The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-06-15

but by main strength they got it at last
to the Slack's door and Mrs. Slack took
her leave, carrying the piano stool and
cloth herself.
The appearance of her beloved piano
gave Mrs. Pepper q great deal of unhap.
pincss that evening. It had a dcep
scratch on the cover and one of the keys
wouldn't lift. However, she PLAYED
waltzes and sets for the lancers most OF
the evening, and ms the company went ir
to supper in relays-old folks first and
young folks last, as Mrs. Slack said-she
found very little left but u cup of coffee
and a turkcy-bone when her duties were
done.
But there is an end to everything.
One day she saw Mrs. Slack driving ur
the road in the minister's new buggy.
She was wearing the pretty mantilla she
had borrowed of her. With hcr. usual lit.
tic giggle she stopped at the garden gate.
MIR. Pepper had taken a holiday and
was lying in the hammock reading. His
wife had her sewing under the oak tree,
and was extremely happy and comforta-
bic. If Mrs. Sleek had come to ask he,
to drive she had resolved not to 90. She
would say: "My husband has so few
holidays I cannot leave home to-day"
But Mrs. Slack did no such thing.
"You dear, good soull" she cried, as
soon as she was within speaking distance,
IL came to borrow your husband"
Borrow Ohat2' calculated Mrs. Pep
per.
"Iour husband" said Mrs. Slack,
"Slack's in New York; 1 am going to a
a picnic; I want an escort and some one
to drive. May I have him9"
"You ought to ask Mr.. Pepper him
SELF" said Mrs. Pepper, very coldly.
II shan't," said Mrs. Slack, playfully,
~ came to borrow him of you. You'll
lend him, won't you9 and I shall tell
every ono that dear, good angel, Mrs.
Pepper, lent me her husband"
''You insist I shall answer, Mrs. Slack"
IAASs SfPCl
Eyes," lisped Mrs. Slack, 'youn lend
him, won't you2"
''No!" said Mrs. Pepper in a very de-
cided tone, * Am afraid I shouldn't get
him back. I let you have my piano.
That hasn't been returned. My water
proof-whcre is that9 My baby's car
riage-your baby takes air in it now.
My cut~ting-board and scissors, my roll
ing-pin, and all the rest, 1 haven't seen.
But promised to cleavc unto my hus-
band till death does us part! You surely
never would return him y"
"Oh! oh! obi" screamed Mrs. Slack,
turning pink. "You wicked womanl
You mean thing! You shall have all
your horrid things back. Do you want
your spoonful of salt, too, you mean,
mean wretch2"
Then, tearing the mantilla from her
shoulders, She threw it ut Mr.. Peppers
head rs he struggled from the hammock
and drove away.
Shc borrowed a shawl from the clergy
mans wife aud went to the picnic with
hor eldest boy as escort.
Before her return Mrs. Pepper had
proceeded to her neighbours house and
collected her goods and chattels.
Tae piano was out of tune and scratch
cd; onions had been kept in the ice
cream freezer, and the mantle had q
grease-spot on n shoulder; the child
rem had cut a game on the lap-board, and
it was evident Mr.. Slack had whipped
them with the egg-bcatcr. The baby
carriage had been used to carry char
coal home, and the points of the scissors
were gone. So was Mrs. Stacks love.
She goes about abusing Mrs. Pepper rs
the meanest and most jealous thing she
ever knew.