The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04

uOA Hcdu anu despair IN ner heart.
There's one comfort" said Mrs. Cav.
endish. gloomily smiling. ''if he dis
charged Lucy, have sent away Milesr
MIR. Cavendish had an unusually busy
day in the city. AS he was hurrying to.
wards the depot in the afternoon he re-
membered that his mission to MIR. Wig.
gins famous intelligence bureau was
yet unfulfilled.
'ConfOund it," said Mr.. CavenGish to
himself. However, tomorrow will dc
just as well. My mother did without any
help at ALL"
At the station no buggy was in wait
ing.
81 wonder what that lazy villain
lilies is about?" said Mr.. Cavendish. a
lark frown gathering upon his brow.
HE may think he's got snug place of
1t, butI'll teach him Pm not to be trifled
with"
When he reached Althea Lodge every
hing was disorganized. Ethel was
pulling the feathers out of the pea
cocks tail; Bob was galloping around
! the barnyard on the back of Pounce,
the pony.
Were having such fun, pal" he
cried. "Pounce hasn't been fed, cause
couldn't find the key of the oat bin,
and the cow is lost. Such fun!''
"Where is Miles?" roared the father.
"Ma's discharged him."
"What for?"
"fCause he talked saucy to her."
:ol
at the pony and the peacock, the boy
and the girl.
''Ethel," said he, "let that bird go.
Robert, get off the pony at once and
come into the house."
Ethel obeyed reluctantly, Robert with
alacrity.
We've got company" chirped the
latter youth-''company, pa! 1 most for
got to tell you. And mas in bed with
headache, and there's no one to get them
any supper. Hooray"
Mr.. Cavendish hurried into the house
The parlor was undusted, yesterdays
flowers were wilted in the vases, and
the fire had died into a mass of feathery
cinders Through the open door was
visible the dining-room, with the re-
mains of the breakfast still visible
as diSpiriting scene as could we'll be
beheld.
And there, in the midst of all this for
!ornity. sat Mrs. Burgoyne, his sister
from the West, to whom he had fire.
quently boosted of the perfection of the
wife's housekeeping arrangements, and
Mrs. Ridgeway, who once, years ago.
had been sort of old, sweet beau of
his. Of all people, he was most anx-
ious that his home should appear pleas
ant in the eyes of those two women!
And now
He made the best of it, however. He
extended to them an ostentatiously hos
pitable welcome, hurriedly built up a
blazing camel coal fire in the CRATE,
and FASTENED upstairs to where poor
Mrs. Cavendish was deluging her fore
head in cologne and endeavoring to
twist up the wet braids of her heavy
hair into company order.
''Julia," said he, ''what does this
mean? Miles gone"
81 discharged him." said she, resolute-
ly. "You said 1 was perfectly iustifi-
able in doing SO if he spoke impertinent-
ly to me. And he did So"
''But what am to do?"
Precisely the question asked you
this morning"
Mr.. Cavendish had nothing further to
say for himself. He simply muttered
some kind of an anathema between his
closed lips.
''Do you know" he said, "that there
is company down-stairs?'
eyes: but until this moment I have
been unable to leave my bed"
''My DEAR" he said, compassionately
putting his arm around her shoulder.
docs your head ache so hard?"
1T is better now, James,"
81 do believe" slowly observed Mr..
Cavendish, ''that 1 have been fool"
''Oh, James,
81 wish hadn't hown into such a pas
sion with poor Lucy. And all about
nothing, too, when one comes to think of
it,
Mrs. Cavendish laughed Historically.
I'VE all make mistakes, James," said
she. "Wait a minute, dear. I'll 90
downstairs with you now if you'll give
me your arm. / couldn't ask your sister
and her friend up here with the children
sick with measles, could I?'
ssWho is with them now-the children,
mean?"
"a handy young girl from the village
-Lucy's sister,"
'Couldn't-couldn't she help us with
the dinner?" ventured Mr.. Cavendish.
''She is too young. Besides, she has
had no experience. But, James"
''Yes, Julia"
''Open confession is good for the soul. >
said Mrs. Cavendish. ''Lucy came back
to me about two hours ago. She said
you had sent her away, but that she
could not bear to leave me at such a
time. She is getting dinner downstairs
nOw''
''She's trump" cried Mr.. Cavendish.
Scarcely had he introduced his wife tc
the ladies in the parlor than the folding
doors of the back room slid open, reveal.
lag bright fire and a Widespread table
decorated with sprinx lowers daffodils,
tulips and few pu-2le spikes of lilac.
A pair Of ducks ad been roasted in the
best and most tempting style. There
were sweetbreads and chicken salad BY
way of entrees; delicious steam Ipud-
ding sent forth its perfome from the
kitchen, and Lucy was just bringing in
the tomato soup.
Mr.. Cavendish nodded good-humoretly
toward her. She courtesied respectfully.
"You needn't worry about the horse
and cow, SIR" she said, in low voice.
'sPeter Frink from the Low farm is COM
ing to attend to them"
While the family were discussing the