Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-01-12

she ohuckled audibly over her success.
In the meantime q new order of
things had developed In the society"
Worn out with the always increasing
burden of a supper. which every MEM
Der since Mrs. Jennison's ever memoir
| able, sought to make more and more
| elaborate, the sensible ones had at last
| revolted, and decided that each should
bring sufficient portion for one, and
the table be set with this provision, the
hostess providing only tea and coffee.
Gradually this had changed, and one
provided cake, another biscuit, and so
on, the names of such being given out
! N turn at each meeting. Mrs. Jenni-
son had said she would be at the next
oBe, and her name was sent up as the
maker of cake for the coming meeting,
| and once more butter and eggs and
| fruit were used with a lavishness that
was never any less confounding than in
| the beginning. The loayes were ready,
dark and rich under the smooth FROST
ing, and lying in the basket ready for
carrying.
The day was bright and cool, and at
3 O'Clock Mrs, Jennison called to Mary
to harness Dobbin, and stood in the
door to oversee the operation. Dobbin
bent his head to receive the collar,
and whinnied low and satisfactory
whinny as Mary gave him the bit of
bread he loved. Then she led him TO
the shay, ancient now, aud weather
worn with its long years of service, but
as she dropped the bride and took up
the shafts to wheel it forward slightly,
| q subdued and well known cluck warn
ed her of some new vagary of Cropple-
Crowns. The cushion had been taken
out to beat. The box lid was open
and had been for a fortnight, and
there on buffalo" folded and half
filling it sat the unmoved Cropple-
Crown, top-knot and bright eyes just
visible above the box.
whats the matter" called Mrs.
Jeanison az she came forward, ''Don't
be all day about thing. OF all the
pokin' an useless waste O. time that /
ever see, you're gettin' to be the very
gest You're slower'n molasses."
By this time Mrs. Jennison had
reached the shay and bent over to see
where the difficulty lay.
lawful heart If that amt the
pesky hen An she's the one that
won't STAN movin' one inch, ard her
brood's worth any three common ones
Run and tell Antoine to bring up the
light wagon an I'll go in that tho
gracious knows how I'll ever get in"
Mary started obediently, to return
shortly with the word that Antoine
had gone to Ciaremont and would not
be back before night.
Then get his boy to carry the bas
ket."
"The boy has gone, too"
Mrs. Jennison stamped with vexa-
uion.
Gas mucn as a man is worth. AL
ways und erfoot when you don't want
,em, and not within gunshot when you
do. You'll have to take it, Mary, and
| giva you just forty minutes to 60, an
come. | know the length of the road,
and know 'Siah Perkins is workin'
down at the Falls. else wouldn't trust
you even that fur. Go on3 now, and
get..back at the minute / say"
Mary's heart lesped up, flaming in
her cheeks. as she turned to lead Dob
bin back.
"You needn't go off in rage, said
Mrs. Jennisen, happily mistaking the
meaning Of the crimson flag just dis
played, and turned to take just one
more look at the cake which should
should show her supremacy in that as
we'll as in everything else.
Mary walked lightly over the rough
way, her heart dancing as she went.
All of this fret and ferlornness was at an
end. Keen as as were the sharp eyes
she dreaded, lovers wits are keener,
and Antonio could have told of many
letter slipped into measure of corn or
lying deep in meal or -four bin. And
tho Siah coull not know of this happy
chance, at least she would pass the
house, and Mrs. Perkins would see and
perhaps speak. She looked wistfully
toward the chimneys, just visible over
the little wood between her and them,
then quickened her pace as she heard
step behind her, and remembered
how dark and lonely the wood was.
"Mary," voice said softly, and she
turned to meet the lover, who wasted
no time, but then and there took her
into his arms and kissed her with a
most un-New-England like ardor, and
then without word drew her through
thicket into an open space, shut in
absolutely from road or cCwpath, and
thus from chance of intrusion. What
words were said then there is no need
to write, events holding all their sub
stance. and these events being, first,
the emergence and then the disappear
ance of the two, who walked straight
to the ministers house and then and
there were married, without question,
or pause, by the old man, who knew
the story well, and who held his own
youth still so well in mind that even
'Siah had never failed to love and
honor him.
'She didn't know she was maxim
the weddin' cake" the latter chuckled,
as the basket being left on the way
home, Mrs. Evans, who saw the state
of the case, cut huge slices OF each and
insisted on their being eaten then and
there, the girls rushing forward and
claiming bits OF Mary's to dream on.
An hour later Mrs. Jennison, shad-
ing her eyes as she looked down the
road, and vowipg this time was the last
the gal should get out of her sight, turn
ed first red and then pale, and sat dowu
suddenly on the doorstep. Two figures
advanced toward her, one hesitant, the
other with calm assurance.
"Hold your hosses!' called the last,
as Mrs. Jennison, still sitting, opened
her mouth. but could give no other
sign Of the indignation AID wrath be-
hind. "Hold your bosses, for sure as
YOU don't III take her off this minute,
and you may go on then all you've
mind to-"
''She's under age. I'll have the law
of vel" shouted Mrs. Jennison.
"She1l be over it by the time you
get it." replied the impertursble 'Siah.
"See here, you've had your way with
her for seven years. and that's as long
as the bible lows for one term O. ser
vice. She's goin' to give me turn
now, but she's to much conscience to
leave you as I'd have her do, and she
says she'll stay till you find somebody
else. I've got her now, and kin afford
to be generous. But look out how you
sass her, or I'll have her away before
you can say Jack Robinson"
Still speeches., Mrs. Jennison rose,
closed the door, pushed the bolt, and
as she lowered the window, shot two
words OF final defiance through it:
"Git eoutr'