The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-02-19
BROUGHT TO TERMS.

Jumper, the watchdog, unheedlng ms
masters greeting, bolted through the
open doorway to escape the hot
shower of berry;juice, whilepoorpussy,
not so fortunate, was dancing adainty
ouickstep to her W musical accom-
naniment-suddenly transformed by
hot splashes of fruit into a semblance
of her feline cousin, the leopard. A
Young girl, flushed and frantic, was
struggling to remove thekettle of boil
inc preserves, of which her, brothers
strong hand quickly relieved her.
"Oh, john" she exclaimed with a
panting breath, "Im all a-bubble
lust like the preserves.
When will this confounded mess be
over, Jennie? Fornearly three weeks
we've been picked, canned and preserv-
ed, until everything seems to taste and
smell of spice, sugar, and vinegar.
Aren't you afraid you have undertake
en- too much while mothers away?"
"Not at all. Ihave been very partic-
uIar to follow my recipes. Mrs. Sadie
Cooper has given MT some useful hints
and | have a little Judgment of my
own. But you have a letter; when
will mamma be homer Such a long
visit! But what o lot | have done
since she went away!'
eyes," said John, dryly, ~glancing at
the floor, then reading from the letter
in his hand:
evil reach the city at midnight.
Don't fail to meet me there"
"Why, that is tonight! Bless her
heart, she's coming at lastl But,
John, it's such q long drive! You will
not get back before to-nlorrow-and-
we are expecting company, you know,
this evening"
I'VE are not expecting company,
little sister. don't think Tom Max
we'll will notice my absence, and Twill
stop and get Mrs. Cooper to comeo over
and stay with you until morning"
John and,Jennie Kerr were the only
children of a 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 a distant city, and during her alb
sence Jennie had maidstone wonderful
housekeeping experiments, with a
view to entering an establishment OF
her own in the near future. But she
loved her happy home, was coy and
willful, and persisted in her refusal to
namethe wedding day.
Her lover had grown inpatient; to-
night was the anniversary oftheir be-
throthal, and he had vowed to have
it settled before their engagement en-
tered it's second year.
Jennie had declared she would not
be badgered into anything-she would
die first; and, knowing her lover, sh.
felt a strange forboding for tonight.
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
cit somewhat reassured.
She tied back her yellow curls with
a blue ribbon-the color of her shy,
dropping eyes-and met her lover,
who appeared promptly at 8, the
curves of her scarlet lips marked by
sharp line that indicated the firm
ness OF her resolution.
Tom Maxwell played with the baby
and kept up a light, rHnningconversa-
ton, until, the little one becoming
fretful, Mrs. Cooper, in spite of Jennie's
remonstrances, made it an excuse TO
retire.
But her absence did not alter his
manner in the least. He chatted
away upon every imaginable subject
until the clock strnck IL; then, stop
ping suddenly in the middle of some
gay badinage, 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.
lshall not hinder you from wait
ing, !" declared Jennie, O. ring OF war
In her tones.
shall wait no longer than"
"Therel that will do. You need
walt no longerl'
AnG here Jennie succeeded in feeling
very much abused, and after some
sharp, bitter words-the usual vocab-
aiary OF a lovers quarrel--she angri-
y tore the engagement ring from her
niger, and haughtily dismissed the
one who had dared to suggest there
might be such q thing as mems rights.
he offered to remain in the house
until morning; but she scorned his
proifered protection, and he could do
nothing but leave her, saying:
You will be sorry for this, Jennie"
i will call you back when | get sor-
~" she said, lightly.
gone.
Then, and nottill then, did she real