, 1888-05-27

thing better to offer her" she added,
looking ruefully at the platter of fried
pork in the center of the table, thanked
on either side with a dish of apple sauce
and a huge loaf of wheat bread.
81 wish we had silver forks and glass
goblets, like Hattie Andrews folks, I" said
Kathie, hurriedly removing their brown
jackets, and tumbling them into the blue
earthen dish which Lettie brought from
the closet.
'rWell, if Mrs. Hunter is as hungry as
l am, she won't think of anything but
her dinner" exclaimed Arthur, bringing
up the chairs with q good deal of noise.
''That apple sauce is scorched, Rosa Bell;
/ smell it. Father won't relish that"
"Well, l can't help it, answered the
girl, in a discouraged tone. HE needn't
have sent Martha off just at this time"
Its all right, dear" said q pleasant
voice behind her, and Orphies slipped into
her seat at the head of the table.
She had changed her wedding dress for
a simple calico, and a white apron was
tied about her trim waist. "Martha was
getting old, Rosa Bell. We want a
younger maid Of all work. Never mind
the forks, Kathie, l have some better
ones In my trunk. Hector, it strikes me
this dining room is rather small, " look
ing about the dingy, poorly furnished
apartment. sit must be enlarged In
some way. You must see Durham about
it at once, as it must be attended to be-
fore warm weather sets in. Dog days
are so trying in Hillswood."
'My dear Orphies'' = Mr.. Hunter
turned his severe eye on the dimpled face
opposite-'it would cost mint of money
to enlarge this room"
moi 80 very much" said Mrs.
Hunter, composedly. 1--WE had ours done
at home. l think papa said the cost was
$3.50"
"One hundred and fifty dollarsP' cried
Mr.. Hunter, staring at his young wife as
If he thought her crazy.
"WhY, my dear Orphies, you speak as
If money grew on bushes, and could be
picked as easily as berries. Besides, 1
never heard the first Mrs. Hunter COM
plain that this room was close"
Poor thing said Orphies, pityingly,
perhaps she didn't dare to. What were
you saying, Arthur A baseball match
on the common9 Why, that's delight
full. Don't stay at home on my nc
count, l beg of you. Go and enjoy
yourself while you can. Were l a boy
I'd go with you. AS it is will sit by
the window with papa and watch the
game. Oh, Hector, forgot to tell you'll
Florence Freeman was married yester-
day, and who do you think the bride
groom WASP Oh, you would never
guess, so l might as well tell you. 1t
was Percy Whitman, and such a display
as was made. Not at all like our hum
BILE union"
"Wby didn't you take him, then9'
growled Mr.. Hunter, whose feelings were
somewhat ''riled" by the proposed change
In his house. II wanted you at one
time, didn't hep
Orphies laughed g~leefully.
~ didn't want him." she said. "I
had rather have you han a dozen Percy
Whitmans."
And then, springing up, she threw her
arms around her husbands neck, greatly
to the children's astonishment and, IL the
truth be told, TO his own as well.
1--WE will need some wood for the
morning, Hector" said Orphies, that
night, as her husband was preparing to
change his boots for the comfortable
slippers he had commanded Kathie to
bring him.
She had found 30 much to do, and had
entered 80 heartily into the duties await
ing her, that her wedding day had
passed very much the Same as those
spent under her fathers roof.
"Father never chops the wood" ZEN
tured Rosa Bell, seeing the look of sur
prise ON her fathers face. Mamma
always did it, and when she died ]
looked after the kindlings."
Orphies gave the batch of dough she
was kneading a vigorous turn.
tpThat isn't a xyNpnonta x-,.lr " IL
said, with a determined shake of her
head. "Come, Arthur, help popa In
with the wood, and then we will hear all
about the baseball match. Hurry, Hec-
tor, my dear. No, no, Arthur isn't
strong enough to cut those great logs.
That Is your work. lie VIII bring It in
as fast as you get 1t ready, and baby and
/ will come and see tina you do 1t prop
erly."
Catching the little one in the round,
white arms bare to the elbow, and dotted
here and there with patches of -four,
Orphies danced out into the woodshed,
followed by the grumbling Hector and
the amused children.
Didn't / tell you father had found
his matchP" whispered Rosa Bell to her
brother. 'tHe never did this in his life,
and yet he doesn't say a word; I'm glad
she's come"
'If she keeps on the way she has be-
gun, I'll stand a chance of getting out to
play once In a while" answered doubt
ing Arthur. al had just n Jolly good
time this afternoon. thanks to her, and il
l never get another, / car look back on
that"
Orphies had been married q week
when people began to look for open war,
but If there was any the young wife kept
1t to herself.
To be sure, life was not all sunshine,
but she had expected a few rainy days
would creep in.
She had married Hector Hunter in
spite Of the reputation he had. Why she
had done 80 no one knew, but probably
orphies did. for in spite of the apparent
d~reartness of her lot, she was sunny,
sweet tempered and happy in her new
home, just as she had been in her old.
True TO her word, Orphies went to
work to enlarge the dining room. She
had painters and carpenters, masons and
plumbers, till Mr.. Hunter was beside
himself with rnge, and threatened TO go
away II that state Of affairs continued.
n-~lIzu zzI-I- A--- Il