The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1883-12-13
HIS WIFE.

Ut NOlltTSti CIdilOll. ~ NIOlt Illlc To
walk in the pleasantest part of the
pleasantcst country in the world. Soft
hills bathed in the suns parting glow
dotted the landscape on every side, and
over all smiled tender, brooding sky.
What keen enjoyment the anticipation
of summer all alone with my best
friend had afforded mc--and now | was
almost there. There was the house: old,
many-roomed, and most of the rooms
ON the ground floor. Grandmother her
self had been the architect of the estab-
lishmcnt.
Il told your grandfather" said she
on one occasion, THAT no man was 90
ing to plan a house for me to live in.
What does man know. should like to
Ire told, of a woman's needs? If he'd
built ii according to his notion there
would have been three or four flights
of stairs, and then, with baby on each
arm and two or three hanging to my
petticoats. l might have spent most of
my time on 'em-but knew letter"
As events proved, grandmother was
correct in her predictions. An enthusl-
astic lover of nature was this old lady
of seventy years. Yes, there she was.
/ caught glimpse of her white sleeve
Oll inc NIIltlON -SIll. HOW tNNIUlSlit the
taste of this presiding genius. Hello
trope. mignonette and white roses.
Grandmother 5 rose bushes were the en-
w of the whole ncighborhood. Shy
little violcts borlcrcd the gravel walks
leading to the low door-stonc, and over
beyond in grandmothcr's pet field mil
lions of ycllow-heartcd daisies nodded
and bcckoncd to the soft evening breeze
I
quietly across to the front door, steal
ing with cat-likc tread through the long
narrow hallway, and entered the sit
'tng-room on my tip-toes. Wonderful
victory. Twice before had | tried this
wonderful dodge, and each time had
the old turkcy-gobblCr betrayed me.
Where was he on this occasion, and
why, when | really needed his services,
did he not prove my friend? Softly.
Only step or two more. The snnsa-
ton of the next minute wasn't nything
to speak OIL mean by that it was indie
scribablc. THE back of grandmother's
bio armchair quite hid the occupant.
and, nothing doubling, l made with
great deXterity for grandmother $ ewes.
/ found the eyes, but they didn't belong
to grandmother. | knew that before
= their saucy owner had Imprisoned my
$ hands,
.."Who is it?'' said he, like one first
awakening from Sleep. "Let me
guess. The fingers are too little for
Madge, and too long to belong to Sa-
rah.
found my tongue then. would not
wrench my hands away; that would be
rudeness; for he evidently supposed
them to be. the property of some init
mate friend
please release me-" I said and
then, as he rose quickly, apparently sur
prised by the voice of stranger, |
added, rather ludicrously, suppose, for
the tall fellow in the shirt sleeves laughed
right heartily, Il thought you were
grandmother.
"Never was taken for an old lady be-
fore, he answered, with provoking non
chalance, and then added, as he hastily
drew on a dressng-down: ''What do YOU
think about it now?"
j think l should like to know where
grandmother is, and --''
And what am doing here?' he in
terrupted, with another laugh. Your
grandmother has gone to spend the
evening with sick neighbour [ belong
to the next houSe-or rather am visit
ing my sister. She was Unexpectedly !
telrgramed away, and as | have been
III and am not quite well enough to
take care of myself in the absence of a
hOusckccper, your blessed grandmother
offered to look out for me until nv
sisters return. My name is David Al
colt, and yours, | take it, is Miss Susan
Ellis" And then we shook hands.
The evening marked new era in my
life. | was comfortable, as was always
the case at grandmother and was
happy, toO-happier than | had ever
been before. What it meant was of no
sort of consequence to me then. | did i
not stop to analyZe my sensations, but
enjoyed to the utmost the strange enter
tainment fate had placed before me.
Mr.. Alcott showed where grandmother
had left the Strawberries after tea, and
then | skinned a pan of mornings milk
and prepared my supper.
"You have been to tea, of course?"
inquired of the gentleman, who had
again taken up his book.
Yes, but | should like few straw
berries if you can spare me some" So
it CHANGED that he drew a chair up to
the little round table, proving a most
interesting companion.
In an hour more, after our little meal |
was over, sat upon the door-stone
alone, watching for grandmother. Then
he came TO the door and said:
You needn't expect her before nine
O'Clock. L wish could sit here with |
you"
"And why not?" asked.
because | am still in quarantine.
Perhaps might make it pleasant for
you indoors. Ii you are'fond of being
read to / viii do my best
"And there is nothing l am fonder
Of / answered, and followed him into
the house.
MAKE your selection" he said
pointing to a table quite covered with
books.
Something of hers" replied, pick
ing up an edition of Mrs. Browning.S
"All right. Now, to please me. open
at random and will stay here"
IiaughiDgly resented, and placed nay