The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-06-15

CELLAR
'Snow fiddlesticks You want about
dozen pies, meat enough for regiment
a peck of potatoes and everything else in
proportion. Hurry. child ~
Cissy came forth prest ntly with smooth
hair, rutlled apron, an unruiiled de-
meanor; she was neatly shod, and the
yellow lights in her eyes had given place
to cool, clear grayness.
"Straighten up that disgraceful dining
room while prepare the vegetables; then
We'll tackle the poultry But how shall
we let Albert know"
Cissy smiled demurely.
ole would never take them up there
without coming home first"
"Oh," grunted Miss Sophronia, "then
he's not altogether vile'
Giles lovely, aunt Sophy," said Cissy,
dimpling
81 want you to have the credit of this
dinner, Cissy," said Miss Sophronia, peel
ing potatoes as she talked. "You're like
my own child to me and | want you to be
happy and stay happy. The door to it is
duty. know. | missed it myself, and
so missed my grandchildren uni, s. | can
be grandmother to yours, Cissy. | don't
so much miss my man, nor my children,
but guess it'll be pretty hard on Miss
Sopbronia Use if she misses her grand
children ~
The house was soon tidied-not a long
task, for tidiness was its normal condition
vegetables made ready, fowls put to
roast, and ham cut in a profusion which
looked to the young wife like waste.
Eleven had struck before the engine had
snorted and pulled its way into the rick
yard at Albert Stannings, but ahead of it
rode the young master of the farm, sheep.
ishly conscious that he had been cruelty
unjust. and sure that he would have to
acknowledge the same b fore Cissy's eyes
would look kindly at him again.
Delicious odors greeted him as he neared
the house No one was in the kitchen,
buG llltlt was IL SOuutl Vi SOllleDl luONlDS
about in tn dining. room adjoining.
Rows upon rows of delicious looking pies
were ranged upon the pantry shelves
pumpkin, cherry and apple Near them
was pan of fragrant brown pudding,
flanked by a pitcher of delicious lemon
sauce to drown it in by and by.
Dazed, the young man. who seemed in
no way an unusual young man except that
he appeared to have more length of leg
than he could conveniently use, passed
into the dining room where long table
was laid, as exquisite in every appoint
ment as if the president of our great repub
lie himself had been an expected guest
His wife was fitting about adding some
finishing touches to the table, and Miss
Sophronia was seated near window with
her knitting work in her hand, and a book
upon her knee, knitting and reading, as
was her habit. Albert clutched his wife as
she passed him. $50 you didn't get mad
at what | said this morning? I've felt
like hanging myself to a sour apple tree
ever since"
Eyes, | was. Mad all through And
don't you ever say such things to me
again You and to quarrel-after all "
Then she gave him kiss, basted the
browning fowls, turned the suffering ham
and thanked God she was alive, and that
Albert was alive to love her.
At II, before the last stroke had died
away, the new dinuer bell hung upon the
top of white oak pole by the well sounded
forth its welcome summons; for to "be be-
hind hand with dinner in the Perry Bob
neighborhood was almost as bad as to pro-
vide but one kind of pie
Somehow as the men trooped in they
did not seem quite so repulsive as a like
crowd had been at harvest time. They
were boisterous, bandying coarse Jokes,
making fun, Cissy knew, of what they
were pleased to call her "pernckerty'
ways and her moonshine meals, - bnt
she merely smiled. She even hung up the
| fifth clean towel without sign of disgust,
and by the time they were seated at the
table she owned to herself that even Jim
Finn might be worse, for had she not seen
him fondle her pet kitten while waiting
his turn at the wash bowl?
She poured the fourth cup of coffee for
poor, trembling, Urinary Jones-who ate
his pie with his knife, held within two
inches of the point, and drew his great,
hairy hand across his face in lieu of a
pocket handkerchief without once look
ing across at Albert. She asked Tim
Lewis, who was more than suspected of
making midnight visits TO his neighbours
henroosts, how his lame boy was, and told
him not to forget to take pocketful of
sweet apples home to him. The rest of the
men were neighbors, good honest men who
knew better than to ask the same man
twice for a chew of tobacco without offer
ing a return of the favor who "belonged
to church, and did not swear except
under great provocaton.
Midway in the meal Miss Sophronia
. / yal har lnn