Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-01-13
HIS DAY AT HOME.
How Mr.. Parftt's Sick Spell Was
Finally Cured

mo, can't say enjoy Georges sick
days at home" said Mrs. Parfitt. Hes
sure to be polsing into things and MAX
ing himself generally disagrceable.
Dear boy! he isn't that way any other
time. I'll warrant YOU Conny"-Mrs.
Partitt shot humorous glance at her
husbands extremely pretty cousin,
who stood, in street attire, waiting for
her-''that he won't want to give me
the money for my new jacket to-day at
all. But there's the Carpenters recep-
ton Thursday and-Wait for met I'll
try it."
And Mrs. Parfitt ran downstairs
with valiant smile.
She found her husband in the library.
He was young and comedy, but q
strip of red flannel on his throat, a
shawl untidily worn and a gloomy ex-
preston of countenance did not i'm
prove him.
'Pd stay at home, dear" said Mrs.
Parfitt, ''if there was anything could
do for you"
There isn't" said her husband,
shortly. "This beastly cold has got to
wear itself out"
"Conny and are going out for lit
tie shopping, then. And If you can let
me have the money for my spring
jacket now, George? I'm little late
about getting it as it is, you know, It's
the tan one, with a striped satin lining
-awfully pretty-at Bright's-"
81 don't know anything about any
jacket" George snapped. "I'm har-
assed enough in mind and body, Kate,
without your prosecuting me-"
"In mind?" said Mrs. Parftt, patient
ly resigning herself.
This was one of Georges days at
home.
Yes, in mindr' He threw off his
shawl, and sat up and glowered at her
What do you think about Hugh b I'D
ley and Constance, anyhow
Hugh Dudley and Constance?"
Mrs, Parfitt stared little.
That's what l said. He's coming
here all the time, isn't he? What's he
coming for?"
Mrs. Parfitt looked into her lap. A
smile dawned on her fresh lips.
"I-really, /" she murmured.
81 feel responsible for Constance"
said George, scowling impatiently at
everything. 81 asked her here, and II
she does anything to disgrace the fam
lily shall feel to blame for it. Hugh
Dudley! Would Uncle Joe or Aunt
Agnes want her to marry Hugh Dudley?
| A mere-mere-" no fit term present
ed itself. 81 don't like this at all! In
the coffee 5usiness And I don't believe
he knows who his grandfather vast
! Mr.. Parfitt concluded warmly
Mrs Parfitt looked oddly demure.
Isn't the coffee business creditable,
George, dear?" she queried. "And the
Dudleys' are q very good family, really,
and everybody likes Hugh"
81 don't! Hugh Dudley!-when, with
the slightest encouragement, Thomas
Danforth-"
"Oh!" Mrs Parfitt murmured.
"You needn't think that has set me
against Dudley, though. 1t hasn't. Il
isn't merely that Tom is friend o.
mine; it's the difference in the two fell
lows. Toms brick--a brick Tom Dan
forth Isl" said Mr.. Parfitt, with an EN-
phasis that amounted to fercenes'
And for Constance Bergen to DELHI
erately take up with the worse man O.
the two when she might have the
better-it gals mel Til never invite hel
here again-nor anybody else!"
lie flung back into his chair.
u think COMFY will perhaps be living
here before long, dear" his wife re
joined, mildly. She had retreated Il
the hall. "You-won't give me tn,
money for my jack"
Nor emphatically.
He heard the front door close directly
and said to himself he was glad to b,
alone.
He supposed Constance was upstairs
but he was in no mood for talking t.
her. lie was out of patience with her
He went to the kitchen and asked TIL,
cook to make him some ginger tea. Re
turning he saw from the window /;
sight which caused him to utter an ex
asperated growl. Hugh Dudley wa
driving up briskly in his road cart
which cart was shining in the rays o
the morning sun, Us was also his hand
some face.
George met him at the door befor,
the maid could answer the bell.
SIS Miss Bergen" the caller began
with questioning smile, Offering t.
shake hands.
Mr.. Parfitt ignored his hand.
'Shc is not at home" he said, DELHI
erately, with no trace of his accusing
conscience in his displeased face.
To admit Hugh Dudley and hear hin
and Constance chattering and gigglinI
for two hours in the parlor was to-
much lie would not have it.
The young mans face fell percepti
bly,.
when will she be at homer" he fal
tered, embarrassed between his disap
pointment and his awe of Mr.. Parftt'
stern looks.
81 have not the slightest idea,
George responded.
Would the fellow keep him there ut
tering mendacities all day! Not bu
that the cause was good and sufficient
but he was not accustomed to lying.
I'm sorry" Hugh Dudley declared
he fingered, looking touchingly un
happy, only Mr.. Parftt was no
touched. He looked as though he wa
waiting to shut the door, and the Wis
itor retreated down the steps and int
his cart.
Ellen had the ginger tea ready.
was not strong enough, and too sweet
And when Ellen, having been some
what gruffly informed of 1t, had mad
some afresh, Mr.. Parfitt drank it, an