The Mineral argus., 1884-10-09

her guest had so ruthlessly despoiled her.
Immediately after breakfast the next morn
ing the two women sat down to their work.
I'm going to let Mary dress the baby and
pick up the house. I'll just let things go, and
devots myself to you"
eyes, and wen see how many squares of
your quilt we can finish while Tn here
I'VE must go to the opera matinee this after
noon, you know"
Dear mel Ihardly feel as If we could take
the time, - cried Mime. Pumpernickel, who was
a musician by nature and training, and adored
the opera.
They worked on their respective squares till
the last minute, barely allowing themselves
time to dress and swallow a cup of tea each.
eve shall be a little late, " said Mrs, Batter
by, when they were almosta at their destination.
The next moment she gave a little cry Of con-
~sternation.
"Oh, mercy If 1 didn't leave our tickets on
the mantelpiece!"
How long will it take for US to go for
them
Forty minutes, and forty back. Call it al
hour and a half. The opera will be nearly
over. How stupid of meI'
'Never mind We can stop and buy that
pink satin for your quilt, and then go home
and plan two more squares before we go to
bed.1'
81 know you only say thatto relieve me.
You must be ~dreadfully disappointed! Oh,
they're well named crazy quiltsl'"
Yes; but you see l must leave you Friday,
SO there is only one day more for us to work
on the quilt Dear child" pleaded Nine. Pun
peTnickel, earnestly, and laying her hand on
Mrs. Batterby's arm ''don't, don't stop until
your quilt is inishedl'
Not even to eat and sleepg"
ooh, 1 suppose you'll be obliged to stop for
those things returned Nine. Pumpernickel
half in jest, half in earnest; 'but you must not
let anything else hinder you. Delay would be
fatal. Your ardor would soon cool"
But MI. Batterby, in the goodness of his
heart, brought home theatre tickets for that
night, and the ladies tore themselves away
from their rags and accompanied him, but the
play being a society drama, gave great display
of costumes, and afforded the two demented
creatures many occasions to whisperasides,
such as:
'Look at that elegant brocade she has on.
Wouldn't l just like a piece of that IN my
quilt!n
'sSee that rich purple velvet in that pages
cloak Wouldn't that show in your squarey"
I'D just like to snip a piece of that ladys
bonnet strings. We haven't any green to light
up at night"
Fortunately Mr.. Batterby did not hear these
remarks or he might have fearedfUr his wife's
mental condition, and as he sat between the
ladies in the car returning home they were
obliged to make an attempt at least to speak
ON other topics besides crazy quilts. The
next day, to the great delight of the ladies 1t
stormed.
eve shall have no callers, and we can't go
out, " they said. So they sat in the midst Of
shipping, clipping, basting, too busy to
comb their hair or change their morning dresses
until the daylight began to wane.
so, dear! It's to badI have to stop, but l
suppose VIZ must" said Nine PunIpernickeL
''We must make ourselves decent before Mr..
Batterby comes"
And Jest then there was a ring at the door
and a telegram from Mr.. Batterby that bust
ness would keep him dow town till between
9 and 10 o'clock.
"And now we needn't dress" joyously cried
Nine. Pumpernickel 81 shall finish this
square before 1 go to bed 1 Am determined
on it."
But it did seem to Mrs. Batterby as if the
children were never so wOrrisome before.
What was the reason 3 year-old Edith should
be so tiresome about getting to bed? And then
after she was there she wanted the pillow fixed,
and the sheet smoothed, and a drink of water,
and at the last moment she called her mamma
back because she hadn't said her prayers.
Then when the patient mother again reached
the stairs the little voice called:
Mamma mamma, Eide wants dollie."
The usually gentle mother, becomes frantic
al separalion from her "crazy quilt, returned,
and snatching up the battered, bald-headed
object of Edie's affections tossed it into the
crib.
'sThere, dolie, get into bed with you," she
said, Grossly. ssYou haven't got to say any
prayers, because you haven't got any soul
Eide snatched up her child and turned on
her mother with flashing eyes.
"Tee hab dot tum tout too" she roarcd.
Mrs Batterby, smitten with remorse, kissed
her child and smoothed her, and yet it did not
occur to the mother how strong and baleful
must be the influence which could enc her
thus hard and petulant to her darling Edith,
patient and tender and considerate of the
feelings of dollie's mother as she generally
was.
The next day Mime. Pumpernickel departed,
but the evil which she had disseminated re-
NAMED. Mrs. Batterby grew worse daily
until she became a hopeless crazy quilt ma
MAC. The devoted husband, his attention now
how fixed a hold the terrible mania had
taken upon his poor wife's aberrated
mind. 1t was only Sunday she
abstained from creative work upon this de-
stroyer of domestic ~unhappiness. BUTT was,
after all, only a physical abstinence, for hen
husband marked her long memorizing 81 u
upon the illuminated texts above the pulpu
wherein the grayhaired minister was impress
ing upon his hea rers the spiritual darkness OF
the Jews. He noted her rowing, abstracteC
gaze over the congregation, and he divlned the
envy and covetousness in her soul as her eye
caught the beauty of some new tint in onnet
trimming.
One cold morning Mrs. Batterby's mother
came in from the suburbs, and surprised hel
daughter with a visit. But no sooner were th'
old ladys wfapplnSs on imam tne crazy our
was brought to notice, and the daughter coulC
not be induced to make any but a momentary
depression on any other subject; but there shl
sat, only stopping reluctantly for lunch, '.feath
er-stitching' on her square as if her mex
days bread depended on getting it done be
fore night
''Well, goodbye, - said the old lady at part
ing. '1f they conclude to send you to the
asylum at Batavia, tell them to let me know
Immediately"
And she went back to the suburbs with a httl
chill of disappointment at her heart
But while Mr.. Batterby was racking hi
brain to know how he could surreptitiousl,
minister to his Wife's diseased mind. a kin