The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-01-02


day in the city. As he was hurrying g
toward the depot in the afternoon he
remembered that his mission to Mr..
Wiggin's famous intelligence bureau
was yet unfulfilled.
.'Confound itr' said Mr.. Cavendish
to himself. However, tomorrow will
do just as well. My mother did with
out any help at ALL
At the station no buggy was in wait
ing.
4 wonder what that lazy villain
Miles is about?n said Mr.. Cavendish a
dark frown gathering upon his brow
He may think he's got a snug place of
it, but I'll teach him I'm not to be trifed
with"
When he reached Althea lodge every
thing was disorganized. Ethel was
pulling the feathers out of the pea
cocks tail; Bob was galloping around
the barn-yard on the back of Pounce,
the pony.
Were having such fun, pat' 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.
MAS discharged him.
''What for?"
..'Cause he talked saucy to her."
Mr.. Cavendish stood a moment star
ing 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! / most
forgot 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 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 well be be-
held.
And there, in the midst of all this
forlornity, sat Mrs. Burgoyne, his sister
from the west, to whom he had fire.
quentfy boasted of the perfection of his
wife's housekeeping arrangements, and
Mrs. Ridgway, who once, years ago,
had been a sort of old, sweet beau of
his. OF all people, he was most anxious
that his home should appear pleasant
in the eyes of those two women! And
now
He made the best of it, however. He
extended to them an ostentatiously
hospitable welcome, hurriedly built
UP blazing camel coal fire in the
CRATE. and fastened upstairs to where
poor Mrs. Cayendish was deluging her
forehead in cologne and endeavoring Q
to twist up the wet braids of her heavy
hair into company order.
julia said he, what does this
mean? Miles gone
Il discharged him." said she, reso-
lutely. You said | was perfectly
justitiabe in doing so if he spoke i'm
pertinpntly to me. And he did So"
But what am | to do?"
Precisely the question l 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?"
Yes; but until this moment / have
been unable to leave my bed"
my dear" he said, compassionately,
putting his arm around her shoulder,
''does your head ache SO hard?"
1T is better now, James"
Il do believe" slowly observed Mr..
Cavendish that | have been FOOL
.'Oh, Jamesm
Il wish hadn't flown into such a
passion 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 minute. dear. I'll go
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 the measles,
could 10"
.'Who is with them now-the child
red. | mean?n
"A handy young gi1l from the vii
lage-Lucy's sister"
''Couldn't-couldn't she help us with
dinner?" ventured Mr. Cavendish.
.'She is too young Besides, she has
had no experience. But James s--'
Yes, Julia"
''Open confession is good for the
souln 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 Il time. She is getting dinner
downstairs now"
She's a trump" cried Mr.. Caven-
dish
Scarcely had he introduced his wife
to the ladies in the parlor than the
folding doors of the back room slid
open, revealing bright fire and we'll
spread table, decorated with spring
flowers-daffodils, tulips. and a few
purple spikes of lilac. A pair of ducks
had been roasted in the best and most
style. There were sweet
breads and chicken salad by way of
entrees; a delicious steam pudding
sent forth its perfume from the kitchen,
and Lucy was just bringing in th'
tomato soup.
Mr.. Cavendish nodded good-humor-
edly toward her. She courtesied re
spectfully.
You needn't worry about the horse
and COW, SIR" she said, in a low voice
Peter Frink from the Low farm il
coming to attend to them.
While the family were discussing
the steam pudding and prune pie. Lucy
slipped into the parlor, ard, to use he1
own terms, Strengthened up the dis
order there, and the last impression
taken away by the visitors was one of
neatness and comfort.
Mr.. Cavendish drew long breath as
he watched the retreating footsteps OF
his company toward the road that lee
to the train.
Julia, said he. turning to his wife,
Ave come TO the conclusion that times
have changed since my mother did the
work for ten children without any SER
want
i quite agree with you," said Mrs.
Cayendish.
And was entirely wrong when
sent Lucy away; and were quite right