The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-11-18

taurant and after supper an idea oc-
cured to Pendexter.
You want to see the new comic
opera, Mrs. Miller?" said he. Don't
say no. Get your wraps and come
along. We're a couple of old Cali
fornians, and must not set up for cere-
monious You don't need a chaperon
now, do youP''
Il should say not. decidedly" said
Mrs. Miller. And I'll accept your in
vitation.''
Sha'n't be home until very late. Obliged to
meet man on business. Provoking deten-
ton. HIP.
"A man about to be mother-in-lawed
is entitled to little fun beforehand.
They feed condemned men well before
they hang them," said Pendexter to
himself.
1t was very charming opera, no
other than ''Erminie." And after the
opera there was a promenade concert
on the roof of the Casino, a glass of
lemonade for Mrs. Miller, bottle of
beer for himself. And they walked
arm in arm back through the moon
lit streets of beautiful, wide-awake
New York. And he was very serious
as he left her at the door of the hotel.
lit won't do to go there again." he
said to himself. ''But. Lord. what
fool made of myself ten years agorn
He went home sadly and slowly.
His Camilla opened the door for him
in her dressing gown, with a china
candlestick in her hand. in which gut
tered an end of pink candle. She had
been weeping and her nose was red.
How girlish and immature she was, he
thought.
You are very, very late." she said.
Didn't say I would be?" he asked.
He staIked upstairs. She did not fol-
low. After some minutes he looked
over the banister. Camilla sat upon
the lower stair weeping the wick of
the candle faring in little pool of
grease in the candlestick.
Whats the matter?" he asked.
You never kissed me when you
came in," sobbed Camilla. Its the
-the-the first time you ever forgot
to do it.''
Come up and be kissed" said Pen
dexter. Camilla slowly climbed the
stairs. Caresses were exchanged.
Her Henny Penny didn't mean not
to kiss his Cammy." thus Camilla.
"Cammy doesn't know what busi-
ness bothers are" said Mr.. Pendexter.
'.Henny Penny is tired and worried
with them; his Cammy must not be
cross.''
mo, no; but Cammy wants TO share
all Henny Penny's troubles" said
Mrs. Pendexter. Tell her all about
it."
Just then the street door-bell rang
violently-not once but sixteen times.
''Oh, dear. dear, believe it's dear
mar' cried Camilla
Pendexter glared at the picture
over the chimney piece.
just like her," he muttered, as he
went downstairs to open the door. A
telegraph-boy was just about to ring
again. Pendexter snatched the en-
velope he offered and signed as bid
den, then rushed upstairs to peruse
the missive. His Cammy was rush
ing about the room wringing her
hands.
"a telegramm she cried. "Some-
thing has happened to map
Mr.. Pendexter assumed serious as
pect.
BE calm. Cammy," he said. "If it
is the will of providence that some
thing has happened to her you must
not rebel and all that, you know. Be
calm"
q can't until I know what it is!''
Mr.. Pendexter opened the envelope
and read the message he had sent to
his wife from the hotel.
Bother" he said. ''Oh, it's nothing.
Cammy; only a message l sent you
when l knew I should be detained.
That wretched boy should have brought
it at o'clock"
"Oh, Henny Penny" cried Cammy.
chow relieved l ami" Then she sud-
denly threw herself into his arms.
"Cammy did not know her Henny
Penny had sent her word" she said.
''Oh, that's why you were frighten-
ed?" said Kenny Pedny.
YES" sighed Cammy, "oh, SO
frightened! And that man you had tc
see gave you all the bother?"
Yes, of course" said Pendexter
''yes certainly"
What was his naughty name?'
asked Cammy.
His nameP" queried the guilty Ben.
dexter. 'Oh. his ma me was-er-
Miller"
''Cammy hates him for bothering
her Henry Penny" said Mrs. Pendex-
ter. Then she turned the gas out and
slept the sleep of innocence.
Mr.. Pendexter's conscience, however.
kept him awake some little while. He
tossed about uneasily and sighed
several times. He was thinking of the
charming Mrs. Miller. He slept late
next day. When he awoke sound as
of tinkling teacups met his ears. The
house was small and the dining-room
was just below his sleeping-room.
Camilla was taking breakfast. Some
one was with her.
'Oh. my prophetic soul. my mother
in-law!" he gasped. Getting softly out
of bed. he approached the register and
listened.
DO have another biscuit, ma" he
heard Camilla say.
No, really. dear" responded an
other female voice. That husband
of yours sleeps this morning"
He was out quite late last night, y
said Cammy, ''and awfully bothered" /"
What about?" asked the mother-in-
law.
''Oh. business" said Cammy. Moth
ing but business could keep him
from me. Some man named Miller
bothered him-I don't know how. He
wasn't like himself when he got home;
oh. not a bit! And the telegraph he
sent came after that, and l was terri
fed"
You are too nervous, my child, y
said the mother-in-law. "Oh, dear
me, to think of your being married,
and I've so much to tell you. Last
night 1 had the greatest fun. You
know used to see great many peo-
pie when had share in that business
in San Francisco. and there was one
very nice little man-bald. but not SO
bad looking-that flirted with dread
fully. Well. yesterday, as 1 was o u
my way up to the hotel walked be-
cause l was so tired of sitting-whom
should 1 meet but that very man!
Why, hadn't seen him for ten years;
and he was just delighted; he is really
smitten, Cammy. You know l look
fifteen years younger than really am
when l am dressed and touched up a
bit, and actually he called on me al
the hotel and took me to the opera-it
was fun"
"Oh, NAL" cried Cammy.