The Mineral argus., 1884-10-09

drawer lay tho five yards Of dark-greeIn
plush for the border; for the squares were all
ready to be put together. Five yards at two
dollars a yard, ten dOllarsl And now there was
all the expense of Philips sickness to meet
She half regretted the spending OF the ten DOL
lar gold piece Gustave had given her. DE haq
told her to buy a comfortable house dress WIN
it. Not that he would ever ask what she dla
with it But now she really needed the dress,
And ten dollars Just for the border of the quit
seemed q good deal Satin would have been
cheaper, of course. But then, plush was the
thing. Still she sighed a little perplexed sigh
a. she shut the drawer.
The next Monday morning Bridget left her
wash in the tubs, declaring she was SICK and
must go home TO her aunts.
"An' shure We wuldn't be Eapin' back a weeks
pay for a weeks warnin' whin I'm that sick l
can't stand on my two fatel"
So she got her full pay and she went, and
when the the strange washerwoman hired 70
finish the wash was gone, it was found that all
the towels, and kandkerchiefs and stockings
had vanished.
Then the intelligence Office began to send its
Bedouins through the kitchen of poor Mrs.
Batterby.
1t was the same old tribe. In the course of
three weeks they had them all-the girl who
broke everything from the largest platter down
to the handle of the furnace door, the girl who
served her hair up with various dressings at
each meal, the girl who put her potatoes on to
cook when she heard Mr.. Batterby's voice in
the hall, and baked all the griddle-cakes before
the breakfast bell rang. And so forth and 30
on.
But they lived through it all, as people do,
and nothing ever really came of it all except
a secret change of Mr.. Batterby's views on the
subject of a Purgatory, and his growing con-
viction of such aplace as a necessary adjunct
to celestial housekeeping. .
In the meantime the crazy quilt was almost
forgotten. On day, however, when Mr.. Batter
by was enJoyinga days vacation in the bosom OF
his family, a lady visitor came in, and somehow
the new style of patchwork became the topico OF
conversation.
"Ah, but you Just ought to see my wife's
quilt! Go get it, dear, and let Mrs. Smith see
cts not quite finished Baby's sickness made
me lay it away" demurred Mrs. Batterby, who
felt a strange reluctance to take out her old en-
SLAYER.
'sNever mind Show the squares"
go do. l should so like to see them."
"Prettiest thing you ever saw enthusiastic
ally Sid the proud husband.
Mrs. Batterby rose and left the room. As she
went slowly through the hall and up the stairs
her mind vividly recalled that $40 worth of
plush 1t seemed a pity not to let Mrs. Smith
see that, and get a clear idea of the whole effect
of the quilt. But it might set Gustave think
ing. or course the gold piece had been her
own. Yet he would be astonished at her ex-
travagance. At least he would think 1t extrav-
agance.
So thinking she opened the drawer. 1t was
empty!
Mrs. Batterby stood COMPOUNDED. The other
drawers we're packed with old half-worn gar
ments to be remade. No quilt in them. Gone
plush and squares. Also the Bingham for
aprons, and her unmaid calico dress.
With a lightning flash she recalled sending
Bridget to the bureau one Sunday afternoon
for flannel for Philip. TIL next Monday sne
left.
Mrs. Batterby went back to the sitting room,
She was pale, but dry-eyed She told Der
woe.
"Never mind, my darlingl" said her hus-
band, putting his arm about her. "IH buy
you a handsome Marseilles spread"
Her hours and days and weeks of slavish
work rose up before Mrs. Batterby's mind,
the tears gushed from her eyes.
A Marsellles spread! What does a man
know about a woman's feellngs!' she sob
bed.