The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-02-13
Olre 4nteltlQsuGes,.
-
one0i Nos. as and "a Fourteenth Street,
BROUGHT TO TERMS.

a = y
a deluse OF steam and strong odor o
burning sugar greeted the entrance o
John Kerr into tbs farmhouse kitchen OF
a sultry September afternoon. Jumper
the watchdog, unheeding his masters
greeting, bolted through the open doorway
to escape tho hot shower of berry Juice
while poor pussy, not SO fortunate, wa
dancing a dainty quickstep to her owl
musical aCCompauiment-suddenly trans
formed by hotsplashes OF iruit into sem
blancs Of her feline cousin, the leopard
A young girl, flushed and frantic, wa
struggling to remove the kettle OF boiling
p 'eserves, Of which her brothers. strong
maud quickly relieved her.
"0h john" abe exclaimed, with pant,
ing breath, I'm all bubble, just like the
preserves.
Then, catching up the big gray cat
she began briskly rubbing its despatched
fur,
"When will this COMPOUNDED mess be
over, Jennie? For nearly three weeks
we've been picked, canned and preserved,
until everything seems to taste and smell
OF spice, sugar and vinegar. Aren't you
AFRAID you nave undertaken too much
while mothers away"
mot 1T all. have been very partiGu-
lar to follow my recipes, blrd. Sadie
Cooper has given me some useful hints,
and have u little jugdment OF my oWn,
But you have Il letter; when will mamma
DO homer Such u long visit! Bdfwhat
lot have done since she went away p
"Yes," said John, dryly, glancing at the
floor where pussy now, sat, LAYING her
wounds with an expression Of meanchG.
Iy TeproaCh in her largo celestia! looking
eyes then reading from tho letter in his
hama;
"WilI reach the city at midnight, Don't
fail to meet ma there"
what, that is Tonight Bless her heart,
she's coming nt last! But, John, il is such
q long drive! You will not gel back he
lore to-moTow-and-We arc expecting
company, you know, thia evening"
I'VE are not expecting company, little
sister. l 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 husband
won't mind keeping house one night
alone 60 make me,a cup OF tea, Tor must
be oil"
"Oh, dear, l wish could 70, too! Tell
Sadie she must not mi to come. won't
staV here without herr
John and Jennie Kerr were the only
children Of q widow, owning and mauag.
ing Ihecom!ortGblO dairy farm upon which
they had been born, Mrs Kerr had been
visiting an only sister, living in distant
city, and during her absence Jennie had
made some wonderful house keeping ex-
periHents, with Il view to entering an es
adjustment Of her own in the neariutur
But She loved her happy home, was coy
and Tilliul, md persisted in her refusal
to name the wedding dsy.
Her lover had grown impatient; tonight
was the anniyarsary Of their botrotha,
and ho had vowed to have 1t settled be.
fore their engagement entered tho second
year.
Jennie lad declared sho would not be
badgerud into anylhing--Bhe would die
first; knowing her lover, she felt strange
lOreboding ioT tonight.
John drove of Ia the old family car.
riage, and by the time the untidy Kitchen
was carefully pu. 10 rights Mis-. Cooper
arrived with her baby and her matronly
dignity and Jennie .telt somewhat reas.
cured.
She tied back her yellow Gurls with n
blue TibbOn--the color Of her shy, droop.
ing eyes-and met her lover, who appear.
ed promptly ut eight, the curves OF her
scarlet ipa marked by sharp line that
indicated tho llrmnesB OF her resolution.
Tom Maxwell played with the baby and
kept up a light, running conversation,
until, the little one becoming iretiul, Mrs,
Cooper, in spite Of Jennio's circumstances,
made II an exCuraO 10 retire.
But her absence did not alter his man.
ner in tho least. He Ghatted away upon
every imaginable subject until tho clock
struck II then, stopping suddenly in the
middle OF some Ysy badlnage, he said;
"Jennie, 1t lacks Just one hour Of mid
night. You know my decision. When
will you marry meP
Utter SILENCE followed this question.
II am waiting for your answer" he
said at last.
u shall not hinder you from waiting"
declared Jennie, ringof war in her tones
II shall wait no longer than"
"There2 That will do. You need walt
no longer"
Aud here Jennie succeeded In feeling
much abused, and alters some sharp, bitter
words-the usual vocabulary Of q lovers
quarrel-she Angrily tore tho engagement
ring from her finger, and haughLily dis
missed the ono who had dared 10 suggest
that there might bO such a thing as nen'i
rights.
He offered to remain IN the house unit
morning, but she EC1rued his proiered
protection, and he could do nothing bu
leave her, saying:
"You will be sorry for thiq, jennie"
~ will call you back when get Sorry
she aaid, lightly.
And bidding her good night he wal
gone.
Then, and not till then, did she realize
1t all. Her anger and pride gave way to {
sense OF loneliness and regret 40 shO re
called every word Of tho stormy interview
and nervous fear almost paralyzed her Al
she rose trembling to lock the door behinl
him.
The ticking Of the clock sounded Xix,
the strokes on blsCksmith'a anvil. A
thrill oiterror chilled her blood as noust
sCampered across the floor. Her little
cold hand had barely reached a bolt, whel
Lob, horror OF horrors Ia deRtening 70
port sounded somewhere at the back o
the house, and no longer psralyaeh IL
tongue or limb, with wild shrieks OF terro
che bounded up the stairs.
"Oh, Sadie, sadiel" as another aud an
other report sounded. "Some one 10 shoot
ting through the back window"
Vigorous strokes OH the bedroom doc
aroused the sleeping mother and child.
"What Is it2 Oh, what is it7" exClaim
ed.the former, as Jennie fell almost faint
ing into the room.
"It'B fringl lister-therel" as still an
other report sounded through the house
"Oh," screamed Sadie, ut is--it' IL
Where is MIR. MAXWELL Call him"
"lIe gone" walled poor Jennie, wiring