The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-03-30

milk, velvet mown lawns, and fresh butter.
Babys perambulator could roll over grayclcd
walks; jerome could hear the nightngaIcs
sing of a summer twilight, and watch the
moon, reflected in the streams and Aunt Pene.
lOpc could be for once fine ladies, at the head
Of a great establishment for all the Outer
bridge servants were to remain until the return
of their mistress. Vertically it seemed de
hghttul idea!
When Jerome came home ! could hardly
wait to give him his first cup Of tea before
unfolded the story Of Outcrbridge Cottage on
the Hudson And Penelope, sitting graciously
by, feeling like the fairy godmothcr who had
done it all with one whiSk of her enchanted
wand.
"Wel?" quoth |, rcstlcssly, when | had fin.
lsAed the recital.
WELL" said jerome, who by this time had
the baby on his lap and was tickling his short
ribs
"Of course we'll CO."
"Of course we won't" said this mpracti-
Icablc husband Of mine.
"Jeromc!'
Amy
"But why not"
an the first place, because I've no idea Of
your turning hOusekcepcr for any old woman
who wants to enjoy herself in France and toist
loft her household cares on somebody else
|
arrangements, instead of having them made
for me"
At this Aunt Penelope brdled Il little and
tossed her head.
looked, with eyes full of tears, at my hus-
band.
"Jeron.cn cried |, now you are unreason.
able 1t would be such fine thing for baby"
II don't see but that baby Is doing well
enough" ret0rted jerome. II do not approved
of your plans, Amy. Let Aunt Penelope &C
cept the position, if she plcaseS. am able toI
furnish home for my wife
"A home! Yes" | cried out Indignantly
"in flat, without as much back yard AS one
could bleach a tablc-cloth in
You have contrived to exist in 1t for twOI
years. said Jerome, with what seemed to me-
the most heartess indifference.
began to cry. Aunt Penelope rose up with
a great ruslling Of black silk and lilac satin
cap ribbons.
II shall certainly accept my friend Mrs.
Outerbridge's kind offer" said she, with digni-
ty, "Of course, Amy, you will do rs you
please: and am going up stairs now to pack
up. Mrs Outcrbrldge is anxious for me to
come as soon rs possible, And, of course,
Amy you will remember that | shall always /
be glad to receive you and your family as my
guests at Outcrbridgc Cottage"
| looked imporingly at Jerome,
May we 90 dear. | am SO heart hungry
for apple blossoms, and green grass and but
tcrcups," pleaded |.
"Of course if you wish it, II
"And will you come too"
But Jerome shook his head
MY evenings for the present must bc spent
in town" said he. II have some extra work
to do for Uncle Joseph which won't bear put
ting off. you go, Amy, you must 90 alone
Aunt Pen was loud in her Remuneration of
husbands in general, and Of jerome in partcu-
lar when came up to her room i
Il could have told you how it would be be
fore you were ever married to him." said Aunt
Pen, shaking her head "but-" is
you shall not talk So Aunt PEN flashed l
l. II dare say jerome is right, Only-Only-" /
And then 1 vindicatcd my cause right royal ;
~ by bursting INTO a new flood of tears. {
Aunt Penelope went away the next day, and I
lonesome enough it seemed 1t was blowy t
April morning, with Il blue sky, dapped with '
clouds, and faint sweet accents OF growing i
things in the air. Oh, how sick | was of the |
flat of payements and brick walls and all the I
items which 90 to make up city! Baby was !
more fretfu than usual, and easily persuaded f
/ lyself that he was pining. d
"Oh, JerOmeW | erred, passOnatcly, when
ut last my husband came home, with Il tired
look, and roll OF papers under his arm, "havc
we always got TO live so?'
Live how, my darling?
"CoOpcd up like rats in trap, away from a
all beautiful sights and sounds of the world f
Shut up in mere lodging hOuscl Can't we n
live in house that has at least little flower Q
border and a grape vine in the rcary"
81 hope We can afford to some time, my r
dear" said Jerome Cravcly. ;
And then he drew out his inkstand, opened c
his roll of figures and went to work Il
The April days bcamcd on, all bright skies L
soft winds and Kaleidoscope glmpses of sun I
showers; and | became almost heartsck for h
the country. d
If Jerome cared for me as he used to care. " Il
| told myself, with feyersh impotence, he L
would ut least make some effort to find home 4
where ! could be happier than in this human |
hive, where few pot plants in the window are
all | have to remind me of the green world n
outside" IL
Stung by these reflections, and vet further v
melted by a letter from Aunt Penelope, full of b
of lambs, daisies and little stream a
lets, one day packed up my vallsc. |
HALO" said jerome when he came home 4
"whcrc are you going?' i
TO Aunt Penelope, for a weeks visit; | ia
need it, and so does Berthe" Ia
And leave mel" "a
| looked kccnly at Jerome He, too, was 4
pale and thinner than his usual wont. Nights
of work and days OF counting house toll were
beginning to tell upon him.
No, no." lcricd, throwing my arms around q
him, II won't leave you, dearcst-not if | new. :
er see the country again b
That's my own brave little girl" said Jc. !
rome, stroking back my hair with loving! |
touch wait week, dear, and I'll take you i
myself for little trip" /
SO waited. |
The day-week came, 10 my infinite delight {
dressed baby in a long white frock, with blue !
ribbon sash and shoulder knots, and put ON Il
my own dainty little spring hat trimmed with i
prmroses and away We rolled in comfort i
able open carriagc-Icromc, Berthe, and /
until We came to the prettest birds nest of a 9
cottage IN the world, just "A short distance out 1
OF the town, where vines garlanded the porch, q
and Little lawn eXtcnded down 20 a crystal O