The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-07-02

CittueSt tllUb ever WIS, Wneu u NOlelt
ring Of the bell was resounded through
out the house, making our hero start rs
if he had been surprised in some dis
honorable act.
He looked toward the door, then ut his
hands, and finally Mt n large stain OH his
shirt bosom, which bore strong re-
semblance to backing.
81 won't go! they may ring all day if
they like" he exclaimed impatiently,
going to the wash basin and trying to
bring his hands to their accustomed
color; but second ring warned him that
some person without was not inclined to
"give up So"
"Confound that tintinabulum! sup
pose it's some old man for boots, clothes,
grease or rags. Ii he does it again I'll
bring suit of assault and battery !"
cried our incipient housekeeper, making
a few desperate dashes ut the dishcloth,
which he mistOOk for the towel and hur-
rying toward the door, which he opened
with a trembling hand.
"Ah, good morning, squire" sail
well-dressed, good-looking young lady,
who evidently expected to see somebody
else appear. sis Mrs. Crosby in?"
"Yes-I-nO, she isn't in" he STAN
mered, for, truth to tell, the squire was
thinking more of his personal appear
ancc than his wife's absence; besides, he
imagined that the young lady looked at
him with some curiosity, and this en-
barrasscd him the more.
Now il must be observed that our hero
was remarkable for the neatness of his
dress, and the stain upon the linen as
sumed enormous dimensions under the
searching glance of his visitor. He
dropped his eyes, and forgot the stain in
contemplating his sooty hands.
Excuse the disorder of my dress this
morning, Miss Hayes, he said. 81 was
so unfortunate as to upset the inkstand
Just as yOu rang, and you see the effects
of the accident"
This, il must be confessed, was rather
departure from the truth. But the
squire couldn't think of any other way to
excuse himself from the dilemma, and he
was not disposed to confess the exact
state of the case to his fair-eyed friend,
who, after making few common place
remarks, took her leave.
"What an ingenious excuse that was!
Nobody buta lawyer would have thought
of it," soliloquized our hero, glancing
complacently in mirror pertaining to a
hat-tree. Imagine his modification Mt
discerning black streak across his face,
which gave it most ludicrous aspect.
No worder the young lady looked ut him
with curiosity, for nothing probably but
good manners restrained her from q
hearty laugh.
Squire Crosby went back to the
kitchen with q slow step. To his utter
establishment it was II O'Clock, and he
had quite forgotten dinner. The fire
was entirely out, the room was in sad
plight, the list of duties not half com
pleted, and the meat, vegetables, etc,
remained untouched.
His zeal had cooled amazingly since
morning, and he half repentel acceding
TO his wife's proposition. He had ex-
pccted to see her enter every moment,
express herself satisfied with the expert
ment, and desire him i'll a very humble
manner to go back to the Office and re-
sumo his legitimate sphere of action.
But Mrs Crosby did not appear, and
he WAS at length obliged to collect his
fire.
After wearing out his patience he sue
ceeded in his undertaking, and consigned
the meat to cold oven. 1t was too late
to think of pudding. Mrs. Crosby
must excuse that item, although he had
always expected it of her, under all cir
cumstances. He began to think that it
required some ingenuity and calculation
TO dispose of 30 many duties in morn
ing, and to have some faint suspicion
that housekeeping wasn't such fine
joke after ALL He wondered how Mrs.
Crosby prospered and whether she didn't
wish herself Mt home; busted himself in
anticipating how frightened she would
be at finding how much work had been
laid out, and how completely nonplussed
she must inevitably appear, if client
should happen to call for advice. This
latter was such an amusing idea that our
lawyer rubbed his hands together and
laughed to himself at the ridiculous
figure which he fancied Mrs. Crosby was
about that time making.
Leaving the squire to work out the
rest of the items, We will attend to the
footsteps of Mrs. Crosby to her hus-
bands Office, and note her experience
there.
Tom Pettifogger, the lawyers clerk,
stated somewhat perseveringly when he
saw Mrs. Squire Crosby enter the Office
with an assured steps, and proceed to
hang up her bonnet and shawl with u
genuine business air.
"Tom," said Mrs. Crosby, swapping
her fingers, carelessly, sis this Office in
perfect Order?"
"Yes, ma'am," replied the infant bar
rister, more surprised.
81 beg leave to differ with You, sir.
Do you see these papers scattered all
about here? Pick them up and file them
in proper order"
"Where is the-squire ?" asked petit
logger, with mouth agape.
"Tm squire to-day, Tom, and you are
my man of business. Mr.. Crosby told
me that you had a memorandum of to-
days work. Produce it, if there's such
thing"
Pettifogger fumbled about awhile
among the papers, and succeeded in find
ing the document III question. With the
faintest possible smile that woman
could produce, Mrs. Squire Crosby read
as follows:
Ncms-Habeas corpus for Levi Lewis.
A writ of replevin for the distress of
Simeon Snooks. Fill out a quit-claim
deed for John Styles. Advise Captain
Saunders about action for damages
against farmer Jones. A writ of attach
ment in the case of Brown w. Smith.
Examine letters respecting Miss Bright's
breach of promise case. Send Higgins
bill. Write threatening letter to Mr..
Thompson. Terrify Joe Bunker, if pos
sible. Respectfully invite Col. Drum
mer to call and settle Mai. Green's bill,
To take dispositions in Virgins SANDER
case. Get up an issue between Town.
send and Ferris. Distress the widow
Sanburn. Make out costs and damages
in case of FOlger and Folsom. Examine
the title of lands lying north of the Mis-
tleto river, claimed by Talbot and Temp
kins. Kick Bill Buzzleton firm of Buz-
zleton & Buggs) out of the Office. Brow
beat Mrs. Chandler for her landlord
Hoggin. Tweak Johnson's nose. The
above to be done besides attending IL
| incidental Office as it may occur.
| "Well, here's work !" thought oui
lady her ardor considerable cooled by
this formidable array of duties. "Tom
do You know much?" she asked, recov
ering her self-possession.
Tom didn't seem to know whether III
did or not-yawned twice-but expressed
no opinion LII words.
81 mean are you any part of law
yer?" resumed our fair barrister.
81 know all about the sqrlire's bust
ness, ma'am."
every good! You must cooperate
with me to dispatch all the items her,