Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-12-06

I j >
For davs preparations had been going
on. and every night Miss Poole had
come home beaming with smiles. ohe
lost sight Of herself in rejoicing with
her friend, who had emerged out OF
/ her morbid condition, and was dis
PLAYING a cheerful interest in the pre-
parations for her adopted child. Then
| there was a surprise in store for Dora,
aud a joyful one she knew it would
| be- Miss Poole rejOiced to think OF
the young girls future prospects. She
had told her that Mrs. Swift was pre-
pairing fora young friend, and Thanks
giving evening, when they accompan-
led the lady home, they could see the
/ bower of beauty which was waiting
| for the coming guest. Dora had been
in state of delighted anticipation
ever since. Thanksgiving Day had
come, and it required all Miss Poole's
exertions to fight against the desola-
ton that was striving TO gam an en-
trance into her brave little heart
The church going brought some
comfort. On the way home she could
recall numberless blessings for which
she could be thankful; and as she re-
moved her wraps, she said softly:
Il will show Laura and the dear
chils that / am thankful with them
by wearing my silk dress tonight.
Any one looking into the kitchen
that afternoon would have seen the
personifcaton of contentment in the
little housekeeper bustling about there
There was a sputter and tiZzle about
the pots and pans agreeably sugges-
tive Of the near approach of dinner
time, which Dick, interpreting as pos
sible rivalry to his vocal powers, tried
to vanquish by tuning up his hoarse
little pipes into a harsh melody. Then
the odors from the stewpan and oven
had their effect upon Topsy and Jer-
ry; Topsy, with a world Of pleading
in her one eye, accompanied Dicks
voice with the most pathetic of meaws
while jerry jumped and frisked and
was equally expressive in his own way
until he was surprised by being shut
up in the shed, as the sight Of his
coatless back would not exactly act as
an appetizer upon the guests.
Dora had set and reset the table at
least dozen times, and Miss Poole
was looking anXiously at the clock,
for everything was dished for the
dinner, when Mrs. Swift and her
friend arrived Miss Poole could not
understand why Laura betrayed 50
much emotion when she introduced
Mr. Potter for her voice choked, and
she Immediately left the room in
very unceremonious manner.
He was a rheumatic old man. very
lame, very deaf, and very much
wrapped up. He had a thick shock of
gray hair, and his face was twisted
into a hundred wrinkles. He would
not remove his overcoat or silk hand
kerchief which was tied round his
neck close to his face. ''Rheuma-
tism" was his laconic explanation.
Miss Poole was all anxious sympathy.
She saw that he avoided draughts
She provided him with her easiest
chair. She was too solicitous to no
tice that Mrs. Swift was too full of
laughter TO speak. She raised her
voice until at last her friend ventured
TO remonstate:
Don't bother about him, Annie.
He is a crusty old fellow, and as deaf
as a post. "
Hush whispered the kind-heart-
ed hostess; Il am afraid he will hear
you Then she begged him to take
some celery, as she believed it was
good for rheumatism, and heaped mis-
plate with good things, and raised her
voice all the louder, Just to receive
+ jerky monosyllabic responses for her
pains
The dinner passed off very well, on
the whole, Laura was cheerful and
( profuse in her praises. 1T reminds
me of home, y she said, somewhat sad
ly. but before The tears had time to
gather-and they were wonderfully
near all their eyes Just then Mr. Pot
ter took such q, mammoth pinch of
snuff that they ali sueezed, and what
was more natural than that they
should laugh after thatl Mrs Swift,
especially, INDUCED in such a burst of
merriment that q discerning person
could have seen that there was some
thing more than pinch Of snuff to
excite it, Indeed Doras brown eyes
were fixed steadily ON the visitor, and
she longed to ask Mrs Swift in a
whisper if he wasn't putting on lit
tie bit
The meal over, they withdrew to
the parlor, where Dora played and
sung; and as the old man drew him
self up to the piano, Mrs. Swift beck
oncd to her friend and said
LEND me an apron and | viii help
YOU to clear up, Annie, for Mr. Potter
will fall asleep soon. He always does
after dinner.
1t was not long before Dora mad,
her appearance.
, Mr.. Potter has gone out ON The
porch, and he wants match to ligh
his cigar
With their combined efforts tn,
= clearing up was soon effected Mis-
Poole douned her brown silk dress
- but when they were ready to return
( to Mrs Swift's, Mr. Potter was snor
} ing ON the porch, and the little WON
s. an would not have him disturbed.
; Mrs Swift gave her friend mean
ing look.
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