The Forrest City times., 1891-05-08

But then Melissa thought oftherosy little ones fast asleep upstairs and concluded, on the whole, there were some sunbeams in her lot.
 
 "Hallo, Elmer! why, surely this ism t your"
 Well, I don't know whom elseit can be-" cooly remarked the handsome bronzed looking gentleman who had lounged into Mir. Ives office; land I've brought Harry Lamarque with me you remember him. don't you?'
 Remember him-I should think so. And We haven't met before since our college days. Well, declare, that is a curious coincidence! Iou'll both of you promise to come and dine with me to-day at five, won't you? Come I'm sure you haven't any other engagement, and will introduce you to my wife"
 "Fll come," said Elmer, promptly: and I'll engage to bring Lamarque, with me"
 But you're not going?p
 Il must I've no end of business to transact; but wellhave aregular a chat l at dlnner, old boy!
 Melissa had hardly despatched her little band of chubby-facedc children to school that morning when the office boy came knocking ut the door with 6 note.
 "From Mir. Ives, ma 'am-there ain't no answer"
 The note ran as follows:- 'l shall bring two old college e-mates, Elmer and Lamarque, to dinner. Let It be on the table punctually at five" Your atfectionate, ! JULIUS" Mrs. Ives folded up the note and l deposited 1t in her desk, with a comi- cal smile lowering around her mouth. Economy is the order of the day." she thought
 It was a bleak day, towards the end | of November, with a raw wind, and | sky overcast with leaden clouds; and 1 Mir. Ives nose was decidedly tinged with blue, as he ushered his two l shiyering guests into the drawing room.
 Walk in, gentlemen-walk in and warm yourselves" he said, with hospitable fervor, rubbing his hands.
 But contrary to all his expectations contrary to the usual domestic arrangements prevailing in that house hold, the polished grate presented no glowing surface of fiame-the air was damp and chilly as that of mauso- l leum.
 Julius bit his lip, and repressed the rather demonstrative expression that was rising to his tongue.
 Be seated, gentleman; 1 will rectify this mistake immediately" he said, leaving the room
 ''How is this? No fire, and the room like an ice-well" was his petu- lant exclamation, as he met hls wife i'll the hall.
 Coal is thirty shillings ton, Julius lit IS necessary for us to ecnomize," returned Melissa, demurely.
 Send the maid this minute to kin dle a fire, said Julius, with his teeth chattering. "And-my dear, you are surely not going into the room in that faded old dress?"
 "Of course 1 am. My best silk is beginning to wear; and as l can't af- ford another, 1 must be as economical as possible.
 Julius Ives made a queer grimacG he didn't at all like the operation of swallowing his own words" And Melissa walked into the presence of his friends, faded old dress and all.
 Five o'clock-isn't dinner nearly ready" asked Mir. Ives, consulting his chronometer with q sort of warning glance at his wife. Melissa rose, and the same instant dinner was announ- ced.
 Now Mrs. Ives was a capital housekeeper, who possessed the facul- ty Of getting up tempting dinners on the shortest possible notice: so that Julius naturally expected repast suitable to the occasion. What was his dismay on beholding tue cold, hacked joint of yesterday, fianked by a few potatoesl There was no spark ling wine-nothing but beer, and no visible desert. Elmer and Lamarque took the seats designated to them, with polite unconsciousness: but Julius Ives looked as black as thun- dercloud,
 "Melissa--what does this mean2" he whispered,
 Does what mean, my love9" asked Melissa, with a face of the most in- nocent astonishment in the world.
 Just at that moment, the six little Iveses all burst into the room, shabby and patched, like so many candidates for cold victuals. As general thing Julius was passingproud ofhis pretty, well-dressed children; now parental complacency was at a discount, and he stamped his foot impatiently.
 Go and get dressed, my dears," he said, sternly. "What on earth does nurse mean by allowing you to come down stairs in this outlandish manner?"
 We are drethed, papal" lisped out Master July with the boldness of con scious rectitude Mamma laid out the clothes for uth--the thays it ith econ-econ---"
 But Mir. Julius Ives hurried and hustled the httle ones out ofthe room, without waiting for any farther ex- plantations.
 Melissa" he said, earnestly, draw ing his wife aside into the bow-window, what Is the natter Are you crazyf"
 Not crazy. love- returned Melissa, sweetly: "only endeavoring to follow the illustrious example of Mrs. Jones, and 'retrench.
 But, my dear" Pardon me, Julius--you said that my extravagant housekeeping was wasting you out of house and home l think that, after this. you will hard | ly venture te make that accusation a l second time.'