The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-12-11


II must insist that you don't stay
another moment" ringing the bell
sharply for Jane. "Why did you per-
nit your mistress to como in this damp
vaultP' he said testify; ''its enough to
kill dog"
81 am sure, sir, it was no fault of
mine,' said poor Jane; "thcy say that
tho paper in new houses often swcats-
at lcast, that's what the man stvled
it." '0''
''ls there no other room fit to receive
usP'' he asked; "surcly the dining-room
would be bcttcr?"
"Wcll, you sec, sir, the stove is what
they call slow cobustion."
SLOW what?" he said, laughing in
spite of himself.
Il don't know exactly how to pro-
nounce the name, but it's q sorry thing
at the best, and won't act nohow, try as
you will"
'lt's beautiful CRATE, Frank" in
tcrposcd Grace; Its ono of the mod
ern ones, and is called slow combus-
ton"
''lts drafted slown' grumbled Jane.
'IVc spent thrcc-quartcrs of an hour
over it and can't get :; fire to burn, SO
1t S slow enough in all conscience"
"Nevcr mind Jane; I'm beautifully
warm and omfortablc-indecd | am,
dear Frank"
''Wcll, | suppose we must make the
pest OF 1t now" he said, trying to ap-
pear cheerful.
Il know what I'll do,n murmured
Grace; muse always suits Frank; I'll
play and sing some Of his favoritcs."
In few minutes the little cloud was
Il fla
as turtlc-dOvcs, as Grace sang song af-
ter song TO Frank intense delight.
'tWhat on earth are they doing in tho
kitchcnP" she thought; 81 must 90
and sec. feel sure they will break
the CRATE TO pieces i'll 4 minute. Oh
doar, oh dear! | wish J,.had taken dear
FRANKS advice. What are YOU all do
ing, and where is the dinner?' said
Grace. 'It is nearing the time
Dinner, indeed! If you Get supper
it will be wonder to me-" gaspcd
Janc, as, armed with an immense iiuc-
brush, she and her assistants were
making frantic raids upon the Kitchen
or, while the smoke poured out in vol
umcs, nearly choking poor Gt zee, who
stood the image of despair, gazing at
the fowls, fish, and joints, that lay
StreWn about, getting peppered with
blacks
'What's to bo done, Janep" she
stammcrcd, rs she covered her golden
mead TO eVadc the shower of SCOT, and
caught up her satin robes nervously;
''it is past six o'clock, and Frank was
just saying he felt rather hungry. Can
nothing be done? Couldn't you get
some hotel TO send in a dinner?'
''Where's the hotel in this outland-
&c ~ lnp' lnl Il,
the broom savagoly up into the Offend
ing draughts; II can only assure YOU
that no dinner can be cooked TO-DAY in
this gingerbread affair."
Seeing no hope from the faces of any
Of the scared scrvauts,- Grace returned
to her husband, and in her pretty coax
ing manner, broke the unhappy tidincs
to him, and i'll less than ten minutes a
telegram was dispatched to the Gros-
vcnor Hotel, and q recherche little din
ner ordered.
$50 that littlo difficulty is over, NV
darling,' he said, as they drove to
Pimlico; "but don't you think it MIGHT
have been better if you had listened to
my advice and spent our honeymoon
at one Of those big cold hotclsP' this
with a mischiovous twinkle in his ewes.
"As you arc mighty, be mcrciful" "
she said, laughing mcrrily. 81 had no
idea that tho stove wouldn't cook, or
"Tkat the drawing-room was damp"
he added; ''Or--"
'Fie! is that being mcrciful, sir" she
poutcd.
But further domestic argument was
broken by waiter opening tho brour-
ham-door, and Frank assisting her out
into the comfortable hotel.
lhanK Heaven we are in o civilized
place ut last!' murmurcd tho new Ben
cdlct tervently, rs they seated them
selves at an elegantly arranged dinner
table, laden with flowers, bright silver,
and sparkling glass; 'Lhis is comfort,
ut any rate"
They both enjoyed their dinner and
pledged each other in rare wine. and
said and did any amount of siIiU
things, doubtless rs thousands Of
brides and bridcgrooms have done be-
fore; and, if truth must be confessed,
Grace was sadly 10th 10 return to her
villa at Clapham; but she was q true
daughter Of Eve, and determined to
keep her own counsel from her lord
and master.
"llerc'5 pretty go, Miss Gracc-I
beg your pardon, | mean Mrs. Whar-
ton, said Jane rs the pretty bride en-.
tered the hreakfast-room next morning,
looking rs fresh and sweet as q blush.
rose in her azurc-bluc mOrninr-robo,
with It's clouds OF lace around her fair
neck and arms.
"Why, Jane, what is the matter
now?' she said anXiously; "surcly you
can manage to get lis some breakfast of
some kind?'
"ThaL's right enough so far" groan-
cd Jync; but there's no water for the
mas tcr's bath, it, leaked out somehow
through some drafted pipe and soaked
yOn. rNcdding-drc and tho cake that
yCdr poor dear "" ndma sent home last
might while yOL were out at dinner Il
wont and unpaCHcd it ut once thinking
the dress would be better laid loosely
like than crumplcd up, and there's tho
splendid cake and satin dress all of
pulp; the flowers, too, all soppy and
spoilt"
:. Ihis was the provcrbial last straw,