The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-05


tiles. Could it be possible that her
grandmother, Mrs. Captain Simon Lud-
kins had ever worn such gown as thisp
She said not a word that could indicate
the depth of her modification, but her
face was a study for an artist
There must be sleeves she MUIR
INJURED, after few moments of silent
and embarrassed contemplation.
Yes l replied. cheerfully as my
constrained gravity would allow "And
you might have a fichu and fiounce on
the bottom"
She looked down. She had not be-
fore realized that the skirt of the ven-
Grated relic lacked a full quarter of
yard of touching the floor.
However could theyn' she calculated
in an undertone. But she quickly re-
covered herself and looked up to me
cheerfully over her spectacles.
How ingenious you arer' she said,
with an air of sweet relief. II knew
you would help me OUT
We went out together and bought the
requisite null that day, but when we
came to put it beside the .svenerated
relic'' of Mrs. Captain Ludkins it was
evident that time had so enriched the
color of the latter that the two were most
unfortunately unlike.
eve can lay it out on the grass I
said; ''these June dews are Just the
thing for it, and as it will be evening
nobody will in the least notice"
Again Miss Lyddy smiled gratefully,
and declared that my suggestion should
be carried out in the most faithful man
ner.
The Rev. Nehemiah Applebloom-
"A lovely name, don't you think sop''
said Lyddy, and she blushed and smiled
like a schoolgirl in her teens-had but
short furlough, and the marriage was
TO transpire the next week, so the relic
was put out to bleach forthwith 1t had
already been ON the grass three days
and nights and had been religiously
watered by Miss Lyddy at morn and
noon and dewy eve, and the next day it
was to be taken up early and put into
the dressmaker's hands for the neces-
sary alterations, when the dreadful
event occurred with which this narrative
opens.
Glory" said, ''do you keep watch
for Miss Lyddy when she returns. Say
nothing about what has happened un-
less she misses the gown from the grass.
In that case tell her that l thought it
was bleached enough and took it up to
dry, and you don't know where l have
put it. | am going out now, but if she
asks where, tell her you don't know"
Glory was faithful, and had besides
the natural craft of her race, and I
knew that she could be trusted. AS for
me, l swiftly donned my bonnet and set
out to find Major Hawthorne. 1t was
a bright June evening, and my walk
through the meadow and the grove that
skirted Hawthorndeau would have been
delightful one if / had borne a mind
more at ease. The Major was gentle
man by birth, but he had lived out his
fifty bachelor years in u gay and care
less way that had seemed to set the |
gentler part of creation at defiance. In |
the lifetime of his parents Hawthorndeau |
had been beautiful estate. II stin re- |
tanned many small marks of wealthy |
and cultivated ownership, but it was |
sadly run down, as the home of a bach |
elor is apt to be. The grove, which had |
once been the pride of the place, was |
grown up to brush now, and the sere
leaves of many summers growth rustled |
under my feet as | walked through it. |
At one point, coming suddenly around |
a thick clump of underground, / heard |
a chorus of tiny snorts and the scamp
ering of numberless hoofs, and knew |
that1 had invaded haunt of the Majors
last agricultural freak, the very brood I
of Berkshire pigs that were the source
Of all my borrowed woes. Away they
their shouts well raised in |
the air, and each with a curl in its tail |
that seemed too ornamental to be Who'll
Iy the product of nature and to Justify
The village rumor that the Majors man
put those tails in eurtpapers every
night. They had the air OF spoiled
every one, and were evidently |
The Majors pets. But that didn't mat
er; they had ruined Miss Lyddy's we'd
ling gown, to say nothing of a dozen
other aggravating exploits which do
not belong to this story, and | was de-
ermined 20 have satisfaction out OF their
owner
Hound the Major sitting on his piazza
With an after-dinner look upon his
handsome, good halmored face. He rose
o greet me with an air of old-school
'oliteness, dashed with faint wonder
hat |, a woman, should have had the
lardlood to approach place SO little
reIilented by women
Good evening, Miss Grace. 1 am
lappy to see you. In what can have |
he honor TO serve you2''
He had read my face and knew that
had come on mission.
major Hawthorne. / said. paving
10 attention to his offer of a chair, |
Il have come on very painful err
and.''
E'Sit down. madam said the Major
politely. Il cannot possibly permit
ady to stand on my piazza. / ought,
'erhaps, ask you to walk in, but it is
ather stutfN indoors this evening"