Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-11-10
ONLY A BUTTON


window full of poisoning plants; g.
bright fire glowing behind FURNISHED
crate: g. carpet whose sCft, velvety
pile was shaded in blue and wood col
ors to correspond with the damask-
covered furniture, and little gilded
clock which had just struck 8 at
night-all these things met Mrs. Chick
erly's eye as she laid down her book
and yawned as widely as her ripe cherry
Of mouth would admit.
She was q plump fair-faced young
matron OF some four or five or TWEEN
ty. with bright auburn hair, soft
blue eyes, and a complexion whose
roses stood in need Of no artificial
rouge to heighten their charms, while
her dress of soft crimson merino was
exquisitely adapted to her semi-blonde
style.
"Fanny," said Mr.. Chickerly, look
ing up from his newspaper, "did you
call on those Carriers to-day?"
''No, never thought Of it,"
"And they leave town tomorrow
morning, and Carter is absurdly sen
eitive to all Sights, fancied or real.
Fanny, desired you to make a point
of calling"
well, 1 did intend to" pouted Mrs.
Chickerly, ''but one can't think of
every thing"
You cannot, it seems
cit appears to me you are making O.
mountain ouS OF q mole-hill, "said she,
rather tartly.
''It may affect my business very seri-
ously. Carriers house carries great
influence with it.
Mrs. Chickerly was silent, patting
the velves carpet with her foot in g
manner that indicated some annoy
ance.
''I shall have to leave very early to-
morrow morning" said her husband,
presently.
"Io 60 to Sceaersville about Aunt
Elizabeth'6 WHIP
Yes"
30, | wouldn't, Frank"
f'Why not ?"
cts such bitter cold weather to
travel in, and Aunt Elizabeth is such
a, whimsical old woman it's as likely
as not that she'll change her mind
about masking O. will when you get
there. / would wait q little if I were
you"
Mr.. Chickerly smiled.
''That would be your system of do
ing things, but not mine"
''My system, Frank! What do you
mean 2"
81 mean that you believe in putting
things off Indefinitely and not always
In the wisest manner. [ wish you
would break yourself of that habit
Believe me, it will some day bring
you to grief
Mrs. Chickerly contracted her eye
broWs.
81 don't believe in being lectured,
Frank"
"And don't very often lecture you,
my dear; pray give me credit for
that"
"You didn't think you were marry
ing an angel when you took me, [
hope"
'sNo, my love. I thought Twas mars
rying q very pretty little girl, whose
faults might be easily corrected
Faults" Have [ any great faults,
Frank?"
'Little faults may sometimes en-
tail great consequences" 49,
Al wa SIOlIA AA|1O So1AcRlA 81
out OF the room"
"You need not, for am going my
self TO pack my valise. By the way,
there's button off the shirt / want
to wear tomorrow. [ wish you would
come upstairs and sew it on for me-
81 will, presently"
"Why can't you come now?"
81 just want TO finish this book;
there's only one more chapter"
Fanny opened her volume SO reso-
lutely that her husband thought it
best not to contest the question.
Sitting all alone in front Of the
bright fire, Mrs. Chickerly gradually
grew drowsy, and before she knew it
she had drifted off into the shadowy
region of dreamland.
She was reused by the clock strik-
ing IL.
"Dear me! how late it isl" she
thought, with little start. "I must
go upstairs Immediately. There, I
forgot to tell the cook about having
breakfast at 5 tomorrow morning,