The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-08-11
AN IMPROMPTU DINNER
pY cauoLYs STEELE.

q busy town aud gradually coming INTO
tho surroundings Of tho country dis
trIcts. His horse, o spIrlted animal,
was held 10 check by determined
hand, and tho Rider ever and anon gave
expressions OF pleasure at tho beauty OF
the aceue.
"IVs a fno thing to DO In ones own
country again" no unused.
~ cannot say that am sorry that my
Young blood tfctted with the restraints
Of homo, and that wandered cvery'
wheso to cock my fortune; but, now
that l hovo II, | om only too glad TO
sottIo down. This Ia n ilne part OF Ohio,
too, and II I do not like tho house can
enjoy the surrounding country"
As no mounted the hill no often
turned and looked below on tho gently
rolling country through which tho PIC
turesGue Kokoaing wound; over tho
broad stretch OF green. broken hero and
there with many fields loft brown from
tho harvest
Philip Worthtngton was man OF 45,
and had accumulated some money. and,
after O souowhat checkered lie. had
| decided to spend the remHtndcr OF his
days In tho country. lie was now Oh
his way to take possession Of the home
no had recently purchased about two
miles from the college town.
$50 that II want an occasional Ice
,ure, shall not have fur to go" he
thought. .
mo doubt tho place will DO oil right,
,bouoh hnyo not sccn IT," he unused.
"Tom Sharp Ia on honcst follow, and
no saws | shalI like II. II will need q
little fixing UP, but I expect to do that.
Good gracious! I wish l would reach
| II. / must havc como dvo miles.
Suro enough, hero iS tho signpCss: M.
Vernon lvG miles; Gambler two
miles IIo told mo II was opposite
hero Ycs, bchod tho solitary tree on
tho top of the hill to which Tom told
mo | must always tnko of my has, it
had wcatbcrud go many storns. On
tho other siIu OF that fonco shall, no
doubt, find my haven Of rost."
Fur back among the trees he saw q
small franc dwelling, neatly kept
| walk led to vine-coverod porch and on
either sido brilliant beds Of geraniums,
rhododcudrous and golden rod bright
cuetl tho scene.
"This is tho place." he said. "rom
| told mo tho grounds wore pretty vol in
order, but tho house was dilapitated on
the outside"
Dlsmounting and tying his horse. he
entered tho onto and as no ncarcd the
house comfortable hammock mot his
eye and an easy chair ottcrNd inviting
rest. Pushing opon the front door no
found a square hall lastly furnished
With library on ono side and on tho
other, comfortable dining.rooIn.
"The dining-room is the place for
mo-" no exclaimed. "but l shall take q
| look about ltst and await tho coming OF
tho old woman Tom left in Charge Of
Tho promises. 6ho has IN oyo to COM
fort, Here Is bright wood fro and q
lighted lamp Nico andtrons. too. |
au, glad decided to buy tho furniture" "
Up and down tho soft velvet carpet
hc walked, looked ovor tho table strown
with periodicals and magazines. sat in
tho bio center chair and tried his feet
on tho mantle: looked in tho book case,
examined tho curtains and calculated:
"Wcll, I thought | was paying pref
| ty good price for the property, but sharp
said thero woro como good things iuside
as we'll as out and | believe l have q
bargain. Upon my word II no has not
left a box OF cigars on tho shelf. He is
a brick. shall havo him out TO spcnd
a woek. Ho assured mo would be sat
isted and declare never want to
leave rere again. Real Havanas, TOO. l
shall .ry ono" and cutting tho action
to tho word no struck match. lighted
the cigar aud comfortably seated him
self.
al nice home is good thing for q
man at any time OF lItO," and he sighed
ne he thought Of sweot young girl he
had not taken time TO WOO.
~ wonder II thoro is any romance
loft in mo? II thoro is, II will take itsolt
out in dreaming, for doubtless shnll
never SEQ any young women In this
Quiet retreat, and II did they would
never look nj NO." he said.
Hardly had tho thought passed
through hia mind whom the front door
oponed and two young girls entcrod.
Suddenly ono drow back, excl&imiug:
"Gracious, Mimic, there Ia como ono
in tho library" -,
II boliovo you arG growing morbid,
Bessie" Minnie answcrod: "stnco
that man shot his wife you arc always
sooing some ono, hearing footsteps and
40 forth. You know that tho most
likely thing is that Ponto has jumped
into Tho rocking chair. and is having u
good time al tho expense Of tho other
furniture"
Get down from there, Ponto; you
know told you to keep oil Of mo tuEni-
turc," and Mimic rushod into tho
room, expecting to eco her pot dog
luxuriating in tho cushions. Instead
sho found a handsome stranger quietly
putting u cigar and reading tho latest
Iifo.
"oh!" shc ua!d, II did not know any
ono was hOrC.
Philip gavo ono long whistle, but coll
lecting himself. said:
"Ycs, l mn a Iow minutes carly. but
don't DO worried, Mary; l will make NJ
iowanccs tho frat night. More 20 the
nn;nt however, not on with tho dance,
but on with the dinner LOT mo h9ve
Il instnntor. III II wero done when tIa
tiono, 'twere vol 'tWorO dono quickly IS
apropos Of dInncr. You can sond tho
second Rlrl for anythingyouwant' Here
is tho money. shall keep hns one girl
oitor tho honso IL in order; but you can
keep YOUR Dyes open for shall havo to
l,nyc n man about tho place"
Minnie Jackson rushed out OF tho
room into hcr amazed iriGnds arms In
"Ts ho objective. census taker or In
.oxjcntod2 ?" cIiod Bessie.