Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-07-10
A GARDEN HOSE.

A UARUElN HOOE.
Toward the end of a beautiful June day
NJ and Nine Lemadie were seated IN their
garden before the mansion house and tran
quilly waiting for dinner. M. Lemadie
was reading the newspaper, on which from
time to time he commented in senatorial
voice, and Nine. Lemadie was deeply Occu-
pied with her work.
ssWhere can Jeanne be, I WONDER" said
Nine Lemadie, stretching her hand toward
her work basket and pulling a thread of
scarlet silk out of it's Uttered skeins. "Your
daughter?" said M. Lemadie. He turned
on his chair and looked out of the corner
of his eye toward the end of the garden.
''There she is" he said, "nozzle in hand,
watering the flowers"
Scarcely had he spoken when there re-
sounded from the street sudden cry, &C
companied by a most formidable objurga-
ton, and these were instantly accompanied
by the furious circumstances Of a second
voice.
"What has happened?" cried M. LIE
Made, throwing down his journal. 'sWhat
can be the natter"
He rose to investigate Avigorous knock
at his gate, followed by other alarming
strokes, made him hasten his steps. Open.
ing the gate he found himself confronted
by two gentlemen, one young fellow OF
twenty-five, the other a stout and hearty
gray haired old boy, of opulent mien, who,
drenched from head to foot, was vainly en-
deayoring to dry himself with his pocket
handkerchief.
The young man began to expostulate We
hemently, breaking out into exasperated
reproaches. "What did they mean by in.
undating his uncle in this manner? And
on purpose-to amuse themselves-full in
his face-and with a head of water like
that?"
M. Lemadie stammered all kinds of ex.
cuses, hopping from one foot to an
other, stupidity turning his straw hat
about in his fingers, and in a duncelike
voice repeating, 3'rm sure it must be very
unpleasant-very unpleasant"
Unpleasant? I should think sop re
piled the young man furiously, and dry as
a bone himself, was twice as vehement as
his uncle With growing irritation he
continued to apostrophize the poor wretch
planted motionless before him, speech
less and sorry figure, crying out that ii
was impossible to conceive paying so little
attention to people who might be passing
on the street; that it was a perfect insult
returning with ever renewed anger to the
iniuuity of this sudden and formidable
avalanche of water. mo, no, uncle re
fuse to say nothing more about it," he
cried. Gust look at yourself! See what
a state you are imp
In fact the uncle presented a most Ia
mentable appearance. His collar was
nothing but shapeless pad of linen, his
black satin crayat, all awry, was switched
I'D on his neck, his silk hat was scanned
with glistening scars, which bristled uI
here and there like monstrous caterpiliare
His waistcoat and trowsers stuck fast te
his stout and plentiful person, and from
the poor mans elbows, shoulders and hips
there was a regular June shower.
Who now came stealing up, head down
on timid, hesitating feet, but Jeanne, the
culprit '.Jeannel' In angry tones the fa-
ther spoke: 'sWiIl you kindly look at this
gentleman! Will you please to observe the
result of your carelessness"
She raised her eyes, the smallest suspi-
cion of smile lowering about the corners
of her lips, when all of sudden she stood
open mouthed, in stupefied immortality.
Her pretty face was 80 drOll, all her little
figure was SO charming, that with her
rumpled hair, her lowered linen garden
dress with its slim corsage, and her petit
coat pulled up, revealing two almost ia
visible little feet in the most minute of slip
pers, that the victim end the impetuous
nephew of the victim were disarlned be-
fore word was spoken.
s'Pray, never mind, mademoisel1e," said
the uncle 81 beg you will not give the
matter a second thought. 1t is not every
day that one has the honor of a douche
from so charming hose carrier"
She blushed extremely, tried to speak
and then so irresistible desire to laugh
took possession of her that she turned and
fed for very fear of bursting out laughing.
Now, somewhat recovering his self pos
session, M. Leznadie was at last able to eX-
press his regret in somewhat decent phrase.
Il then occurred to his hitherto bewildered
mind that he might at least offer the IN
fortunate victim of the accident a change
of clothes, and with such good humored
hospitality did he insist that his offer, at
first declined, was finally accepted. Ten
minutes afterward Thibaut, Uncle Thi-
baut completely dry, little squeezed to-
gether by his borrowed garments, but thor
oughly restored to spirits by couple Of
glasses OF MARSHA, took leave of the LIE
Made family.
ssCome, let us hurry" said he to his
nephew. "Your mother will be wonder
ing where we are"
They walked on without a word for half
a mile or so, when Thibaut broke out
brusouely: sDo you know what think:
That is the sort of young lady should
like to see you marry! Why, she's charm
ing! And as for the Marsala. only good
father keeps such wine as that"
As Marcel did not reply, he went on
'Why don't you admit that she is charm
ing, and that you would be lucky dog,
Ell. you rascalP'
'.Pooh, uncle, what enthusiasm! Do you
ordinarily take fire in this manner when
people sprinkle you from a garden hosei
Or perhaps it is the wine of this most ex
cellent of fathers"
Thibaut was about to reply, when on
turning the corner of the street they beheld
Mime, Filhol, the anxious mother, coming
toward them, and. as her brother i in Ia
had prophesied, wondering where they
WERE Marcel related the annoying Incl
dent, and the uncle completed the tale by
averring that for his own part he was taI
from considering it annoying. And IN
saying so he was pleased to wink at his
nephew, without consenting to make an
explanation of this mysterious action.
Home they reached and SAT down to ia
ble The bath had developed an appetite
in this old monsieur; he deyoured. At des;
sert, in high good hnmer, full Of his jokes
his elbows on the table-fap Uncle TFl
baut's manners were really something aw
ful--he would talk of nothing but the LIE
madies, and put his sister-in-law through
regular cross examination concerning
Mxaao E,ilhol mould tnll hin