Smyrna times., 1893-08-09

"She hasn't left her room yet" said f.
Mr.. Mixsell, adhering to the letter of .
the truth, if not to its spirit.
"she was up pretty late at the CON
cert last night, eh ?" said Ebenezer.
CAT the-concert :" said Mr.. Mixsell, .
in his surprise to turn the .
last slice of ham, which lay frizzling in
the pan.
81 saw her there" j." said Eoenezer, in
a black silk gown and hat with blue
feathers on it. Laughed awfully at the
comic parts and cried at the Farewell
Hymn.
MI Mi>sell, with last glcam of
presence Of mind, rescued the ham from
its fiery o,dcal and put it on the table
"Sit down and eat, Ebcnezer," said
he, "wniIa go and see after Mrs. Mix
sell"
OF he trudqed with his square loaf
Of bread and pitcher Of water Arriv-
ing at The door, be unlocked it ana
peeped in There. leaning against the
windowsiil, wi;a il= back to him, was
the Welknown figure in the black dress
and scarlet -havl, VITA white wor-
s,ed scarf, half concealjng It's face.
Mrs. N.ysell," said he.
~ answer was returned,
"Sulkiug, oh said Sir. Mixsy}.
"Wel, You can have it out at your lci-
sure" grimIy commented aer lord aad
master. "U4fe's your breakfast"
lie went his way firmly convinced
that Ebaaezer Hllsrove b.d 5een mi-
taken in The fact Of Mrs M&seli's pres
ence at the concert
But 80 sooner was the morning meal
concluded ,ban in walked Miss Peg
gcrell
"lIornin', Mr Mix-ell. How did
Agatha cuioy the corcort last night p
"ShediAu't enjoy it at ali,' said Mr.
Mxseil. SHE wasn't there"
"Not there :" echoed Miss Peggelell.
'Bat she Was, and she sat next to me,
and ! walked home as far as Chicken
lane under her umbrella You'll tell
me next that I wasn't there myself"
Mr. 1Iix@ell excused himself and
wen; hurriedly upstairs.
I'm he at the bottom Of this mys-
terry" said he, cor I'll know the reason
why"
He unlocked the bedroom door and
flung il open
Agatha ~ said he, slernly. "Aga-
tha!"
Then he saw that the figure hy the
window, with It's immoyable white face
and unaJerabIe smirk, was only that oI
the dummy which had decorated Mis-,
Agatha Simplex's windows when she
took in tailoring, dressmaking and the
general millinery business. The win.
dow was open, and the bed had no.
been slept in.
Goodness met tragically cried Mr.
Mixsell, "she has-left me-"
Just then he heard the sound of puff
ing and loud breathing hehind him
and, turning, beheld the portly form 0
Miss Peggerell herself
"What a dreadful quick-motioneC
man you be ~ painted Miss Peggerell
"Why couldn't you hove stood still
long enough to let me tell you her mes
sage?
"What message? ?" breathlessly de
manded Mr.. Mixsell.
That she has gone back to the shop
and ify you wanted to see her yOu',
find her there"
Mr. Mixsel considered. Should h
go or should he not? True, his prid
was concerned but then, again, no,
nicely Agatha ironed his shirts an
; cooked his supper; how pleasant wa
her welcoming smile when he cam
l. home little late of a frosty Octobe
+ night
"Yes, said Mr. Mixsell, IN go"
i He did 90. The late Miss Simple
sat behind the big "To Let" in the ba
window, composed and calm. ST
greeted Mr.. Mixsell with an icy p,
liteness that went to his heart.
Agatha" said ex-widower, "you
you're not going TO leave me ?''
"Ill stay with no man that treats n
like a child"
"But ! won't treat you So"
p" I'll live in no house whose propriet
locks me up"
" 'Tll never DO itany more, my dear
=, "And fOrbids me to go to concerts
" "Tll take you myself next time, Ag
, tha."
;. Upon this understanding Mrs, Mi
sell returned to the coniugal hon
"" "" and Mr.. Mixsell chopped up the abol
= Unable dummy for tirewood, Agat
:, Simplex conquered, and Mr.. Mixs
never WAS the same man again.