The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-11-06
dow, the red flannel still about his

dow, the red flannel still about his
| throat DIR. Horton had telegraphed
to two or three of Ned's chums, and
was to make his next call about din
ner time, when they hoped the gentle
men in question would have arrived.
Meanwhile the cook and waitress were
quite relieved as to masters throat
by The hearty lunch he had ordered
and enjoyed.
It CHANGED that all three of the
chums were able to accept the invita-
ton. Jack Downing could never re-
slst the country in such weather, and
felt he could combine business with
pleasure; for Fortescue had told him
OF the scenery about his place; and he
was sure of making some skethes.
Tom Bascomb was a medical student,
one who often spent his Sundays at
the Hennery las the Fortescues called
their place., and Mr.. Driscombe, q
hard-Working man of business, was
fairly showed off by his wife, who knew
how much the poor man needed a
breath of real country air.
"I'm on the sick list," exclaimed
their host. ''Nothing worth mention
ing except that it gave me a chance of
a holiday, and as my wife is off with
the children thought [ would enjoy
keeping bachelors hall for few days"
And they did enjoy it! Jack sketched,
talked and smoked; Tom refused to
think of medicine or disease, kept
them all laughing, and amused him.
self at the piano, while "dear old Dris-
combe," as Ned called his friend, who
was few, and seemed ten, years older
than Ned, rested body, soul and spir-
it, enjoyingthe good cooking, the clear
air, the scenery, the young mans jolli-
ty and his wife's letters, which arrived
twice a day.
"Throat doing splendidly," was the
telegram that relieved Annie Fortescue
on the evening of her arrival. Aunt
Maria was delighted to see the children,
and made so much of Annie herself
that the little woman decided not to
go the next morning if the news was
good.
"Your husband almost .well-no
need of nursing was the telegram
received at 10 o'clock, and then all
insisted that since she had come she
might as well stay.
"Just telegraph to Ned that you'll
stay week now you have left home" :"
coaxed her aunt. "You are such a
slave to your house, husband and
children that began to despair of a
visit. I said to Thomas only the 9th
er day: sAnnie'll be sure to be house
cleaning if this warm spell holds
good."
"Why, queerly enough, had be-
gun," said Annie. "My bed was down;
Ned always knows | mean business
when I unscrew that great bed of ours.
How the dear old fellow hates house
cleaning No, can't promise a week,
but I'll stay on from day to day.
Ned can't do without me-
# she could have but seen Ned at
that moment! He was trying his
hand at water-coior under Jacks S
tuition, while Tom told story after
story that made Ned laugh SO hearth
ly he could not keep his hand steady.
Then followed a song, Ned singing the
solo, and all joining in the chorus
singing is so good for sore throat!
The weather grew warmer each day.
Annie's housewifely instincts co uld not
resists such opportunity. Ned was,
by his own account, quite well; the
children could stay at Aunt Maria's
| What a splendid chance to do the
cleaning!
/
spring days. The weather. is hea enly.
| It is inspiring. Why, before the rest
of you thought of getting out of your
beds Ned and took a stroll, and see
these sketches" and Jack showed his
studies.
sDo you know, a woman only thinks
Of" Ned began; but he was interrupt
ed; he never finished the sentence, for
a figure stood in the doorway; and, as
all four gentlemen turned, Annie look
ed from one to the other, in very evil
dent amazement, and not with evident
delight. Any woman who enjoys
housekeeping more than homemaking
can enter into her feelings. Never had
the pretty sitting-room look
ed so homelike; but Annie
saw only the disorder. A box of
water-colors here, the portfolio Of
sketches there; branch of catkins was
pinned above a picture, and In two
saucers Mr.. Driscombe had started
some delicate ferns. "Messes," one
and all, housewifely Annie called them;
vet as she looked she could not be blind
to the fact that "Ned" was brighter
and happier than he had seemed for a
year past. Even his astonishment at
her sudden appearance did not bring
back the clouded, repressed expressed
expression so familiar to his wife; for
Ned knew that, though the woman he
had chosen as his wife was trife too
much devoted to mere externals, she
was a. true lady, and would not berude
to any guest, no matter how unwe[
come.
In far less time it has taken to write
this Annie recovered herself, shook
hands with the two gentlemen she knew
and was introduced to Jack Downing,
of whom she had often heard Moth
ing was said of the throat, but after
a private interview with Mary, the
waitress, Annie, who was no fool and
quick enough to learn a lesson, made
a resolutions She pressed her hus-
band s friends to stay few days Ion
ger, watered the ferns, hunted up few
more catkins, and when she had Ned
to herself said, very demurly, "You
| Ill II / L.