Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-28


spend three days next week with her
sister in Littletown. This is your time.
Manage the house to suit yourself while
she is away, and when she comes back
and finds fault settle the matter by In
sisting on having things your own way.
The days passed with leaden feet, but
finally Mrs. Sandford took her departure
and left her husband master of the sit
uation. He Immediately began his
preparations for the dinner party, while
informed Fannie of what was going
on.
At last, on the third day after Mrs.
Sandford had gone, the dinner party
took place. Only young men were In
yited, and we sat down ate o'clock in
the evening, and were soon having a
merry time.
The solids of the feast gradually dis
appeared, and we soon found ourselves
telling funny stories over our wine and
cigars. Some one proposed Mr.. Sand
ford's health, and we arose to drink it
standing.
At this moment the door was flung
open with bang, and who should stalk
into the room but Mrs. Sandford.
For a moment she stood as if thunder
struck. Then, fiinging her satchel into
one corner of the room, she brought her
umbrella down with tremendous
thump upon the floor and, after gasping
for breath once or twice, screamed in a
frightened tone:
ayEJbof docs this mean?n
.sNow's your time" / whispered to
Sandford.
That gentleman drew himself up in a
dignifed manner.
sIt means" said he, ''that when Iwish
to invite party of my friends to this
house I'm going to do it. 1t means that
/ am going SO have my own way"
ssWhat-t-ts" cried his wife. "You
have your own wayl You wouldn't
know what to do with it if you had it.
Here, you young scapegraces, out of my
/ house, every one OF you'll"
ssSilence, Marial" said the old man,
endeavoring to look brave, but trembling
| like Leaf
/ ..Silence yourselfy" she cried, dealing
him a blow with the umbrella that ef-
fectually destroyed his equilibrium.
Then seizing an empty wine bottle she
brandished it aloft.
l. "Clear out" she cried, every mothers
son Of your
Robbins jumped through the open
window. The other fellows scattered
like leaves before hurricane, while
Mrs. Sandford ragged about the field OF
battle like new Joan of Arc.
| quietly slipped in the next room,
hoping to return and smooth matters
over when the crowd had gone.
I saw that the splendid plan was a
partial failure, but l was not going tc
desert my ally in this extremity. Pres
emily saw Sandford arise from his un
dignifed position among the empty bot
ties, and / entered the room with smile
to help him face his wife.
ssNow, then," she said, ''what does al
this meant"
Mr.. Sandford was as white as a sheet
and he looked from one side of the room
to the other till he caught sight of me.
ssThere,n y he said, ''that's the wretch
1t was all his fault"
Mrs. Sandferd turned and, seeing me
uttered cry of rage.
.You, is it? knew you would brey
mischief in this house. Out of it--ou
4 of it, say?"
/ And seizing her umbrella again sh
began to belabor me Justify about tn
a head, shouting: go, go; leave! Go AM
don't come backr'
It is almost needless to say that / di'
leave.
The next day l lay abed late, with
2 bruised and discolored eye and a genera
feeling of soreness in my muscles, whel
a knock sounded upon my door AM
Enoch Robbins, with his eyes cast dow
and his hands folded as usual, entere'
the room.
"Good morning" he said softly, study
ing the seams in the carpet; 81 am sol
ry to see you i'll. Have you heard tn
news?'
"No," replied l; ''what news?"
Fanny Sandford eloped with Harr
Burton last night while we were at dir
ner. Thought You might not hav
heard Of it and dropped in to tell you"
9 This was portion of Harry's schem,
Il which had not known before. 1t was
splendid plan, however, and worked
charm.--A. @. B. in Boston Globe.
4