The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1891-01-24

ana you never Will.
'Never!'
"If you should VIC would be very UNI
happy, Horatio." "a
Certainly, my DEAR" he answered. as
the foot owe: the letter trembled q lit
tie. It is difficult to tell what might
have occurred IL tho door-bell hadn't
again rung. and Mrs nornbil left the
than her husband took the letter from
under his foot and opened it SO hurried
| ly that q dozen sheets from it fell onto
the floor; and as he gathered them up
his wife. on again entering the room,
| would have seen what had happened
and noticed his confusion, ii she hadn't
been interested in another letter that
she held behind her with the evident
intent of concealing 1t from her hus-
band. ~.
When Mr.. HornbiH hal crowded the
sheets under his coat and gathered his
scattered senses be said: "Who was it.
my DEAR?
1.-The postmau, who wanted to know
If he had left the right letter. told
him that it was all right"
"Was that alp" asked her husband.
Yes. my dear"
.fIe wanted nothing clsc?"
mo. Horatio."
''You are sure?' ~
Certain, my love-" Gas ~.
There can be no mistake, and you
are not telling me fib?"
"Not n fih-
''And you never did tell me lib.
Hannah?"
.Never"
well then. Hannah well--I will
get the curtains ready, and you needn't
hurry" said Mr.. Hornbill, as he left the
room. Fef ~ts 4s c
Ills wife wondered at his actions. but
was glad to be alone for minute. as
the postman had given her letter that
he had forgotten to leave before; and it
had aroused her, curiosity, because it,
like the mysterious document that her
husband had received, was marked
private.
When Mr. Hornbill entered the parlor
he found the strect-light insufficient for
reading purposes, and returned to the
sitting-room so suddenly that his wife
had barely time to thrust her letter in
her pocket.
''You had better arrange the curtains"
he said, "for can't tell the tops from
the bottoms"
Very we'll, my dear; you needn't
hurry" she answered, rs size left the
room.
Mr.. Hornbill at once opened his let
ter. and smiled when no saw it was
from his sister, who had arranged lit
tie surprise for Hannah in the form OF
play called s.The Tin Wedding" which
was to be given by herself and her
brother Horatio the next night, and
which was TO be kept profound secret
by the two performers. The words OF
the play were inclosed.
LET me see," said Mr.. Hornbill, in
soliloquy, as he looked at the play: II
am in love with Arabella--quite nat
ural land as we part say: One more
kiss, Arabella,' and then"
Here he was interrupted by the very
sudden entrance of his wife. who asked: |
What did you say?"
Nothing. my dear"
"Who is Arabella?" she asked.
''Ara-what?"
"Arabella."
"Was she invited to the tin we'd
ding?"
.sNever! Where is she?'
II don't know her. my DEAR"
"You should not speak to persons
whom you don't know. Horatio, / |
heard you say Arabella, as l entered,
and want you to explain"
Certainly, my dear; for you see I !
was reading aloud from the paper and |
read her name.-
Mrs. Hornbill thrust the paper in her
husbands hands as she said: s'Show
me the name of Arabella in that paper |
if you can"
Mr.. Hornbill took the paper with |
trembling hands and looked up one COL |
umn and down another as he remarked:
Il don't remember whether it was in |
tho market reports or Congressional
Perhaps it was shipping item"
suggested MS vile.
Eyes, very likely" he said.
''Or perhaps it was a-a--lie," she
said, as she burst into tears.
lie tried to soothe her and to explain
that it was only joke, and that he said
Il was in the paper just to satisfy her.
Forgive me, Hannah" he said. ut
was my first fib. You only imagined
that you heard me say Arabella."
Then leave me TO compose my
she answered. And he had no
sooner left the room than she brought
her mysterious letter to the light and
law that it was written by her brother,
who said he had a surprise for Horatio
n the shape Of a new dress-coat which,
% quote his words. lis much better
present than tin wash-boiler" Mrs.
Horntilrs reflections we're interrupted
by the door bell and the arrival OF the
'ailor's boy with the coat referred to.
L