The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-06-25

other hand. how could she proclaim hel
desertion to the neighborsP Could she
ever tell living mortal Of the tress Of
hair hidden among her husbands old
letters-a snaky curl just the shade oi
Miss Ebbitt'sf ShrOuded in miaery,
little Mrs. Gerrish buried herself again
among the pillows. From this prema.
ture interment somebody exhumed hel
five minutes later-sOmebody with
broad shoulders, and beard slightly
frosted with gray-her own husband. in
| fact.
frightened, Mabelp" cried he, blink.
ing at the lamp-light. '.Why, my
blessed girl, the shower is quite over.
See how bright it is!''
| He threw back the shutters, and LEI
the sun shine full into her fearful eyes.
"What-why-how did you happen
to come backf'' gasped she. fluttering
from his embrace with the dignity Of
an insulted sparrow.
Cordial query, little wife! / came
for my dinner, but I see I was not ex-
pected."
"Dinnerr' Mrs. Gerrish choked with
indignation. To be put off like baby
in this manner was too humiliating.
Her husband regarded her in sur
prise. "How i'll you look!' said he,
tenderly. ''Strange, thunder showers
should PROSTATE you SO. Don't try to
come down. I'll forage for myself in
the pantry. Must bolt my dinner in
! order to be at the store at two"
AT two! It chances to be past five
already"
"Past five! My dear Mabel. how in
coherently you are talking! Don't tell
me you've been struck by lightning!'
cried he, in real concern. "Look at
my watch. It's just q quarter past
one"
One-two- three four -five-six,
disputed the clock below, with lying inn
pudence.
Mr.. Gerrish threw back his head and
fairly roared with laughter. "Oh, that
the game, is it? So much for my tip
ping the thing over-taking time by the
forelock, as you might say. But, dearie,
how strange that you didn't suspect that
the clock was going two hours in one!
How absorbed you must have been this
morning!'
'.More absorbed than you were?"
queried Mrs. Gerrish, viciously.
swell, no, Pussy, may be not" re-
sponded her sublimely unconscious hus-
band. with roguish twinkle. "You
see, this is young Mrs. Gerrish' first
birthday, and I've been deeply engrossed
in choosing a gift worthy Of her,"
''Warren!"
ssyVosro boov, nv, r,ro0SoI 1obouJJ cor
Jenny Ebbitt's judgment has been every
thing to me. We didn't find every thing
satisfactory last week, and had to wait
till to-day for the new lot; but Jenny
declares that we've at last hit upon the
sweetest-toned piano in Boston. I'm
dreadfully cut up because you can't
have it on your birthday; but you can
try it tomorrow. Meanwhile, here's
the bill of sale, made out in your name,
you'll perceive. Mrs. Gerrish. allow me
to present it to you with your husbands
love-"
Warren. Warren, you're lots too
good for me" sobbed his little wife,
with self-upbraidings as wild as her
grammar.
Nonsense, goosie; no man created
could be that" TESTED he, highly flat
tered. He thought her simply over
wrought by the fierce tempest without.
OF the fiercer tempest that had ragged
within he knew nothing, either then or
afterward.
Next day, along with the piano, came
Mr.. Gerrish's valise, containing the suit
left at the tailor's for alteration. And
the post brought letter from Miss Eb-
bitt. The writer had secured lucra-
tive position as organist in New York
church; night she resign her former
situation in favor of Mrs. Gerrish?
''How kind of her! It's more than 1
deserve, Warren" cried the contrite
young wife.
And it gratified her husband to see
that she put the letter carefully away in
the very drawer which held his dead
sisters curl.-Psnn Shirley, in Harper's
BdzGr.