St. Landry democrat., 1888-04-14

Il think moi; he expected to drive
home by the country road; that woulc
be his shortest route. and he will prob
ably get back to Blankville before sup.
per time.
"Well, of all the games of cross pur-
poses' began Susan-but her friend
interrupted her
Never mind, we will have our fun
out of ii. now You. are here. Arthur
may bring you down again next week,
if he can make you come. but my pres.
ent conviction is that bird in the
hand is worth two in the bush, SO this
visit shall not be spoiled even though
Arthur, can t enjoy it with us.
And they did have their own fun,
and enjoyed the impromptu visit as
only two young married women who
have been bosom friends during thei1
school days can enjoy a reunion in
ripper years. How much the young
mother had to ask and tell; how much
the Older matron had to answer and
advise; the pleasant moments flew.
and long before either of them could
believe it possible four O clock was at
hand and Mr. Wolfe again returned
to them in readiness to escort his guest
to the train.
sit is hardly possible, I suppose.
that Arthur should return to Center
vile. but if you do see him. John.
don't tell him that I have been here.
1t will be such joke if l can keep him
from knowing it until he airs all the
incidents of his visit to you and Rose. "
'.My lips shall be sealed" promised
Mr.. Wolfe, and then the last good bye
was said and Mrs Snowdon took hel
leave.
An hour or so later she stood once
more upon the threshold of her home.
Scarcely taking time to respond to
Maggie's smiling and Johnny's
clamorous welcome, Susan asked,
breathlessly:
"You have not seen Arthur
"Of course I have not; did he not re.
turn on the train with your
Good! goodr' and Susan clapped
her hands ecstatically. Then she re.
lated the story of the days adventures
and misadventures to her bewildered
sister,. Don't you see? he will not
be home for an hour yet, and if / can
keep him from finding out that l fol-
lowed him. he will talk until bedtime
of all / missed by not going with him
II do want to hear him describe Roses
baby! Come along, Lii, let us make
haste and get off our fnery."
The chIld's chattering little tongue
was the weak point in her plot. for
Lily was terrible chatter-Dox, and
the trip on the cars to see Aunt
Rose and Aunt Rose wonderful baby,
was a theme upon which she would be
apt 10 dilate Increasingly for many
days to come, so her mother schooled
her while replacing her Sunday
dress with the palmer garb Of every.
day wear.
'If you dom say one single word
from now until bed time about hav-
ing been out with mamma and having
been to see Aunt Rose, I'll give you
a nickel
'..Well," assented Lily, and shut her
rosy lips with compress sion that
showed she felt the money would not
be easily earned, yet with a de-
termin alton to try for it SO visible in
her eyes that her mother felt quite
encouraged to hope she would sue.
coed.
Home toilets were accomplished; all
traces of the days trip were cleyeriy
put out of sight; and when little
after six O clock Mr.. Snowdon opened
his sitting-room door, only the GUS
tomary home tableau met his
gaze. Lily and johnny were
playing in their corner; Maggie
sat in her rocking chair working in-
defatigably at her neyer-ending crochet
work; while Susan, in the iplainest of
wrappers and the lightest of slippers,
sat by her mending- basket folding the
last Of pile of garments, which GER
tainly had the appearance of having
required days work to repair.
With the open door still in hand the
gentleman bent sternly scornful eye
upon his wife.
''Wellr' he calculated. and volumes
we've concentrated in the explosive
monosyllable. +. &.
..Eh?" said Susan, looking up and
meeting his glance with face of
seraphic innocence.
II you're a smart one!'' b
Thanks, dear; yes, I always was
considered clever" she answered,
sWeetly.
The scorn in his eyes became inten-
slfed
You re pretty, one.
'.Am4tI any better. looking than
when you married mep'' she muir.
INJURED. @e
MAY be you think I don't know
you went to Centerville to-dayP''
! Upon which Maggie laughed OUT
right and Mrs. Snowdon's plot ex-
ploded. 537 81
As may be guessed, the incidents Of
the day were thoroughly ventilated in
the conversation that followed. Arthur
told that the Identical man he had
gone to see in Griggsville had CHANGED
to b. on the train that took Mrs. Snow
don and Lily to Centeryille. He had