The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-05-30

wonder II ne thinks nine people caf
live on a pint OF milk and two baked
potatoes a day2 I wonder lhe know,
that / make all the buildings and pies
and give out the tea and coffee, anc
superintend every thing myself? III,
might know it II he would take thu
trouble to inquire, instead ofindulgin,
in such sweeping denunciations.
wonder II he ever suspects that / trim
my own bonnets, and my own dresses
and make the little ones clothes, to
save unnecessary outlay. It's almost
enough to make q woman wish she had
never got married"
But then Melissa thought oftherosy
little ones fast asleep upstairs, and
concluded, on the whole, there were
some sunbeams in her lot.
"Hallo, Elmer! why, surely this isn't
your"
"Well, I don't know whom else it can
be-" cody remarked the handsome,
bronzed looking gentleman who had
lounged into Mr.. Ives Office; "and I've
brought Harry Lamarque with me-
you remember him, don't your"
Remember him-I should think so.
And we haven't met before since our
college days. Well, declare, that is
curious coincidence! You'll both
ofyou promise to come and dine with
me to-day at five, won't you? Come
Pm sure you haven't any other
engagement, and i will introduce you
to my wife,"
"I'll come" said Elmer, promptly:
and I'll engage to bring Lamarque,
with me-"
But you're not going?"
IL must I've no end of business to
transact; but well have a Irregular chat
ut dinner, old boy"
Melissa had hardly despatched her
little band of chubby-faced children to
school that morning, when the Office
boy came knocking at the door with a
note.
From Mr.. Ives, ma 'am-there amt
no answer"
The note ran as follows:-
81 shall bring two old college-mates,
Elmer and Lamarque, to dinner. Let
it be on the table punctually at five."
''Your aifectionate,
"JtLIys."
/. Mrs. Ives folded up . the note and
deposited it in her desk, with conf
cal smile lowering around her mouth.
E Economy is the order OF the day."
she thought.
1t was a bleak day, towards the end
OF November, with raw wind, and
sky overcast with leaden clouds; and
Mr.. Ives nose was decidedly tinged
with blue, as he ushered his two
shivering guests into the drawing
room.
"Walk in, gentlemen--walk in and
warm yourselves" he said, with
fervor, rubbing his hands.
But contrary to all his Expectations
to the usual domestic
arrangements prevailing in that house
hold, the polished CRATE presented no
glowing surface of flame-the air was
damp and chilly as that OF n mauso-
leum.
julius bit his lip, and repressed the
rather demonstrative expression that
was rising to his tongue.
''Be seated, gentleman; will rectify
this mistake Immediately" he said,
leaving the room
"How is this? No fire, and the
room like an ice-well!" was his petu-
liant exclamation, as he met his wife
in the hall.
rCoal is thirty shillings ton, Julius
it Is necessary for us to ecnomize,"
returned Melissa, demurely.
"Send the maid this minute to kin
die a fire" said Julius, with his teeth
"And-my dear, you are
surely not going into the room il that
faded old dress?'
"Of course 1 AM. My best silk is
to wear; and as can't "a
ford another, must be as economical
as possible"
Julius Ives made a queer grimace; he
didn't at all like the operation of
swallowing his own words" And
Melissa walked into the presence Of
his friends, faded old dress and all.
Five o'clock-isn't dinner nearly
ready!" asked Mr.. Ives, consulting his
with sort of warning
glance at his wife. Melissa rose, and
the same instant dinner was announ-
ced
Now Mrs. Ives was q capital
who possessed the facul-
ty OF getting up tempting dinners on
the shortest possible notice; SO that
julius naturally expected repast
to the occasion. What was
his dismay on beholding the cold,
hacked joint of yesterday, fanked by
a few potatoes! There was no spark
ling wine-nothing but beer, and no
visible desert. Elmer and Lamarque
took the seats designated to them,
with polite unconsciousness; but
julius Ives looked as black as thun-
"Melissa-what does this mean?" he
whispered.
"Does what mean, my lover" asked
Melissa, with face OF the most in
nocent astonishment in the world.
Just at that moment, the six little
Iveses all burst into the room, shabby
and patched, like so many candidates
for cold victuals. AS a general thing
Julius was passing proud ofhispretty,
wel-dressed children; now parental
complacency was at q discount, and
he stamped his foot impatiently.
EGO and get dressed, my dears," he
said, sternly. "What on earth does
nurse neon by, allowing you to come
down stairs in. this outlandish