Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-11-19
CHAPTER Xxx.
SHADES OF EVENING.

Happy days followed. The village in
which Sister Catherine took up her residence
was sequestered place on the border OF
Warwickshire. A long rambling street,
houses of all sizes on each side, a triangular
green at one end, the parish church at tbs
other, postoaice, grocers shop, butchers
shop-with one joint displayea-draper'i
shop small brick Westinghouse: such was
the furniture of the village. As Vanity
drove along in the numbering fiY which con-
veyed them from the remote railway station,
she wondered within, herself how life would
pass in this secluded place. Would Life here
be perfectly peaceful, or deadly dull, or bothi
They stopped in mid-street before small,
neat house, with winlow5 on each sill d
the door. A rudd woman, with cheeks
and ankles of rustic fashion, was ready to
receive them. The little entrance hall was
neat and pretty. They turned into small
parlor where CHEEKY fire burned: the tea
table was spread, and the cloth was whits
and the china gilt and green; the fire
laughed at its own frolicsome face, refl cted
in the silver teapot; little dainty plates OF
preserves promised to enliven the repast;
cream OF honest richness, and butter
wrought into fairy scrolls, and huge
country loaf fit for whole town, proifered
their services. Then the walls were pret-
tily papered and covered with engravings;
the carpet gave quiet assurance OF sub
stantial comfort to the very soies of ones
feet and just at the most comfortable dis
tance from the fire was little low coaxing
chair, which might have moved to the spot
of its own accord to invite guest to sit
down and make his happiness complete.
Peaceful, think" Vanity said to her
self mot deadly dull am quite sure.
The same taste and quiet luxury appeared
everywhere in the little house. Vanity
bedroom was marvel of prettiness; and
when. with almost childish curiosity, she
asked to see the room of her friend, she was
surprised afresh by the spotless neatness and
oerfect order of everything. But this room
sas slightly stern in its aspect. Vanity's
dressin table looked quite picturesque, with
its fancy mirror and fiowery china Here
all was for use and nothing at all for orna-
raent Besides, some grave religious pic
tures hung upon the walls.
VANITY was so anxlou; TO see more OF this
little magic abode thar before five minute /,
She was cut OF her room and ready for tea.
lign5 and pleased she went down stairs,
and, seeing the kitchen door ajar at the end
of a little passage, she peeped IN. Could you
find one spack Of dirt from floor to ceiling!
| Could you find SO much as saltspoon out
Oh 1US own ltWluI euu tid1itiNiiei pAalSSs
| Not for money.
| Tne ruddy COOK held an egg saucepan in
| her hand How the steam rolled up from
the bubbling wave, SO that she could not see
| where the eggs were hiding! With what an
easy, healthy breath significant Of pulmo-
| nary vigor--she blew the vapor aside! Ahal
| beware! for, horned though her fingers be, a
| boiled egg in its fury can cause her to snap
| them in Une air, not, however, before the egg
| itself, unhroken, is laid in its waiting place!
| Was it for rustic cheeks and ankles only this
| cook was remarkable! or for brawny arms,
! for massive shoulders, for capacious mouth,
/ Tor brown eyes, lodged safely beneath eye
| brows Ike triumphal arches, for sonorous
/ voice, which rung out in laughter, as thelast
! egg was snatched out and dropped in the
| socket quicker than musket balli
| ssNone the worse after all, miss
| FIinging her great band up in triumph.
| Rambling with mirth at her own success. as
/ il her great breast was a good-humored
| Mount Etna. Thrusting the outwitted
! saucepan, the water still fretting and spit
/ ting. into an ignominious corner, with
i another mighty laugh, like stream Of lava
i Wassuch a cook ever scent Vanity hall
| s;phed. thinking of the old days. and how
i tTis Grand, original, we'll reproduced, might
ssfetch, any house in England. She could
| sn haH-guinea sail to sixpenny gallery,
/ ,houting laughter and pealing applause
i But her nleiitations were soon disturbed.
/ .All's dished up, miss. Missis never likes
i waiting"
4 your mistress some timer
ssSome timer the cook reechoed with hel
I good -humored scorn. sSome time, indeedp Y
THIS lucid retort she left as 1t was. Gath
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