The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-07-12

Of party now7 It is customary, you know.
Suppose you let it be an informal reception,
With card. ard ! coffee Is Tor the old people.
young onesf That would do nicelt. You
IAN throw your paf]ofs into one. and the
new carpets viii not ct fmpSh injured. I'll
help you t. ordet 361r FefteshmSnts: end
Cecilia win write out your invitations for
{oq. She's On excellent judge ~ to whom
1t Il expediieeht b ,invite,1
mentioned the matter to jack Shsn he
came home. and he ENTERED into the spirit
OF the stair with great excitement.
10 be sure, my little wife, have party
b! ell means. When ones in Rome. one
must do az Romans do. you know. Don't
dpays ,SxpSnse eithsf; lily, dsari xe must
make % good ! show ID othet people: And
shall take it upon myself to order your
costume. I want you to look % erana q
little empress"
49,. But t:ot.- :ueeestsd. t,n1d!y. I'VE
ob. veil, nsvss G %;nd g. 1 It viii ii, 20,
anyhow, ono way, or the other, and we
might - we'll enjoy 1t. You've always
wanted to got into good society, Nell. and
you're fairly in now. and it won't do to let
people see that you are cramped for money.
tets make the most Of It whils we've got
Ny heart .ohed little; and Ia tho midst
OF all the fare and flutter of preparation,
was conscious Of vague feeling Of regret
whenever recalled the quiet months of
my early vifehood, spent at Cherry Hill.
Jack had seemed such . different person in
those days-so strong, and steady, and SELF
reliant; and now he seemed TO take as
much pleasure in life's frivoli!ies as did.
With tho foolish inconsistency Of my sex, I
OF the very hopes which had cherished
But. despite my tears, our reception
went on and it turned out to be great sue
cess. Tho best people In town honored
~ With their presence, aud everything.
thanks to Mrs. Vanborough's foresight,
Was carried ont In tho most lavish and ele-
gait manner:
| by, George said Jack, atbis s0rt Of
thing = tolliar than Tie Old farm. i see
nov: Little wife, that you were right. always
7 would ten times rather he should have
upbrai1ea me for what had done.
The winter that followed was exceedingly
gay. We were invited everywhere, and our
house was constantly filed with guests.
Balls, soirees, kettledrums, and the opera.
seemed to engross every hour. Jack and I
seldom had quiet moment together, yet
he seemed to enjoy it with his whole heart.
When spring came our last surplus dol
iar had been expended, and We were solely
dependent on jacks monthly salary.
The warm weather came on. and baby
soon fell i'll. hoped day by day that Jack
would say something about going back to
his fathers for tho Simmer. but he did not
even hint at such thing. ="
The days grew longer and warmer. The
sun shown down with pitiless splendor,
and the paved streets seemed like heated
brass.
Our fashionable friends luttered off like
summer swallows, and We were left almost
! alone.
Couldn't you manage to make little
trip to the sea- shore, my dear?" Mrs. Van
borouh had suggested, and Jack had caught
ut the idea with eagerness.
I'VE might, Nell. I think We can. I'll
try and borrow few hundreds somewhere.
oh, Jack, no, moi" sobbed out in my
remorse and despair. Il won't go to the
sea-shcre. You see how i'll baby is. Oh,
Jack, ak your father to let ~ return
Oh, you wouldn't be- b; satisfied; Nqn, if
we went back. It is .dreadfuily stupid
down there these summer days, with the
haymakinR, and the reapine, and all that
| sort of thing. We should never be able to
| endure it now"
said no more. The long, bright, burn
ing days wore on, and our bills ran up
higher and higher. and baby's little breath
seemed to grow weaker and weaker, and
poor Jack himself began to look dreadfully
ill and worn. And one afternoon he was
sent home in carriage, quite unconscious,
stricken down by sudden fever.
put my pride aside then, and wrote a
! letter to Jacks father.
"Jack and baby are both ill.," and We are
sick and tired Of this life. Pray forgive us,
and lot us come home"
The very next day the dear old gentle.
man arrived, but the bailiffs and the officers
| of the law were there before him. The ru.
NOR that We intended TO leave town had gto
out, and our creditors rushed in, anxious t.
! secure tho lions share of our effects. The
Brussels carpet, the handsome furniture.
and costly bric-a brao, all went under the
hammer at disastrously low figure.
Never mind, said my father in law, not
shadow of reproach on his kind old face;
let them squabble over it if they will. We
must get our sick ones home"
Az we got Jack into the carriage and with
his poor hot head upon my face, and baby
in my arms, turned my back upon the
scene of my short. lived triumph.
We are going back to Cherry Hill, said
the old gentleman, a. in the dusk of the
golden day We drove through the dewy still
| ness of the mountain ravine. The old
home has been waiting for you all these
months. was pretty sure you'd want to
come back.
could not utter one word in answer. A
| great full moon was rising above the noun
tain peaks as we reached the house. Not
the smallest thing was changed. The great
red roses bloomed on tho terrace. the bees
droned in their hives, and the cattle. bells
tinkled in the barn-yard. The doors stood
wide open. We carried Jack In and laid
him down in the broad, breezy room that
| had been our bridal chamber.
| He opened his eyes and drew 8 deep,
! quivering breath, 90 the mountain breeze
touched hts throbbing head.
Nell, Ill.,, who're he so ore your he said. Surely
Il am here, jack" I answered, through
my tears, "and this 10 nome, dear; old
Cherry Hill"
.Thank Godi" he murmured, and fell
back upon ths pillows, and saw great
tears triokling slowly from beneath his
closed eyelids.
| Beyond the open window, In the silver
glory OF the rising moon, the old grandfa-
Their sat, with baby at his feet, half hidden
in tho rank. cool grass, and even at that
late hour the pigeons came duttering round
her as of old, and she sore AIMED with rap
ture as she clutched at them with her thin
little hands.
1arose softly, and fell ON my knees be-
side Jacks low pillow.
"Oh, Jack" I sobbed, II have been 20
wicked. Forgive me, Jack, forgive me.
I am so glad to be ct home again"
His worn faoe grow radiant, and his dear
arms held mo close.
And then and there, olasped to my hus-
| han6'a haapk n, tho aafA avoak aha1fap ~