms, while the wind spread them in powder
over the carpets and the rain rushed in tor
rents over all. There was a lull at last--allow
! ing the men to take an inventory OF bleeding
wrists. bruised fOrchcads and drenched gar
|ments; while Jessie and | gathered up the
wreck of ivic3, CallaS and fuchsiaS whose ar
tistic arrangement had been the las, feather on
the Camcl's back the night before.
Cousin Patty" said Jessie, with ill.timed
levity, was it not fortunate that we had the
windows all so nicely cleaned"
An the carpets so well beat, to be sure,
maam," chimed in Mary, who had assisted
greatly during the meiee by grabbing me about
the waist and yelling at the top of her voice:
"Oh! we'll all be kilt nam! Oh, ma'am,
we'll all be kilt"
When the Hopkinses had decided that it
was safe to depart and comparative peace set
tied down upon the dwelling | thought with
anxiety of Bell and Esther. Downing rubber
boots and waterproof l slipped quietly from
the house and succeeded in reaching their
back door The stiffness alarmed me and |
entered the kitchen without knocking. 1t was
deserted but the door into the sitting room
was open; and there was Esther leaning back
III her easy chair, very quiet and pale, while
Tom stood beside her respectfully, hat in
hand.
"Are you quite sure, Miss Esther, that you
are not afraid to be left now, and that the faint
ness will not rcturn?''
Quite sure and very grateful for all your
kindness. | shall feel moro comfortable if |
know that you have time to reach the hotel be
fore it clouds over again"
As Tom bowed and turned to go, she put out
a OBTAINING hand, smiling with a sidelong
glance that had something of entreaty in it.
Mr.. Bartlett, | don't want you to think it
was all cowardice that caused my illness to-
day. | was over tatigued yesterday, and had
DtCll Sulltl lIlS bClOIt lilc StoIul
Never fear that | shall ascrlbe any act or
emotion Of yours to an unworthy cause. | am
glad that your illness was timed so as to give
me an opportunity of proving myself IA truer
Laying her hand gently upon her lap, Tom
bowed again and was gone.
| did not feel like intruding my company
upon Esther just then, so passing into the little
left her by the storm After salts
flying myself that no great harm had been
done, and promising to send Jimmie down in
the morning to help straighten things | went
home thinking all the way of Tom, and long
ing to put to him Mortimer Lightwood's three
questions: What is to come of it? What are
you doing? Where are you going"
The eventful Monday came, and what sor-
~ show we had for all our pains! But there
was good excuse for it this time, | comforted
myself with thinking, and took the time that
was to have made the new curtains, to making
hings as comfortable as possible and re-filling
he vacant larder Train time came and pass
ID and Jimmie put an end to my lmpatience
by driving into the yard-himself and letter
he only occupants of the carriage. The letter
my dear Patty that her atiectionate
Polly was sorry that the promised visit was
not to be; but the darling daughter was taken
suddenly i'll and the doctor said that the sea
voyage must be undertaken at once or not at
Ill., When dear Patty read this, ailectionate
Polly would probably be well on her way to
New York.
With the letter in my hand | sat down be
,ide the elegantly appointed dinner table that
none but myself should enjoy or admire, and
hought over the events of the last few days.
As Il result of my thinking, You may depend
Ipon it that when next Patty Pry brings down
he household goods to make traps for jaded
mans feet; disappoints three young creatures
If happy ride, and gets herself into such
hurry on Saturday that she cannot take time to
20 to the assistance of friend in trouble, nor
o perform an act of common courtesy to al
lelicate lady friend; who may be Occasioncd
great suffering by her negligence; when next
he suffers her vanity very nearly to overcome
Ter generosity, and worldlincss to render her
Incapable of taking acceptable part in the wor-
hip of God; she will have cause of Craver i'm
,ortancc than the fear of a sister womans fini-
al criticism Yes sir, "them's my scnti-
ncnts." PATTY PRY.