The Washington critic., 1886-01-22
BROUGHT TO TERMS.


needing his masters greeting, boltcd
through the open doorway TO escape
the hot shower of berry juice, while
poor pussy, not so fortunate, was
dancing a dainty quickstcp to her own
musical accompaniment - suddenly
transformed by hot splashes of fruit
into semblance of her feline cousin,
the leopard. a young girl, flushed and
frantic, was struggling TO remove the
kettle of boiling preserves, of which
her brothers strong hand quickly re.
licvod her
"Oh, John" she exclaimed, with
painting breath, "pm all a.bubble, just
like the preserves.
when will this confoundod mess be
over, Jennic2 For nearly three weeks
we've been pickcled, 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 away Y'
Not at ALL / have been very par
ticular TO follow my recipes Mrs.
Sadie Cooper has given me some use.
full hints and have a little Judgment
| Of my own. But you have letter
when will mamma be home Such
long visit But what lot have done
| since she went away ~
"Ycs," said john, dryly, gloncing mt
the floor, then reading from the letter
in 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 q long drive You will not
| get back before o.morrow---and--and
we are expecting company you know,
this evening"
"JVo are not expecting company,
little sister. ] don't think Tom Max
well will notice my absence. And |
will stop and get Mrs. Cooper to come
over and stay with you until morning"
John and Jennie Kerr were the 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 Il 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 loved
her happy home, was coy and wilful,
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
its second year.
Jennie had declared she would not
be badgered into anything-she would
die first; and, knowing her lover, she
felt strange foreboding for tonight.
John drove off in the old family car
riagc; 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 rcassured
She tied back her yellow curls with
Il blue ribbon-the color of her shy,
dropping cyes-and met her lover, who
appeared promptly at s, the curves of
her scarlet lips marked by sharp line
that indicated the firmness of her reso-
luton.
Tom Maxwell played with the baby
and kept up light, running conyersa
tion until, the little one becoming. fret
full, Mrs. Cooper, in spite of Jennie's
remonstTances, made it an excuse to re-
tire.
But her absence did not alter his
manner in the least. He chatted away
upon every imaginable subject until
the clock struck II; then stopping sud
denly in the middle of some gay
badinagc, he said:
Jennie, it lacks just one hour of
midnight. You know my decision.
When will you marry me?'
Utter silence followed this question.
Il am waiting for your answer" he
said, at last.
Il shall not hinder you from wait
ing" declared Jennie, ring of war IN
her tones.
II shall wait no longer than"
"There! that will do. You need wait
no longerp'
And here Jennie succeeded in feeling
very much abused, and after some
sharp, bitter words-the usual vocab-
ulary of lovers quarrel-she angrily
tore the engagement ring from her
finger and hautily dismissed the one
who had dared to suggest that there
might be such thing us mems rights.
He offered to remain in the house
uiitll bub sbC SIoluN illo
proifered protection, and he could do
nothing hut leave her, saying:
You will be sorry for this, Jennie. "
II will call you back when | get
sorry" she said lightly.
And bidding her good night, he was
gone,
Then, and not till then, did she
realize it all. Her anger and pride
| tn, .,f lpnnlinnpa Il
regret as she recalled every word of the
stormy interview, and a nervous feal
almost paralyZed her as she rose
tremblingly to lock the door behind
him.
The ticking of the clock sounded
like the strokes on blacksmith's S an
vii A thrill Of terror chilled hel
blood as Il mouse scampered across the
floor. Her little, cold hand had barely
reached the bolt, when-oh, horror OF
; horrorsl--a deafeuing report sounded
somewhere at the back of the house
and, no longer paralyzed in tongue OF
limb, with wild shrieks of terror, she
bounded up the stairs.
ooh, Sadie, Sadicp' as another and
: another report sounded, some one is
. shooting through the back Window
. Vigorous strokes on the bedroom
door aroused the sleeping mother ant
child.
"What isit Oh, what is it?" ex
claimed the former, rs Jennie fell, al
most fainting, into the room.
TITS firing listen-there" rs still
another report sounded through thC
house,
CON- screamed Sadie, lit is, ii is
Where is Mr. Maxwell? Call him..
ole is rnnnn Mnilel nnor Lcnnio