Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-03-29

played about the room for a lew
moments, then, taking hold Of the
window sill with her chubby hands
raised herself up and looked out
MAS tutting wood" she said,
as Jesse looked at her, "Ma's tut
ting wood {"
Miss Davis was talking and did
not notice but Jessie did, and
the words confirmed a suspicion
she had had for some time. She
found 1t hard to be entertaining
until Mrs. Lee came back, who
after replenishing the fire, renewed
her conversation with Miss Davis.
Jessie seemed very much occu-
pied with her own thoughts next
day as she went about her work.
At last a CLEAN of mischief came
into her eyes, and she seemed to
have arrived at some determination,
for, as she hung the last piece of her
snowy ironing on the clothes bars,
she brought her small loot down
emphatically and said
"Pll do it, if ever have a
chance
Her chance came that haying
time. Deacon Lee had a nice lot
OF hay to put in, and, as it was the
fashion therefore tor the farmers
to change work, be concluded to
have a bee. Accordingly he asked
a number of friends to come, and
made arrangements for a. big days
work.
But when he returned to the
house, after moving roadway TO
the north meadow, he found that
Mrs. Lee had been taken suddenly
i'll. The doctor was hastily sum-
moned, and said it was necessary
that the patient be kept perfectly
quiet; she must not be worried
about any thing, or it would result
in brain fever. He left two or
three bottles of medicine and went
away again, leaving the deacon
almost in danger of brain fever
himself.
What should be done ? In spite
of his thoughtles sness, he dearly
loved Katie, and was veEy anxious
about her. In addition to his anx-
iety, were his thoughts OF the bee
and the care of his little girl and
wife. What wonder that his face
was very grave as he leaned over
his wife, asking If there was any
thing he could do or get tor her.
He had her welfare too much at
heart to say one word that would
worry her, so when she began to
speak of her work, he kissed her
forehead and told her that would
be alright. But he was relieved
when she mentioned Jessie. He
went to the window at once, to
watch for some one passing, by
whom he could send word but as
no one came, he was obliged to
have little Trot go for the nearest
neighbor to stay with Katie while
he went after Jess.
He found that young lady will
ing to come and take care of her
sister, bat look the deacon did
not quite understand, or like, Hash
ed into her face when the bee was
mentioned.
81 don't know, John,' she said,
"whether | can cook to suit you
You know am rather particular
a bout what l have to work with,
and my way may not be a way
you'd like"
Now the deacon prlded himself
on keeping a well-furnished store
room and good kitchen garden, SC
he smiled rather cOmplacently, and
replied that If she was obliged to
prepare a different dinner to what
she would do at home, for lack OF
material to work with, he would be
satisfied with whatever she did
prepare.
1t was not until afterward that
he understood the mischieviou'
look in her eyes as she said "Yor
make me that promise, do you 7"
He answered Certainly" readi
ly enough, thinking, meanwhile o
the excellent dinners he had helped
to eat that Jessie had prepared.
The dinner bell at the farm house
rang out cheeTily at quater o.
twelve next day, and the deacon
with satisfied look at the amount
of work accomplished, threw dowI
his rake, aud, with his men, start
ed for the born. There he LET
them to see to their teams, Whil'
be hurried to Katie's room. Sh'
was considerably better, and h
was feeling very glad and grateful
AS he fingered with her, jessie
uoice suddenly called him to shoV
the men TO the dining room.
II was very pleasant and cool Il
the shaded room, suspiciously so
but the deacon never noticed thai
He led the way to the table, an
when all were seated, bowed hi
head reverently (; but the blessin
he was about to ask died away o
bis lips, as his downward glanc
fell on the dish in front of him, o
which was tastefully the pork stea
he had bought the uight before
be had bought the night befor'
and which the deacon was horrihe