The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-02-14
q don't want the slippers with the fox's

" Here 1t Is, fnll0, IOlueu neatly undeF
the books" she responded.
"And what is it under the books for
WHY isn't it left where / can find it p
aif you had looked around, my dear"
"BuU don't want to look around.
And Mr.. Mayburne unfolded the sheet
and began to read, his brows still ominous-
" contracted, while Josie sat smiling be-
side him, her purpose shaping itself more
and more definitely in her mind at every
moment that the clock measured off with
silvery tick.
The next evening Mr. Mayburne came
home rampant as usual. The sitting-room
was dark and chilly as he stumbled in.
aNo light?n he demanded, querulously.
aNYhat's the use of light?" pettishly
asked his wife, who was reclining on the
sofa, under an embroidered afghan. ''The
fire has gone out half an hour ago. "
"The fire outr' Philo stood aghast.
aBut why didn't you have it kindled up
again p
Everything goes wrong, grumbled Jo-
sic. at is SO trying; and dinner isn't
ready, although it's half-past six--and the
fruit hasn't come for dessert, and I'm SO
discouraged.
"We'll do without the fruit, then"
aThere's no other dessert.
"My dear Josie, it isn't best to let little
things fret you. !"
"I'll discharge the cook tomorrow, said
Josie, acrimoniously.
"Oh, no, my dear, | wouldn't do that.
She understands her business remarkably
we'll"
"She burned the oysters yesterday
aOnly scorched EN-, that was all.
ssShe is always behindhand with the
meals
"On the contrary, my dear Josie, she is
generally the soul of punctuality. Where
is my dressing-gown ?"
aim sure / don't know, said Josie,
spiritlessly. ''That chambermaid makes a
rule of putting things just where nobody
can find them. .
ooh, here it is back of the door,, said
Philo, 'iust where she always hangs it.
aThen why didn't you look there before
YOU asked ?" demanded his wife.
Mr.. Mayburne found it convenient not
to hear, but poked the fire diligently.
"There you 60, scattering ashes all over
the velvet rug said Josie, tartly.
Mr.. Mayburne checked himself, and sat
down, shivering, in rocking chair.
"L wish you would stop creaking that
chair, groaned his wife; ''my poor nerves
are all in quiver. Why don't they send
up dinner ?"
eThere's the bell now" said Philo,
jumping up with alacrity; "come, Josie. F"
II don't care for any dinner, now that
1 have been kept waiting SO long, )" said
Mrs. Mayburne.
"Now, my dear, Josie don't be unrea-
sonable. l dare say they've got something
very nice for us.
The beefsteak was cold, the potatoes
watersoaked, and the turnips dried like
mummies, while the bread was new and
heavy. Mr. Mayburne opened his lips to
complain, but Josie was beforehand with
him.
"My goodness graciousP P' she calculated,
with upIifted hands and eyes. "Such a
dinner Take me away, Philo; can't
eat mouthful
sJust little bit of the steak, dear
it's nice and juicy"
"Not particle" said Josie, emphati-
cally. "Sarah, tell the cook she may go
tomorrow.
"My dear, my dear, pray consider"
sGThere's a chicken coming ma am, with
bread sauce" suggested Sarah with twink
ling eyes.
"Chicken and bread sauce-the very
thing l detest of all others" exclaimed
Josie.
II am sure it's very nice, said Philo;
ssee how savory it looks. Let me give
you wing and little slice of the breast.
s'It's burned to a crisp"
"Burned, my dear? Not bit of it. "
"It's raw, then, under the side. !"
"Do try it, Josie-really | think it is
delicious-and here are some steaming
baked potatoes"
"No," said Josie, resolutely, shaking
her head; my dinner is spoiled-thats Is
enough
And she walked out of the dining groom
precisely as her husband had done the
night before. But Philo, less philosophi-
cal than the wife, rose and followed her.
"Josie, dear" he said hesitatingly, as
she founced down upon the sofa.
"Well."
"Aren't you just little-a little cross?
Gam I?'
"And unreasonable trife SOP"
ado you really think SO, Philo?"
eyes"
$50 do l. l am very cross and outrage
ously unreasonable.
The dimples had come back to Josie's
lips, and the sparkle to her eyes.
"But my dear, what do you mean?"
sPhilo," said Mrs Mayburne, calmly,
''you have only been looking into look
ing-glass.
''Into looking-glass, my dear?'
Exactly so. During the last hour you
have seen yourself as you appear to the
world. How do you like the reflection?
She laid her hand lightly on his shoulder
as she spoke. Philo Mayburne sat stroking
his whiskers meditatively, without answer
ing.
Gam l really as disagreeable as that?'
he asked, presently.
eyes, quite. .
II hadn't any idea of it. -
because you have never seen yourself
as others see you"
Another silence ensued, and then MIR.
Mayburne spoke again.
''Josie, nobody shall ever see me again
in that light.
Philo Mayburne kept his word, and to
this day Mrs Jonesbury has never left of
wondering what mysterious agency wrought
marvellous change in the spirit of Philo
Mayburne's dream.
'For he amt like the same man, no
more, he ain't," truthfully observed Mrs
Jonesbury.
The latest sensation in Georgia is over
the discovery of tree, each limb OF which,
according to the Jackson Herald, has cot
FOR, holfs thicklv Stuck IN if in which Is