Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-01-15

out at arms length, while another was
in his right Aand, concealed by his coat
sleeve He read aloud the address on
the exposed letter; Mr. and Mrs.
Horatio Hornbill' 1t must be about
the party, Hannah; suppose you open
it"
While Mrs. Hornbill was opening one
letter her husband glanced at the ad-
dress of the other, which surprised him,
for it was in lady's handwriting and
marked private" This is from John,
said Mrs. Hornbill. ''and they will be
here. am SO happy; but dear met we
must put up the parlor curtains to-
nightr'
"In a minute, Hannah. You go and
get them sorted, and | will be there
just as soon as l glance at the paper
again The street-lamp will give you
light enough"
Mr. Hornbill, with paper N hand,
seated himself at the table and waited
for his wife to 60 to the parlor, as he
was very anxious to know whatth mys-
FERROUS letter contained. But Mrs.
Hornbill was in no hurry. and took up
her book again, saying: Il will wait for
you, and, besides, | would like to finish
the story / am reading tonight"
This was slight disappointment to
Mr.. Hornbill; and so impatient was he
that he began opening the letter as he
concealed it in the folds of his paper.
why are you tearing the paper?"
asked his wife.
Il am not tearing it." he answered.
Mr. Hornbill was greatly absorbed in
a railway timetable for few minutes,
and then gave the envelope a sudden
tear that could be plainly heard.
'Horatio, you certainly tore it then"
said his wife, as she took the paper
from his hand. while the letter, without
her knowledge, dropped TO the floor.
| and was covered by Mr.. Hornbill's foot.
Il declare, | was mistaken"
Certainly you were mistaken, Han
nah" said her husband, as he held his
foot firmly on the letter.
Didn't you tear something's she
asked.
mo, my dear.
"Are you sure?"
Certainly, my love"
"Can there be no mistaken"
81 never make mistakes, Hannah"
"Horatio, you wouldn't deceive me?"
mot for the world my dear"
''You never have deceived me or told
me one fb?"
"Neverl Not a single fib."
''And you never will7''
''Neverr'
IF you should we would be very un-
happy, Horatio."
Certainly, my dear" he answered, as
the foot over the letter trem bled lit
tie. 1t is difficult to tell what might
have occurred if the door-bell hadn't
again rung, and Mrs. Rornbill left the
room, which she had no sooner done
than her husband took the letter from
under his foot and opened 1t so hurried
ly that dozen sheets from il 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, if she hadn' t
been interested in another letter that
she held behind her with the evident
intent of concealing it from her hus-
band.
sheets under his coat and gathered his
scattered senses he said: who was it,
my dear?'
THE postman, 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"
"He wanted nothing else?"
mo, Horatio."
"You are sure?"
Certain, my love"
There car be no mistake, and you
are not telling me fib?"
Not fb.''
"And you never did tell me a fb
Hannah"
Never"
"Weli-then, Hannah-well-I will
get the curtains ready, and you needn't
hurry" said Mr.. Hornbill, as he left the
room.
His 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 street-light ufHcient 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, as she left the
room.
Mr.. Hornbill at once opened his let
ter, and smiled when he saw it was
from his sister, who had arranged lit
tie surprise for Ham ah in the form of
play called The Tin Wedding" which
was to be given by herself and her
brother Horatio the next night, ana
which was to be kept profound secret
by the two perform ors The words of