The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-04-17

yoa may 80 back to your duties. And
By the way, shall not require my tea
till late tonight, as | have important
business TO attend tor
But the mullins, sir; they'll be
spoiled" protested Martha.
Hang the mullins r rOared Mr..
Coates. 81 beg your pardon, Martha, y
he said, sofIening; AZ mean save the
mullins. really am not myself this
evening. ] trust you will excuse any
seeming rudeness on my part"
mo, offence, sir" replied the un-
perturbed Martha. 'Bnt you'll have
cup o. tea, sir, before you go?n
"All right, Martha"
And MIR. Coates departed TO his dress
ing-room, where he made hasty toilet,
descended for his tea, and two minutes
after was on his way to Mrs. Blacks
Could Mr.. Coats have but stepped
back 10 his hearth and home he would
have been shocked at the antics of his
housemaid Martha, who, toking by the
paws the sleeping Tang, danced him
round the kitchen Oh his hind legs,
worrying him with such queries as:
"What d'you say to new mistress,
Tang? Eh What? Can't you speak ?''
Although Tang could only bark, he
seemed to understand there was some
thing very interesting in the wind.
Cold, damp and in anything bat an
amiable frame of mind, Mr.. Coates
found himself at the gate of Mrs.
Blacks cottage. Once within the gate,
however, and walking up the path, he
found his anger suddenly transformed
into a kind of nervous dread Several
times he was on the point OF retreating,
arguing that the morning would do as
well but his sense of duty prevailed
and rehearsing for the last time the
speech he had prepared on his journey,
he walked up 10 the door and knocked,
hoping that the lady might be out.
His worst fears We're realized.
Enter" called a soft, musical voice
from within.
The next moment Mr.. Coates found
himsalf in the little kitchen and par
lor combined, vaguely conscious ofrows
Of shining pans, bright fire, and last,
but not least, trim figure meeting him
halfway, and drawing him toward the
warmth and light.
Good evening, Mr.. Coates" said
Mrs. Black, in accents OF genuine
pleasure "this IS indeed pleasant
surprise. To what must rscribe the
honor of this timely visit?''
Now was Mr. Coates time to deliver
his carefully prepared speech. But the
utmost he could do was to gaze about
him in dazed way as he stammered:
''rhat note, Mrs. Black. IL
called about the note"
"Ah, to be sure-you got my note,
then? Bat really, Mr.. Coates, what
Tremendous hurry you are IN -
'I assure you, ma'am there is 40 bur
ry at all. was only joking when ]
said there was-if indeed l never did
say there was. can easily wait six
months, or year, or"
Ten years, Mr.. Coates had almos.
said in his eagerness. Bat he checked
himself, rejecting that such heartlcss
indifference was hardly compatible
with an afiianced husbands passion.
The lady smiled sweetly.
al am afraid yoa say thlt eatirely
out of consideration for myself she
nurmured. "But won't be selfish;
anI, besides, | can manage very well.
Miss Milnes tried me on this afternoon,
and she has promised the dress faith
fully by the 18th"
Mr.. Coates fairly gasped at the au-
dacious manner in which his objections
were overruled.
However" continued Mrs. Black,
suavely, "6'Isiness will wait, | think,
Mr.. Coates, aud Pm sure you've had
no tea. You'll have Il cup of tea, of
course? ~
Tea with this little woman, in lone
house, and in lone part NJ. Coates
shuddered at the thought. And, be
sides, would it not be a sort OF tacit
compliance? He would have protested,
but his tongue again failed him.
Vacantly he allowed himself to be
quartercd in the old armchair, while
Mrs Black, with a bewitching smile,
in which a shade of triumph might
have been detected, seated herself op-
posite and poured the tea.
And here another surprise awaited
the already bewildered Mr.. Coates. To
his right hc found q plate literally
stacked with mullins, while at his left
rose maiesticalIy a plate of-and this
eyes spariiled-cheese-cakes f! How
in the world did Mrs. Black know of
MS fondness for the particular dain-
ties?
He looked at his hostess for an eX-
PLANTATION. That astute lady, antici-
pating his query, murmured SOME
thing about studying the wishes Of
those we love, and for the first time
began to blush furiousiy. Mr.. Coates
wasted no further time, but fell 20.
"As good as Martha's, every Bit"
he murmured, as the first cheese-cake
disappeared.
go glad you Ike them"
More cakes disappeared. The guest
waxed sociabie.
"Rcaily, Mrs. Black" he exclaimed,
"your chcese-cakes excel Martha's."
Mrs. Blcck smiled modestly. She
Thought it quite superliuous to inform
him that they were Martha's; that, in
fact, they had preceded his advent but
a few minutes.
"AIrs fair in love and war" she
argued and gazed upon his features
with IA scrutiny almost bordering on
rudenesS.
II was now Mrs. Blacks turn to ap-
pear embarrassed, and she excused her
self to clear away the tea things.
Mr.. Coates eyes wandered around
the little parlor, and he was obliged to
admit that he had never come across a
neater or cosier room. Everything was
in perfect harmony, even to the dim
inutive canary in pink cage, hanging
against the spotless curtains.