The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-02-14
BLoOMsBURG, PA. FRIDAY. FEBRUARY H. 1870

cd by few potatoes. Elmer and Lamarque
took their seats with polite unconsciousness,
but Julius looked black as thunder
cloud.
Melissa; what does this mean p he whisp-
cred.
Does what mean, my love p asked Me-
lissa, with a face of the most innocent won
der in the world.
Just at that moment the little Ives burst
into the room shabby and patched. As a
general thing Julius was passing proud of
his pretty, well dressed children.
go and get dressed my dears, he said
steruly. What on earth does nurse mean
by allowing you to come down stairs in this
outlandish manner p
we are drethed, papa lisped out Master
July, with the boldness Of conscious recti-
tude. Mamma laid out the clothes for nth.
She thays ith econ-econ-'
But Mr.. Julius Ives hurried and hustled
the little ones out of the room without any
further explanation.
Melissa he said earnestly, drawing his
wife to one side, into the bay window, what
is the matter Are you crazy y9'
Not crazy, love- sweetly answered Me.
lissa, only trying to follow the example of
Mrs. Jones, and retrench.'
But, my dear
Pardon me, Julius you said that my
extravagant housekeeping was wasting you
out of house and home. think after this
you will hardly venture to make that accusa-
ton second time
MY dear, Ill was fool said Julius
with with choking sensation under his era
vat WON'T interfere in housekeeping af-
fairs again, promise you. am quite con-
vinced that know nething whatever about
the subject. Hereafter will leave the mat
ter entirely in your hands,
Entirely and without interference? asked
Mrs. Ives doubtfully.
Entirely and without interference said
Mr.. Ives decisively.
Mrs. Ives turned to her puzzled guests
Gentlemen, will you please walk into the
other room p she asked with a calm self.
possession that rather astonished them. As
she spoke, the folding doors were thrown
back, revealing an elegant little apartment
beyond. Julius walked to the head of the
table with a most whimsical face. There
were roast fowls and ham, while various
vegetables were arrayed in tempting proxi-
nifty. The glass and silver were all in a
glitter, and dainty little desert was neatly
arranged on the side board, Julius Ives
whole face cleared with magical promptitude.
He turned round and gave his wife hearty
kiss before he commenced to carve the tur-
key.
What Messrs, Elmer and Lamarque
thought just then is not on record; but when
Melissa came in subsequently to the after
dinner cigars. with the little Iveses cluster.
ing about her as fresh and rosy as so many
pink and white daisies, they must have con.
cluded that Julius knew what he was about
when he married that pretty woman, with
her brown eyes and coral.red mouth.
And before the evening was out, Mr.. Ives
concluded that his domestic discontinue
was too good joke to keep to himself, and
so conided the whole story to his friends.
of course Mrs. Ives was right said FL
mer.
TO be sure she was,' assented Lamargue.
I tell you, julie, you made donkey of your
self that time.
Nor did Mr.. Ives venture to deny the self
evident fact. From that day TO this he has
never word-good, bad,or Indifferent
against the house keeping bills.