Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-03-14

science, Mrs. Chickerly turned off
the gas, and cr%pt drowsily up the
stairs.
Fanny, Fanny, it's past 5, and
cook hasn't come down stairs yet.
Are you sure you spoke to her last
night?"
Mrs. Chickerly rubbed her eyes and
stared sleepily around.
"Oh, Frank, I forgot all about
speaking to her last night, she cried,
with conscience-stricken face But
I'll run right up-she can have the
breakfast ready in very few min
utes.
She sprang out of bed, thrust her
feet into pair of silk-lined slippers,
and threw a shawl over her shoulders.
Mr.. Chickerly bit his lip and checked
her.
"No need, Fanny" he said, little
bitterly; 81 must leave the house in
fifteen minutes or miss the only
through train. It's of no use speak
ing to the cook now.
Il am so sorry, Frank. y
Mr.. Chickerly did not answer he
was apparently absorbed in turning
over the various articles in his bureau
drawer, while Fanny sat shivering on
the edge of the bed, cogitating how
hard it was for her husband to start
on long journey that bitter morning
without any breakfast.
81 can make cup of coffee myself
over the furnace fire" she exclaimed,
springing to her feet. But Mr. Chick
erly again interposed.
"Sit down, Fanny, please. | would
rather you would sew this button on
the neck of my shirt. have packed
the others-those that are fit to wear.
I have shirts enough, but not one in
repair
Fanny crimsoned as she remembered
how often, in the course of the last
month or two, she had solemnly prom
ised herself to devote day to the
much-needed renovation of the hus-
bands shirts.
She looked around for a thimble.
81 left it down stairs last night.
I'll get it in minute.
The housemaid had just kindled a
fire in the sitting-room CRATE; it was
blazing and cracking cheerfully
among the fresh Goals, and Fanny
could not resist the temptation of
pausing a moment to warm her chilled
fingers and watch the greenish-purple
spires of flame shoot merrily up the
chimney, until she heard her husbands
voice calling her imperatively:
Fanny, Fanny, what are You do
ing?"
"Oh, dear" thought the wife, as
she ran up the stairs, 81 wish Frank
wouldn't be so cross. He's always in
hurry"
Little Mrs. Chickerly never stopped
to think that the real reason was that
she, his wife, was never "in hurry.
The needle threaded, the thimble
fitted on, an appropriate button was
next to be selected.
ooh, dear, Frank, | haven't Ole the
right sizel'
"SSew on what you have then, but
be quick !"
But Fanny was quite certain there
was lust the right button somewhere
in her work basket, and stopped to
search for it.
There, l told you so!" she cried,
triumphantly holding it up on the
point of her needle.
"Well, well, sew it on quick, said
Mr.. Chickerly, glancing at his watch
nervously.
That's just your worrying way,
Frank, as if anybody could sew but
ton on well in a hurry. There Ny
needle has come unthreaded. b"
ooh, Fanny, Fanny" sighed her
husband, fairly out of patience at last,
"wby didn't you do it last night, as |
begged of you? shall miss the train
and what little chance we had OF
place in Aunt Elizabeth's will will be
sacrificed to your miserable habit of
being always behindhand.
Fanny gave him the shirt and be-
gan to whimper little, but Mr..
Chickerly had neither the time nor
the inclination to pause to sOothe her
petulant manifestations of grief. He
finished his dressing, caught up his
valise with a hurriedly-spoken good
by, and ran down the stairs two steps
at time into the street.
There he goes, murmured Fanny,