The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-03-12
BROUGHT TO TERMS.

A deluge Of steam and q strong odo
Of burning sugar greeted the entranc
Of John Kerr into the kitchen ON . sui
try September afternoon. Jumper. tn
watchdog, unheeding his masters greet
ing, bolted through tho open doorwa,
to escape the hot shower of berry juice
while poor pussy. not so fortunate, wa
dancing a dainty quickstep to her owl
musical accompaniment-sudden
transformed by hot splashes Of fruit in
to scmblance Of her feline cousin, tn,
leopard. A young girl, flushed ant
frantic, was struggling to remove thu
kettle Of boiling preserves, Of which hel
brothers. strong hand quickly relieved
her.
ooh john" she exclaimed. with ,
painting breath. I'm all bubble, JUS
like the preserves"
Then. catching up the big gray cat
she began briskly rubbing its bcspat,
tered fur.
"When will this COMPOUNDED mess bt
over, Jennie? For nearly three weeks
we've been picked. canned and pre-
served, until everything seems to taste
and smell of spice, sugar and vinegar.
Aren't you afraid you have undertaken
too much while mothers awayp"
Not ut all. have been very par.
ticular to follow my recipes. Mrs.
Sadie Cooper has given me some useful
hints. and 1 have a little judgment Of
my own. But you have letter; when
will mamma bc home? Such q long
visit! But what q lot have done since
she went away"
Yes" said John, dryly, glancing al
the floor where pussy now sat, having
her wounds with IN expression of mel
ancholy rcproach in her large. celestial
looking eyes, then reading from the
lcttcr.l his hand:
will reach the city at midnight.
Don't fail to meet me there
"Why, that is tonight! Bless her
heart, she's coming at last! But, John,
it's such long drive! You will not
get back before o.morrow-and-we
arc expecting company, You know, this
evening"
I'VE are not expecting company. little
sister. l don't think Tom Maxwell
will notice my absence. And I will
stop and get Mrs. Cooper to come over
and stay with You until morning. Her
husband won't mind keeping house one
night alone; SO make me cup of ten,
for 1 must be off,
''Oh, dear, wish l could 20, too!
Tell S:ulic, she must not fail to conc.
won't stay here without her."
John and Jennie Kerr were tho only
children of widow, owning and man.
aging the comfortable dairy farm upon
which they had been born. Mrs. Kerr
had been visiting an only sister, living
in distant city, and during her alb
scnce Jennie had made some wonderful
housekeeping experiments. with view
to entering an establishment of her own
in the near future. But she loves her
happy home. was coy and willful, and
persisted in her refusal to name the
wedding day.
Her lover had grown impatient; to-
night was the anniversary of their be-
trothal. and he had vowed to have it
settled before their engagement entered
the second year.
Jennie had declared that she would
not be badgercd into anything-she
would die first; and knowing her lover
she felt strange foreboding for to-
night.
John drove off in the old family car
riage. and by the time the untidy kitchen
was carefully put to rights Mrs. Cooper
arrived with her baby and her matronly
dignity, and Jennie felt somewhat reas.
surc.k
She tied back her yellow curls with a
blue ribbon-thc color of her shy, droop-
ing eyes-and met her lover, who ap-
peared promptly at eight, the curves OF
her scarlet lips marked by sharp line
that indicated the tirmness of her reso-
luton.
Tom Maxwell played with the baby
and kept up a light, running converse.
ton. until the little one becoming fret.
full. Mrs. Cooper, in spite of Jennie
remonstranccs, made it an excuse to re-
tire.
But her absence did not alter his man.
ncr in the least. He chatted away upon
every imaginable subject until the clock
struck eleven; then, stopping in the mid.
die of some gay badinagc, he said;
Jennie. it lacks just one hour of mid.
night. You know my decision. When
will you marry me?'
Utter silence followed this question.
II am waiting for your answer" he
said at last.
II shall not hinder you from waiting
declared Jennie, Il ring of war in hel
tones.
Il shall wait no longer than"
''There! that will do. You need
wait no longer
And here Jennie succeeded in feeling
much abused, and after some sharp
bitter wortls-thc usual vocabulary of g
lovers qmarrcl-she angrily tore tho
engagement ring from her finger, ant
haughtily dismissed the one who had
dared to suggest that there might be
such thing as mems rights.
He offered to remain in the house un.
til morning, but she scorned his prof
fered protection, and he could do moth
ing but leave her, saying:
''You will be sorry for this. Jennie. .
Il will call you back when l pei
sorry" she said, lightly.
And bidding her goodnight he wa.
gone.
Then, and not till then, did she real
Me it at all. Her anger and pride gave
away TO a sense of loneliness and re GRE
as she recalled every word of tho