Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-10-15


on an Important family matter. Let no
eAe suspect me of intimating that my
respected mOther-in-law is the flexible
Hend, from my introducing her name
so soon after the title of my story; but
mad 1t not been for that telegram my ex-
perlence with said fend would have been
mild.
Arabella was to start early in the morn
Ing, and gave me my orders. BE sure
and lock all the doors every night, The
ophilns; and whatever you do, don't ag-
grayate Bridget, for you know what a
helpless predicament you would be in, if
she should take it into her head to
'leave.'"
gave the required promises, and
next day saw Arabella safely on her way.
For few days all went smoothly. Bridg-
ct was, to use her own description, in
the most ''illigantest" of humOrs, and
enjoyed unwOnted tranquility. Then
came the beginning of the end OF course
Arabella and exchanged letters daily.
1--WE had only been married year and
half9 On the afternoon of the fourth
day her letter contained the following
thunderbOlt-in a postscript:
IL forgot to tell you that found Aunt
Carraway here on visit from the west.
She will come home with me for a short
the house from roof to cellar as Aunt
Carraway has and eye like lynx-but
then, you know, Philly dear, she has
great deal of money"
l understood that "Philly dear" at
once. On ordinary occasions Arabella
calls me, "TheOphilus." She knew that
IwOuld rather face a hOwitzer than con-
vey her commands to Bridget, but, as
the thing had to be done, her mode of
address was an affectiOnate hint to ap-
prOach the dreaded damsel with the ut
most circumspecti0n.
began at once, went to the kitchen
where Biddy was securing pans.
SWELL, Bridget is there anything you
need from the store? may run down
there tonight, and can bring anything
know"
Sugars out" said the maiden laconi-
cally.
anything else, Biddy," with Pick
wickian smile and Chadband inflec-
ton.
''Sure, ye might be after fetchin' sup
o. tay, too p
81 will, Biddy, with great pleasure.
BY the way, that's fine fellow that
comes to see you sometimes. Mccarthy
is his name"
Its my cuzzint, shure, said the BASH
!. full Biddy, rubbing away at the bottom
of pan.
"A very nice cousin, indeed, and, l
hope you will treat him we'll, Biddy,
every time he comes. BY the way, l
have just had another letter from Mrs.
Blodgett. She will be home on Thurs
day, and wishes me to mention to you
that you might do little hOuse-clean-
lug, as she expects to bring q friend
with her. I'll help you, Biddy, pom my
word WILL" continued hastily, seeing
signs of gathering wrath on Erin's
brow.
Next day we began operations. While
Bridget scrubbed and secured and grum-
bled and glowered, devoted my ener-
gies to clearing out the rubbish in our
bedroom closet, and progressed swim
mingly until came to an old hOOp-skirt
of Arabella's. Ihad heard a friend say
that stove clinkers and old hOop-skirts
were the hardest things to get rid of on
the face of the earth. Burn it i could
not. Break it could not. Could not
hide it in the attic, for Aunt Carraway
would be sure to make an expedition
thither within twenty-fOur hours of her
arrival If l should throw it behind
the wOod-shed Biddy would trip over it
and fracture her classic nose. brill
liant idea presented itself l would
bury tin the vegetable garden, near
the potato patch.
"The turf shall be its winding Sheet"
sang triumphantly, and bore 1t to the
spot. A few spadesful of earth. few
manly tears Caused by uprOoting very
powerful onion near by and all was
over.
The next day sat in my library, read
ing an instructive volume entitled
"Enigmas of Life" The door was
thrown open, and a bouncing, bewilder-
ing object gyrated along the floor to my
study-chair, followed by Bridget, with
he'thunders Of Olympus on her brow,
and-yes-a BACKED eye With wrath
full gestures she shot forth her TRADE:
AN it is mesilf that'll be afther hay
in my eye kilt entirely wild the murther-
in old villin av hOOp-skurrt jumpin'
Until me face, while was diggin' few
perates for dinner-like divil from
purragatorry, shure p
She disappeared, and l laid down my
book in despair. "Enigmas of Life" L
should think sol seized che hoop
skirt, and ran frantically into the gar
den. l would bury it seventy fathOms
deed, If had to dig through the the an
tip0des No one should say that TheO-
philus Dlodgett was the man to be con-
quered by an old hoop-skirt, forty spring
double-elliptic though it might be !
Just as reached the corner Of the wood
shed, heard a silvery voice exclaim:
Good morning, Mr.. BlOdgett p
Looking around deserted, oh, hOrrOrl
the clergyman of st. James, with his
wife and young lady visitor, Miss Juliet
mn 49,