Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1886-02-11
BROUGHT TO TERMS.

! A deluge of steam and a strong odor o
burning sugar greeted the entrance o
John Kerr into the farmhouse kitchen OF
a sultry September afternoon. Jumper
the watchdog, unheeding his MASTER
greeting, bolted through the open door
way to escape the hot shower of berry
juice, while poor pussy, not so fortunate
was dancing a dainty quickstep to hel
own musical accompaniment suddenly
transformed by hot splashes of fruit into
asemblance of her feline cousin, the leop
ard. A young girl, flushed and frantic,
was struggling to remove the kettle Of
boiling preserves, of which her brothers
strong hand quickly relieved her.
ooh, John" she exclaimed, with pant
ing breath, sI'm all a-bubble, just like
the preserves
Then, catching up the big gray cat, she
began briskly rubbing its bespatted fur.
''When will this mess be over, Jennie9
For nearly three weeks we've been pick
led, canned and preserved, until every
thing seems to taste and smell Of spice,
sugar and vinegar. Aren't you afraid
you have undertaken too much while
mothers away2p
Not at all. Ihave been very particu-
lar to follow my recipes. Mrs. Sadie
Cooper has given me some useful hints,
and have little Judgment Of my own.
But you have a letter; when will mamma
be home? Such long visitl But what
a lot have done since she went -woyr,,
''Yes,n said John, dryly, glancing at
the floor, wherepussy now sat, laving her
wounds with an expression-of melancholy
reproach in her large, celestial-looking
eyes, then reading from the letter in his
hand:
''Willreach the city at midnight. Don't
fail to meet me there.
HWhy, that is Tonight Bless her
heart, she's coming at last! But, John,
it's such long drivel You will not GET
back before tomorrow -and-and we are
expecting company, you know, this
evening""
''We are not expecting company, little
sister. don't think Tom Maxwell will
notice my absence. And | will stop
and get Mrs. Cooper to come over and
stay with you until morning. Her hus-
band won't mind keeping house one night
alone; 50 make me cup of tea, for must
be off,
ooh, dear, I wish I could 60, tool Tel
Sadie she must not fail to come. Iwon't
stay here without her.
John and Jennie Kerr were the onl,
children Of widow, owning and manag-
ing the comfortable dairy farm upon
which they had been born. Mrs. Kerr
had been visiting an only sister, living il
a distant city, and during her absence
Jennie had made some wonderful house
keeping experiments, with a view tc
entering an establishment Of her own il
the near future. But she loved her happy
home, was coy and willful, and persiste
in her refusal to name the wedding-day
Her lover had grown impatient; tc
night was the anniversary Of the be
trothal, and he had vowed to have il
settled before their engagement entered
its second year.
Jennie had declared she would not b
badgered into anything g-she would die
first; and knowing her lover, she felt
strange foreboding for tonight.
John drove off in the old family cal
riage; and by the time the untidy kitcher
was carefully put to rights, Mrs. Cooper
arrived with her baby and her matronl,
dignity, and Jenny felt somewhat reas
sured.
! She tied back her yellow curls with
blue ribbon color of her shy, droop
ing eyes-and met her lover, who ap
peared promptly at eight, the curves O
her scarlet lips marked BY sharp lin,
that indicated the frmness of her resolu
ton.
| Tom Maxwell played with the bab,
and kept up light, running converse
! ton, until the little one becoming fret
| ful, Mrs. Cooper, in spite of Jennie's re
nonstrances made it an excuse to retire
But her absence did not alter his man
ncr in the least. He chattcd away upol
every imaginable subject until the clocl
struck eleven; then, stopping suddenly i
the middle of some gay badinage, he said
Jennie, it lacks just ono hour of mid
night. You know my decision. Whel
viii you marry me p
Utter silence followed this question.
" I am waiting for your answer, . h
said, at last.
] shall not hinder you from waiting,
declared Jennie, ring Of war in he
tones.
Il shall wait no longer than n''
s'There! that will do. You need nc
wait no longerr'
Il And here Jennie succeeded in feelin
very mnch abused, and after some SHARP