Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-03-11
BROUGHT TO TERMS.

~ john Kerr into the Kitchen on sui
Try September afternoon. Jumper. the
Watchdog, unheeding his masters greet
ing, bolted through the open doorway
70 escape the hot shower of berry juice,
whi!o poor pussy, not so fortunate, was
dancing a dainty quickstep to her own
musical accompaniment---suddenly
transformed by hot splashes of fruit in
to 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 relieved
her.
.'Oh john" she exclaimed, with a
painting breath, I'm all bubble, just
like the preserves.
Then, catching up the big gray cat,
she began briskly rubbing its bespat-
tered fur.
when will this COMPOUNDED mess be
over, Jennie9 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 undertak ken
too much while mothers away?"
mot at all. 1 have been very par
ticular to follow my recipes. Mrs.
Sadie Cooper has given me some useful
hints, and l have little judgment of
my own. But you have letter; when
will mamma be homep Such long
visit! But what lot l have done since
she went away"
Yes" said John, dryly, glancing at
The floor where pussy now sat, LAYING
her wounds with an expression of mel
,ncholy reproach in her large, celestial
looking eyes, 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 long drive! You will not
get back before o.morrow-apd-we
arc expecting company, you know, this
evening""
1--WE are not expecting company, little
sister. / don't think Tom Maxwell
will notice my absence. And l 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 tea,
for must be Off"
''Oh, dear, wish I could go, too!
Tell Sadie, she must not fail to come. l
won't stay here without her."
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 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;.t 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 badgered 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-
sured.
She tied back her yellow curls with a
blue ribbon-the color of her shy, droop,
ing eyes-and met her lover, who APP,
peared promptly at eight, 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 converse
lion, until the little one becoming fret,
ful, Mrs. Cooper, in spite of Jenne's
circumstances, made it an excuse to re-
tire.
But her absence did not alter his man
ncr in the least. He chatted away upor
every imaginable subject until the clocl
struck eleven; then, stopping in the mid
die of some gay badinage, he said:
Jennie, it lacks just one hour of mid
night. You know my decision. Wher
will you marry me?"
Utter silence followed this question.
81 am waiting for your answer" h,
said at last.
II shall not hinder you from waiting,
declared Jennie, a ring of war in he
tones.
II shall wait no longer than"
There! that will do. You neet
wait no longer"
Anu hCiC oculiC suCCctNcu III lStllli
much abused, and after some sharp
hitter words-the usual vocabulary of
lovers quarrel-she angrily tore tn
engagement ring from her finger, an
haughily dismissed the one who ha'
dared to suggest that there might b
such thing as mems rights.
He offered to remain in the house un
til morning, but she scorned his prot
fcred protection, and he could do moth
ing but leave her, saying:
'.You will be sorry for this, Jennie.
II will call you back when &c
sorry" she said, lightly.
And bidding her goodnight he wa
gone.
Then, and not till then, did she rea
izc it at all. Her anger and pride CAV
away to sense of loneliness and regre
as she recalled every word of tn
stormy interview, and a nervous fea
almost paralyzed her as she rose tren
bllngly to lock the door behind him.
The ticking of the clock sounded Liz
the strokes on a blacksmith's anvil.
thrill of terror chilled her blood as