The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-08-15

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 90 the
next morning if the news was good.
TYour 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," eoaxed her aunt. "You are
such slave to your house, hus-
band and children, that / began to
despair of a visit. l said to Thomas
only the other day: 'Annie'll be
sure to be house-cleaning if this
warm spell holds good.'"
"Why, queerly enough, I had be-
gun," said Annie. "My bed was
down; Ned always knows l mean
business when | unscrew that great
bed of ours. How the dear old fell
low hates house-cleaning. No, /
can't promise week, but I'll stay
on from day to day. Ned can't do
without me-"
If she could have but seen Ned
at that moment! He was trying his
hand at a watercolor under Jacks
tuition, while Tom told story after
story that made Ned laugh so
heartily he could not keep his hand
steady. Then followed song, Ned
singing the solo, and all joining in
chorus-to sing is so good for
sore throat!
The weather grew warmer each
day. Annie's housewifely instincts
could notresist such an 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!
81 never knew such a succession
of spring days. The weather is
heavenly. 1t is inspiring. Why,
before the rest of you thought of
getting out of your beds Ned and l
took stroll, and see these sketches!'
and Jack showed his studies.
"DO you know, a woman only
thinks of" Ned began; but he was
interrupted; he never finished the
sentence, for a figure stood in the
doorway; and, as all four gentle
men turned, Annie looked from one
to the other, in very evident amaze
ment, and not with evident delight.
Any woman who enjoys housekeep-
ing more than homemaking can
enter into her feelings. Never had
the pretty sitting-room looked so
homelike; but Annie only saw the
disorder. A box of water-colors
here, the portfolio sketches there :;
branch of catkins was pinned
above a picture, and in two saucers
MIR. Discombe had started some
delicate ferns. "Messrs," one and
all, housewifely Annie called yet
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 astonish-
ment at her sudden appearance did
not bring back the clouded, repress-
ed expression SO familiar to his wife;
for Ned knew that, though the
woman he had chozen as his wife
was a true laly, and would not be
rude to any guest, no matter how
unwelcome.
In far less time than it has taken
to write this Annie recovered her
self, shook hands with two gentle
men she knew and was introduced
to Jack Downing, of whom she had
often heard. Nothing was said of
the throat, but after private inter-
view with Mary the waitress, Annie,
who was no fool and quick enough
to learn lesson, made a resolution.
She pressed her husbands friends
to stay a few days longer, watered
the ferns, hunted up a few more
catkins, and when she had Ned to
herself said, very demurely; "You
needn't play sick another spring,
dear. I'll wait till you've enjoyed
the first lovely weather before l
house-clean. Ned, l do like tidy
house, but l believe l love you even
better !"
"Annie, I'm ashamed of myself,
but can't say I'm sorry, since
you're so good about it. So you do
see something good in lovely
spring day besides an inspiration
for a thorough cleaning~
81 see what these spring days
have done for you, Ned; / believe
you've been cleaning out the cob
webs from your brain. You must
keep Jack Downing here week or
two. After all, the house need not
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