The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-03-26

was full. and that She had not time to
( think of herself. A thousand and ono
little tasks sprpng up on every side
| llouscworls seemed to him many
headed hydra, and one being knocked
off, another instantly appeared in it's
| place to distrust and bcwildcr. Late
in the afternoon, us he sat down for II
moment to rest, seeing spare quarter
| OF an hour before it was time to Law
the table for supper, u loud outcry
arose below stairs, and the twins ap-
| pearcd, bearing poor little Mabel be-
tween them, damp, dolcful object,
covered from head to foot with mud.
The children talked all together, and at
the top of their lungs, trying to OK
plain how Harry had playfully pol1cd
ms sister, and how she had lost her
balance and had fallen headforcmost
INTO the gutter, Gin the very gutterest
place, papa" and the poor man tore
his few remaining locks as he bore his
daughter OFF to tho bathroom for u
complete change of clothes, involving
the intricacies of buttons, strings and
| pins all over again.
at $50 Mrs. Fenton returned. A day
spent principally in the open air had
| proved vcritable tonic, and she was u
pleasant sight to see, with becoming
color in her checks, and eyes unwontcd-
| ~ bright, as she tripped upstairs lightly,
In spite of her forty years; bursting
into the nursery in such IL hustle and
stir of good spirits that it grated upon
the nerves of her husband, PROSTATE
upon the sofa after the eXhausting pro-
grammc of his housekeeping.
The fun died out of her voice, though
not from her glance, as she bent over
him, saying softly: Poor, dear james!
Still in your morning dress? What does
this mean? l am afraid you arc ret
ting into untidy WAYS"
Mr.. Fcnton groancd by way of reply.
Mary" he murmurcd, fccbly, after
moment, will You accept an hum
blcd mans apology? never dreamed
before what Il ncyer-cntling round of
work Il woinan's life could be. I'm n
perfect wrccll-but i speak for myself.
You will never hear another word Of
! criticism from me if you look like n
rag bag"
Mary dropped kiss on his fcvercd
brow 1t was the seal OF her forgive
ness quick look about the room
showed her its disorder but she kept
her amusement to herself
Il have had busy day too" She pur
sued brightly, taking off her bonnet.
First your bills The people who
owed them were so ustonishcd when =
woman walked in to collect that they
handed over the money without n
word, and before eleven o'clock my
poellotboolI was full. That was the end
OF my duty. Business is rather anus
ing, james think, and not too oxcit-
ing, for it left me good many hours,
You sec, before it came time TO come
home, so | went to Cousin Li2xic's."
James gave start. Cousin Lizzie
was butterfly of fashion, for whom
Mary's tongue was usually lash of
scorn.
Yes, Cousin Lizzie. And said: Liz
zie, 1 am not well dressed That's
no news says Lizzie. No, but 1 want
TO be, says l. That's good news saws
Lizzie. Put on your things says 1,
and take me to your tailor So she
did, and I've ordered very smart
gown, my dear, which is quito equal to
anything of any neighbours, now bon
net and n cape, gloves and boots and SO
on. And have had some corsets sent
homo from Mrs. Van Dusen's own wom-
an. You shall never have occasion to
complain of me again, james. We'll
groomed.' thank thee, Jim, for teach
ing me that word"
AS she went into the closet to nut
away her wraps, she stole q glance at
her husband. 1t found him in state
of collapse, and in the remote depths
of that n1rcnf c1
Hurry OF laughter only to be heard by
the moth balls among the. furs.
Just then the supper bell tinl,lcd.
Gomez called Mrs. Fcnton, gayly, I
pulling her husband up from the sofa. .
They went and by tacit consent the
days doings dropped out of the CONVEX
sation.
james Fenton slept the sleep of
penitent sinner that night, and the
morrow restored the old regime But
the seed sown had dropped into good
ground, and the next Sunday morning
the head of the housekeeping depart
mcnt was mystcriously long over her
toilet. When She emerged at length
she was vision of gorcd skirt, huge
sleeves, smart cape wide bowed
bonnet, new boots and gloves. Her
hair shone like satin and as for her
figure it was as trim and trig as a
fashion plate. Mr.. Fcnton opened his
mouth and shut it again. He was
dumb But the children shriclsed
with delight, and piroucttcd around
the dazzling apparition and curiosity. Z
81 say, isn't mamma daisy?" cried
Tommy, tossing his hat into the mir.
Mable crept up timidly, fingered the
fold Of flaring skirt and, looking up
into her mothers vivid face, said, hes
itatingly:
"Arc you pretty, mammal"