The Washington critic., 1885-09-22
THE BOMBAZINE CLOAK.


"Times is very hard with me, Mr..
Foxglovc," said she. 81 hain't had no
work since August, and there amt
nothing to cat in the house"
"You don't tell mel" said the farmer,
who was the softest hearted of men.
Here, give me your basket Phi
lena II say I'm an old fool; but don't
care"
With trcpidaton not unlike the
sensation of Il schoolboy who robs an
orchard for the first time, he went into
the buttcry and helped himself to half
u cold roast fowl a loaf of rye bread.
a goodly wedge of yellow butter out of
n covered stone jar and three quarters
of juicy apple pie. And then he
opened Mrs. FoXglove's especial tea
caddy, and filched handful of the
fragrant dried leaves, which he
wrapped up in brown paper and put
beside the other viands. And, ehanc-
ing to notice how thin and inadequate
the poor old woman's shawl was, he
rccklessly took down an old bombazine
cloak, originally a bright brown, but
now faded in as many streaks rs
zebra hide, which had hung from time
immemorial in the back entry.
"Thcre amt no more use in that old
dud," he thought. "And it will keep
the cold out, and if Philena makes n
fuss I'll give her a new blanket shawl"
Mrs. Waterman went off rejoicing.
Presently Mrs. FoXglovc and Scraphina
came home from the weekly meeting
of the Society of the Helpers of the
Heather in jublant spirits.
George Patterson was there" said
Mrs. FoXgove. "He said he came af-
ter his aunt, but il was my belief that
he wanted to walk home with Sera-
phina"
serophina hung down her head and
said nothing.
LA me!' said Mrs. FoXglove from
the kitchen "What has come to
things? Here's the cold chicken and
the apple pie gone! And the cover off
the butter jar, too
"Y-ycs," said the farmer coughing.
IL got sort o hungry, so thought
I'd Jest take snack"
where's the bombaZine cloak, pa?"
said Seraphna, after the somewhat
frugal supper, as she took the milking
pail. ITS raining Il little, and the
cows haven't come home from pasture
yet"
"If | had pair of eyes I'd use
them," said Mrs FoXglovc, coming to
the rescue and viewing the row of
empty pegs with an eagle glance.
"Well, | declare! Nehemiah, turning
to her husband, chat comes of leaving
YOU to keep house. You must have
zone Off and left the door open, and
some tramp has got in and robbed us.
II did lust step out to the wood pile
for some more logs" said the farmer,
thankful for the avenue of escape that
was opened to him, "But l wasn't
| gone long"
The farmer wriggled uneasily in his
cushioned rocking chair.
Il wish old Mrs. Waterman had
been in Jericho before she came here?'
he said to himself.
Meanwhile pretty SerNphinn, singing
softly to herself folded an old striped
shawl around her taper shoulders and
went out to the pastures after the tru-
ant company of cows.
Old Tulips bell was iangling among
the silver.stcmmed birchens on the
bleak hill they were already on the
homeward path, but Seraphina loitercd
unnecessarily on the foot bridge that
spanned brawling brook.
All was still and dusk; certain
| frosty sweetness was in the autumn air
and the only visible person was n
woman farther down the brook, who
was dipping water.
Suddenly there was another step
strong, swift and full of purpose.
Seraphinas eyes frightened; II vivid
color rose into her checks.
"There he comes now" she mur-
INJURED. "Thcrc comes George"
To her surprise and dismay, how
ever, the cavalier did not come up the
hill, but stayed his steps beside the
other woman below,
"IIe is throwing his arms around her
neck" thought the indignant Scra-
phina. "lIc is-ycs, he is actually
kissing herl Are men absolutely with
out truth and faithfulncss in this age
of the world? But don't care! Why
should care? I'm sure it don't mat
ter to me-
Seraphina hurried the cows home
and finished the milking in less time
than il had ever taken her before. She
was Just carrying in the foNming pail
when tall figure approached.
"Scraphina -
Pray don't trouble yourself to
speak to me. sir" said Seraphino,
with toss of the head; cor if you do,
please call me Miss FoXglove = "
And Seraphina vanished through the
kitchen door.
What the matter, Phiny?' said
her mother, noticing the girls quick
movements and heightened color,
Nothing, ma, said Scraphinu
1t was getting toward o. clock when
there came Il knock at the door Mrs
FoXgloyc opened it, There stood tho
Widow Waterman.
Il hope am not intruling," said
Mrs. Waterman; "but here's thg
brown bombuMnc cloak, Mr., FoNglove
and humbly thanking you all the same
ia rather not wear it. ~
Ell" said Mr.. FoNgloyc in amaze
mcnt,
at was very kind of you to give it t,
me, went ON Mrs, Waterman, TO tn,
utter discontinue of the poor farmer
"but there's some things rs human llesl
and blood can't bear, and to have Dcl
con PullNby's son asking ii he coul,
not see me home when | came ont o
the store and MIR, Ferdinand Pmil say
ing was to be at the dance at Mclind
Edwards on Tuesday night and nigh
> he call for me at 3 o'clock-wcll, H.
rather upsetting. But the worst of /
: all was when went to ret Il little wate
, at the brook A young fellow seize
f hold of me and was going to kiss M
o ! believe it's the brown cloak rs don
it all, % with meaning glance At Ser
aphina FoXglOye. 80 if you woul
{ please to take il back I'll try and &c
along with my old shawl Il spell longer
And the roast chicken was very good