Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-07-28
interrupted the cautious Howard cough

well, yes, s,about that length OF time,
assented my dear afllancedt
Now see herc--Pris-pris-cilla-ohP y
let me call you by that melodious
name. Sec hero always loved you,
not for artlessness. Upon my soul |
did, and would have proposed to you
had rot 1 heard that you were engaged
to the chap who is stretched thero.'A
'Oh! Mr.. Howard : SAID Mrs. Smith
that was to be, giving q little squeak.
Don't Mr.. Howard, me. If YOU'RE
turn my affections you must call me by
my pet names. Call me Harry call
me Dovey, but for heavens sake don't
Mr.. Howard me, my own PRISCILLA
said Howard, IN q quivering voice.
Their l heard a moving of feet, ac-
companicd by loud lip exrloslon.-
How mad Igot, tried to grit my
teeth, but never grit could I raise. 1
was obliged to grin and bear it. Bear
it l had 10, but grin could not.
Soon my company left me, and 1 was
again lett to my tho'ts, until I again
felt the cloth removed from my face. A
soft palm was laid on my forehead, and
tho low, sweet voice of Minnie Rivers
whispered-well, no matter what.
Night came-so did the noighbors to
my wake, a1d from two old cronics
who sat near me, l learned to my horror
that was to be buried the next day.
'Of course you are coming to the
funeral tomorrow, Mrs. Reed said
to one Of them.
oh, dear yes, surely. 1 hopo 1t may
turn out nice day, as I want to enjoy
the ride to the cemetery
then lost all consciousness, and the
sound 1 heard was the grating voice OF
Priscilla and her mother. Apparently
they were dusting and giving the room
good general cleaning up prior 10 the
| funeral.
is Howard TO be one Of the pail
bearers p asked the voice of my mother
in.law that might have been.
lie would gladly, but hasn't a black
suit Of clothes said nay sweetest.
why Priscilla, my child, do you hot
remember Smiths suit of black broad
cloth up stairs? The suit is bran new;
know it Will 1t Howard. Call him,
he's 10 the kitchen, and let HIM try
them on
Now this black suit was fayorlte oi
mine-a perfect lit, that set my person
off to good advantage, audit made
nv blood boil TO hear them talk so
coolly of the funeral. 1 was getting
mad now. felt the crisis was near,
and that would either die or explode
if they meddled with my black suit
Priscilla took 1t from the peg know,
for l heard buckles jinGlc-and made
for the door.
tried to shake my fist and yell al
her, but all in vain, and l lay there
outwardly as calm as lamb, inwardly
boiling, boiling with wrath. 1t was too
much. The deepest trance could not
have held me against that suit. With
powerful effort l sprang up and
howlcd. Priscilla my dear, dropped
clothes, her mother the duster and both
bounded out Of the room, squealing like
shot rabbits. With difficulty l managed
to get my clothes. and had just got in
side of my pants, when Mrs. Muffin and
her daughter, headed by the undertaken,
pecred IN at the door motley crowd
OF women and smutty-faced children
stood in the rear. Such scared looking
owls, it was quite enough to amuse a
dead man, so slaughed. 1t was not
very becoming, but l laughed peal after
peal until my sides ached. Then the
undertaken vcntured near to me, rather
dnbionsly.
so Won arc not dead, Mr.. Smith?'
well, no, not exactly; sorry to dis
appoint my friends abont my funeral
however.
| Yes he assentcd, absently, 4 hat
rather-that ls-ahen!'
Fooled out of the dimes, carriages
and grays. my gal,' thought as
looked at Priscilla.
Go speak with him. said her fathel
in an undertone, act well your part
They all now began to gather arounC
me, and to congratulate me on my mar
row escape. l noticed that they criet
q great deal more than when l wa
dead. Priscilla came and hugged mi
around my neck, snlyellng desperately
1 gave her not any too gentle pus
from me aud told her 10 wait next tim
till was safely buried before she un
dcrtook to NEEDLE with my persona
apparel.
Oh! Pm so glad she said, 81
sweetly, without appearing to motto
what l said about my clothes, that yo
are not dead, dear. My heart seome
withered and white. I wept bitterl
over your angel face, my darling
Oh! yes, so you did. l heard yo
and Howard take Oh at furious rate
1t was lucky die for me, my duck
Gould you hear?' she gasped.
4 rather think l could, 1 replied
so goodbye, my noble girl; iyou ca
have the pleasure of calling Howard a
7 the pet names you can think OF. Sh
made bee-line for the door, and hi
pull back was the last l ever saw OF he
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