Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-07-18

49, A&N4~ 0AAA1Ae WAA&A
Drowned chicken, q tumbler Of currant
jelly. 4 curly bunch Of celery ranged
before her, when. 70 her surprise. the
door opened and in walked her lord and
husband.
"Why. Frank. where on earth did
you come from9' cried the astonished
wife
"From the ofice." very cody ans
swered Mr.. Chickerly.
"But 1 thought you were Off for
ScenersviIle In such hurry"
81 found myself just five minutes
too late for the train. after having run
all the way to the depot"
''Oh. that was too bad"
Chickerly smiled a little as he began
to carve the chicken.
Eyes. was alittle annoyed at first,
it did seem rather provoking to be
kept at home by only a shirt button"
what are you going to do?"
'Why. shall make q second start
tomorrow"
'Tll see to it that your breakfast is
ready this time. to the second. and all
your wardrobe in trim" said Fanny.
rather relieved at the prospect of .
chance of retrieving her character.
"You need not. l have engaged a
room at hotel dear the depot. / can't
run any more risks"
He did not speak unkindIy, and yet
Fanny felt that he was deeply dis
pleased with her.
"But, Frank"
ave will not discuss the matter any
further, my dear. il you please. !
have resolved to say nothing more to
you about reforms. l see it is use
less, and only tends to foster an un-
pleasant state of feeling between us.
Shall help you to some more macca-
roni ?"
Fairly silenced. Fanny ate her din
ner with what appetite was left her.
Three days afterward, Mr.. Chicken
ly once more made his entrance, just
at dusk, valice in hand. while Fanny
sat enjoying the rudy light of the
coal fire and the consciousness of hav-
ing performed her duty in the mend
ing and general renovation Of her hus-
bands drawer full of shlrts-a job
which she had long been dreading and
postponing.
"Well. how is Aunt Elizabeth P"
questioned Mrs. Chickerly, when her
husband. duly welcomed and greeted.
had seated himself in the opposite easy
chair.
Dead" was the brief reply.
dead r. Oh. Frank OF her old
enemy, apoplexy?"
"Yes.''
'sWas her will made?"
ait was. Apparently she had ex-
pected me on the day she herself APP
pointed and on my non-arrival on the
only train that stops, she sent for the
village lawyer, made her viii. and left
all her property to the orphan asylum
in Scenersville, with a few bitter
words to the effect that the neglect OF
her only living nephew had induced
her, on the spur of the moment. to al
ter her original intention of leaving II
to him. She died the next morning"
ooh, Frank, how much was itP"
"Ten thousand dollars"
There was moment or two or 81.
lence, then Mr.. Chickerly added com.
posedly,
''You see, Fanny, how much that
missing button has cost me /"
Mrs. Chickerly sat like one con.
demned, by the utterance of her own
conscience. Not alone the one missing
button, but the Sc0reS-nay, hun
dreds of trifing omissions, forgetfuI-
ness and postponements which made
her life one endless endeavor to "catch
up" with the transporting present,
seemed to present themselves before
her minds eye. What would this end
in? Was not the present lesson sufIi-
GENTLY momentous to teach her TO train
herself in different SCHOOL,
She rose and came to her husbands
side, laying one tremulous hand on his
shoulder.
"There shall be no more missing
buttons, my love- she said earnestly.
He comprehended all that she left
unspOken. and silently pressed the liz
tie hand in his own; and not a word
more was said upon this subject