Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-04-09

truth, by the way, for which she suffered
many conscience pang.
Mr.. Lawson blundered promptly after
her, and was likewise called to account by
his conscience. Sam took the minister 5
hat and coat and deposited them on the
dusty table In the next room. while his
brother obligingly moved along to make
room for the plate, knife and fork which
Mary Jone brought him from the cup
board where she had run to take down
her curl papers.
MIR Dent SAW through it all at once.
His experience in boarding houses and as
lone of the family" had been wide and
varied, and included more than one pres
entatlon of the worst as well as the best
foot. He felt sorry for them all, especially
the pretty young girl, whose red face and
downcast eyes told how keenly she felt the
awk wardness of the situation in which
his thoughtlessness had put them Never
theless he managed to make a hearty
meal. The plain bread and fresh, sweet
butter, the cold juicy meat and simple
sauce were great deal more to his taste
than the heavy indigestible food to which
he had been accustomed Of late.
Little it mattered to him just then that
the table cloth was awry, besides bearing
the marks of several days usage; that the
cup which Mary James trembling hand
passed him had lost ITS handle in some
past conflict; that the butter dish bore evil
dence of having been used at the two pre-
ceding meals and that the meat dish had
cracks enough to render it almost sacred
in the eyes of the china collectors.
Their embarrassment and efforts to keep
m a rOpVar SAT ion warp en- aUIHont fbat M,.
Dent concluded it would be an act of
mercy to shorten his visit as much as pos
sible, so, shortly after tea, he shook bands
all round and was escorted to the door by
Mr.. Lawson, who for the first time in his
remembrance was heartily glad to see a
guest out.
The next morning the boys saw that
their mother and sister, who had sat up
talking the night before, long after the
others were in bed, both had on clean
dresses and aprons; also that Mary Jane
had forgotten to put her hair in paper,
and that her eyes and nose were red
and swollen as though she had been
crying.
With plesenliment of something,
they hardly knew what. thew hurried
home the moment school was out. They
found the kitchen empty, but the door be
tween it and the dining-room was open
and a; going in in search of their mother
they saw, much to their astonlshment, d
chairs placed invitingly round it. A
second glance revealed the fact that the
best dishes were all there, even to the
cherished celery glasses.
Il wonder who's come? Not the min
IStar I hnro -
about, and then peeped cautiously into
there's no hat but fathers old straw
come"
Continuing his investi cation, he crossed
the hall and glanced round the parlor A
fire was burning pleasantly, but the cat
was the only occupant to be seen.
Meantime Johnny had been counting the
plates, and when Sam returned from his
unsatisfactory tour he was met with the
information that there was nobody coming
after all, for there was only FIVE plates.
"What does sall this mean, anyhow"
was the question which the boys lips and
Mr.. Lawson's asked as they all gathered
round the table.
1t means, said Mrs. Lawson, with a
glance at her daughter, that Mary Jane
and have talked it over, and have de-
termined that we will never be caught
again as we were last evening. So from
this time forward we are going to regard
ourselves as company.
We will use all our house instead of the
kitchen only, eat the best food and wear
the best clothes that we can afford, and
when our friends come they will have as
good but no better than we have ourselves
think We'll all be happier for the
change, and We'll have no fear of last
night experience being repeated
Presently the gossips of Woodleigh be-
gan to say among themselves that the Law
sons were getting some high notions in
their heads. They always sat in their par
lor in the evening, so it was said, and
their dining room carpet was getting bad
ly scuHed. 1t was also a settled fact that
Mary Jane put On her brown cashmere and
white apron every day when the work was
done up, and that Mrs. Lawson managed
to be neat and tidy even on wash days
So different from what it used to be, you
know. These bits of gossip, carefully
gathered up and neatly put together, went
from lip to lip, and in the course of time
made the circuit of Mrs. Dodd's tea table.
MT. DenF listened, smiled q knowing
smile, and said something himself which
| won't repeat, though l know very we'll
what it was.
A year later ie had tea with the Lawsons
again. A few friends were also gathered
around the table, and beside him, blush
ing and lovely in her simple white dress,
with orange flowers in her hair and
wedding ring on her finger, sat Mary Jane,
who had taken the vows of a wife one
short hour before.
At first Mr.. Lawson thought the mar
riage of his only daughter must be a
grand affair, and talked of invitations and
orders to the florist and confectioner. But
Mary Jane, In whose mind the lesson of
year ago was still fresh. begged with hot
cheeks and burning eyes,
Don't! please don't father! | never
could look John in the face again if you
made all that fuss
And so it happened that the rooms wore
their old homely, pleasant look and that
the table, with the exception of huge
brides cake, with pair of clasped hands,
presented no unusual appearance on that
pleasant autumn night when the Lawsons
gave away their daughter and John Dent
received his wife
Energy in Woman.