Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-31

home the moment school was out. They
found the kitchen empty, but the door
between it and the dining room was
open, and, peeping in, in search of their
mother, they saw, much to their aston
ishment, pretty white draped dinner
table, WITH row of chairs placed invit-
ingly around it. A second glance re-
vealed the fact that the best dishes were
all there. even to the cherished celery
glasses.
81 wonder who's come? Not the
minister again, L hope, and Sam tiptoed
across the room, and cautiously peeped
through the crack of the door into the
hall.
Tain't a man, anyway, for there's no
hat but fathers old straw that's been
hanging there since kingdom come. F"
Continuing his investigation, he crossed
the hall and looked in at the open parlor
door. A fire was burning pleasantly,
but the cat was the only occupant.
Meantime Johnny had been counting
the plates, and when Sam returned from
his unsatisfactory tour, he was met with
the information that there was nobody
coming after all, for there were only five
plates.
"What does it all mean, anyhow %
was the question which the boys lips and
Mr.. Lawson's eyes asked, as they all
gathered around the table.
sit means" said Mrs. Lawson. with
glance at her daughter, "that Mary
Jane and 1 have talked it over, and have
determined that we will never be caught
again as were last evening. So from
this time forward we are going to look
on ourselves In the light of company.
We will use all of the house. instead of
the kitchen only, eat the best food, and
wear the best clothes that we can afford,
and when our friends come they shall
have as good but no better than we have
ourselves. / think we'll all be the hap
pier for the change, and we will have no
fear of last nights experience being re-
peated."
Presently the gossips of Woodleigh
began to whisper among themselves that
the Lawson's were getting some high
notions in their heads. They always sat
in their parlor in the evening, SO it was
said, and their dining-room carpet was
getting awfully scuffed. Moreover it
was settled fact that Mary Jane put on
her brown cashmere and white apron
every day as soon as the after dinner
work was done up, and that Mrs. Law
son managed to look neat and tidy even
on wash days. So different from what
it used to be, you know. These bits of
gossip carefully gathered up and neatly
put together, went from lip to lip, and
in the course of time made the circuit of
Mrs. Dodd's tea-table. Mr.. Dent listen
ed, smiled a knowing smile, and said
something to himself which I won't re-
peat, though I know very well what it
was.
A year later he took tea for the second
time with the Lawsons. A few friends
were also gathered around the table, and
beside him, blushing and lovely, In her
simple white dress, with orange flowers
in her hair, and a wedding ring on her
finger, sat Mary Jane, who had taken
the VOWS of wife one short hour before,
At first Mr.. Lawson thought the mar
rage of his only daughter must be q
grand affair, and had talked of invita-
tons and orders to the florist and con-
fectioner. But Mary Jane, in whose
mind the lesson of a year ago was still
fresh, begged with bot cheeks and burn
ing eyes,
"Don't please don't father [ never
could look John in the face again if you
made all this fuss.
And SO it happened that the rooms
wore only their own homely, pleasant
look, and that the table, with the excep-
ton of the huge brides cake, with pair
of clasped hands, presented no unusual
appearance on that pleasant autumn eve
ming, when the Lawson's gave away
their daughter, and John Dent received