The Press., 1894-11-08
w. C. T. U. DEPARTMENT. (Gfsela A. Dittrick, in The Union Signal)
 "WhOso Offendetb.o


 blithesome girls who had invaded her lit tie realm.
 With pardonable pride she led the way through the charming hall, past the dainty parlor, out into the cozy little sitting room, where great white cat rose lazily from the soft rug and came to greet them.
 "You might just as we'll ask us to take off our wraps, and reconcile yourself to the inevitable, Madam Madge, for we've come to stay all morning and take dinner with you," rattled on the lively speaker, as she tossed her hat and coat on the lounge. We've let you alone for a whole week, and we think that is doing nobly, so now we've come to hear about the trip, see the lovely house and all the presents which we couldn't see that night because we couldn't keep our eyes off the bride, could we, Nell?"
 So over the new home they were led, ', into all the pretty, dainty rooms, filled with the loving gifts, their girlish tongues flying like their eyes from one object of admiration to another, until they sank exhausted upon the big fur rug in the cheery sitting-room, offending Dom Pedro by their encroachment on his rights.
 Mrs. Madge buried her face in his soft white fur as he tried to tell her of his in suits, then extended hand to each of the laughing, breathless maidens. "Come, girls, I haven't finished yet! You have not seen my pride, my delight, my big, sunny kitchen"
 They rose with alacrity. "Of course we want to see the pride of the realm :, but l warn you now, Madge, shall be perfectly dumb. I haven't an adjective left" And out they dropped to the kitch- en, where they were received with broad smile by the old colored woman who was lowering over the new shiny stove
 Girls, this is Aunt Rachel, mammals old cook,-the best in the land, as you'll find out by and by! Since she has come haven't desire in the world"
 ''Lor! jes' heah dat chile go on, now," said the pleased old won an. "Yoh al- lers was a-pattin' dis old niggah! Glong wid yoh all, CT yoh'll spile dis pudden, en den Marster Ed he'll say, Ole Aun' Rach- el kayn't cook nohow!'"
 Away they went, with merry little bursts of laughter, up stairs to look at the new gowns and hats, and there Aunt Rachel found them half an hour later, as she cau- tiously peeped in.
 'Honey, does yoh want de brandy in de sauce for de pudden!"
 ''Why, yes, Aunt Rachel, don't you al- ways put it in ?" Madam Madge asked, surprisedly.
 "Ole Mis- uster, but yer Aunt Nan she nebber lowed me to, en I thought I'd better ax yoh."
 ''Fix it just as you like, Aunt Rachel, ;" was the careless reply. 'I know it will be good" Then she turned back to her guests.
 "Oh, girls''-and a little blush rose in her cheeks-''I didn't tell you, did I, that Bob Chalmers sent us-'
 Bob Chalmers!" came the simulta- neous outcry. "Oh, Madge!"
 "Well, he did-and I wish you could have seen Eds face !-the dearest, sweet est little wine set. Oh, it's lovely, and Pm wild to use it And in his note, which was such a queer one, he said he hoped I would enjoy to the fullest the cup from which was sure to drink. suppose he VOn ont Shor md oh IN T Il must go-be back" and they heard her feet flying down the stairs.
 The two girls looked at each other, then one whispered:
 Ruth, isn't it queer that Bob Chalmers should send them anything? You know he wasn't invited to the wedding, and you remember how angry he was when Madge first met MT. Cummings :"
 The other shivered little. 'I guess I do! Ugh! wouldn't touch his old pres ent. I'd be afraid there was poison in it Come, Madge is calling"
 The lively little dinner progressed fine- ly, while the young couple seemed to flourish under all the cruel jokes heaped upon them, and then Aunt Rachel, her self, with a proud smile, brought in her triumph, the snowy pudding. In they dipped their pretty spoons with merry chatter, and they did not notice that just as the young host raised his first mouth full to his lips, he turned deadly pale, and put it hastily back, and his hand trembled slightly as he took his cup of coffee from the trim waiting maid, but the loving eyes of the wife very soon detected the untasted dish, though she wisely restrain ed from all mention of it. All the after noon a vague unrest, an uneasiness haunt ed her, and she could hardly wait until supper was over, and they were alone in the sitting room, and she could ask of the husband whose eyes were so grave to- night:
 What is it, Ed?"
 He did not reply right away, and the crackle of the fire and the purring of Dom Pedro alone broke the silence; then he drew her up to him caressingly, and the firelight fiickered lovingly over the two. At last he spoke, and his voice sounded strange to Madge, who listened intently. "Madge, little wife, you took your big husband on trust, and, please God, you shall never regret it but there is some- thing feel tonight that must tell YOU. which ought to have been told before. Don't tremble so, little girl! I've done nothing wrong, dear, but I feel now that l made great mistake in keeping my se- cret from you. had hoped, dear heart, never to have been obliged to tell you, but to-day have found out that 1t better be told, else my little wife cannot help me in my time of need. Madge.n and his