The morning call., 1892-11-21

40 JAMES PYLE, New York.
garments, and all chatting and laughing,
Mrs. Pewitt being apparently the bappiest
of all. She was sewing on a red flannel
pettcoat. and near her on table lay the
brown-and-gold dress. half finished and
neatly folded.
just as Pewitt had discovered so much he
was startled by voices in the yard.
Yes I'll take an cath / saw man
creepin' in at the gate. an as he amt come
out yet | thought I'd let her know"
"Oh. guess dat war Mariar's ole Uncle
Jim. he jest come IN mint ago. He
allus comes wen de church SEWN s'ciety
meets hyar, ter get so'thin wots lef' from
de supper. But If dar's anybody skulkin'
roun' hyar, Tiger'il find him. Hello. Tiger!
find him, boy -
door unlocked, and bic dog tearing around
the yard. The next moment it would prob
ably be on the piazza, and with an instructive
Impulse Pewitt stepped to the third window,
which was not lighted, and attempted TO
raise the sash.
To his great joy it slid up easily. and he
quickly stepped within and closed it behind
him.
Rere he'was safe from the dog. but. good
heavens what situationl
Cropping about. he found door with the
key inside. and, softly unlocking ii, dis
covered that he was in a ballroom facing
the head of the stairs.
II he could but reach those stairs and get
down 10 the front door unseen, he was safe.
But people were every moment passing.
and the likelihood was that he wonld be
discovered, and. appalling thought, recog-
nized.
With shaking hands Pewitt commenced
to tie up his head and face in pocket
handkerchief. all but his eyes, and to turn
his coat wrong side out and stuff his shout
ders into an artificial hump.
While so engaged the doorbell rang and
peeplDg cautiously forth be beheid big Tom
Hatcher ascending the stairs escorting a
venerable old gentleman of clerical appear
ance.
He heard in the next room glad and eager
welcomes and somebody said:
Dear me, IL Lettie Pewitt isn't cryingp
To which some one else answered:
IT'S only because she's so glad to see our
dear T. Z. You know we children used to
Parson Pennibacker."
After this there were tea and refresh
ments, followed by prayer and singing of
hymns In the front psrlor; during the Whole
OF which time. the doors being open, and
servants and others passing to and fro. the
now wretched Pewitt found no chance OF
escaping unseen.
By and by the company began to take
leave, Parson Pennibacker again escorted
by Tom Hatcher; and when apparently all
L
Priscilla Hatcher say, in her loud, cheerful
tones:
well, I'm sure we've had very pleasant
meeting. But, Lettie, dear, while you and
Annie are waiting for Tom. we may as well
have little taste of hot spiced wine to
warm you up against the cold. I'm afraid
but for Mr.. Pewitts being away we
shouldn't have had the pleasure OF your
company this evening, you've grown such
hOme-loying body"
EUif trofr cd
reply:
We'll, why shouldn't beP He's so good
to mel"
And he WINGED as though he had been
struck.
Then followed jingle of spoons and
great chattering and Cycling over the spiced
wine, and Pewitt knew that now or never
was his opportunity.
Very cautiously he opened the DOR, and
had reached the head of the stairs, when
tray in her hands. She looked up and
saw him, and then there was a crash of
china and succession OF shiieks which
rang through the house.
Pewitt made wild dash for the stairs,
but halfway down missed his footing and
fell. while screams Of Burglar. murderI
help!' rang wildly from the excited group
OF women in the hall above.
de was half-stunned by the fall, but
struggled to his feet, while showers of
longs, pokers. brooms, Jumps of coal,
and hnally the scuttle, came rafting about
him. and. that but most of them missed
their aim, Pewitt must have been, as no
thought, dead man.
Finally he escaped from the house to be
met and Knocked down at the gate by Tom
Hatcher. But Tom was big and clumsy.
and Pewltt trlpped him up and fed wildly
through back alleys and side streets to his
own door.
When shortly afterward Mrs. Pswitt ar
rived at home she found her husband living
exhausted on the bedroom lounge, scratched,
bruised and bleeding and with an incoher-
him.
With warm water, poultices, brandy and
court plaster, she and Kate soon had him
In bed, ne submitting with the meekness
and docilIty OF a child.
1t was week before Pewitt, despite the
tenCerest ana most assiduous of care from
MS vile. was able TO leave the house
de was very mild and submissive. and
made no remark when Mrs. Pewitt read to
MIN from the papers an account of the
daring attempt at burglary" and escape
Oh the villain." Of which she herself had
been witness.
And when. on his birthday. she pre
eented him with gorgeous brown and gold
dressing.gown his gratitude was touching
to behold.
THANK you, my dear" he said. quite
gently. Il feel as though / hardly deserve
all your goodness to me. And as your
,,i. comes next week. suppose we in
vite your friends and have little party TO
celebrate 1t? l fear that you don't have
company or amusement enough, Lettie."
AND thenceforth, as little Mrs. Pewitt
delighted TO boast TO, her friends. she had
THE best and kindest husband In the
world"