Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-03-06

"You-you're quite sure OF that, Mar
tha?" he feebly asked.
Perfectly, sir.''
That will do, Martha, thank you
you may go back to your duties. And
by the way. shall not require my te,
TILL late tonight. as I have importan
business to attend to-"
But the mullins, SIR; they'll be spoil
cd" protested Martha.
Hang the muffins!' roared Mr.
Coates. II beg your pardon. Martha,
he said. softening: IL mean save thu
mullins. I really am not myself thi.
evening. I trust you will excuse any
seeming rudeness on my part"
mo offence, SIR" replied the unper
turbed Martha. But you'll have Q
cup o tea, sir, before you go?"
"Au right Martha"
And Mr.. Coates departed to his dress
ing-room. where he made hasty toilet
descended for his tea, and two minutes
utter was on his way to Mrs. Blacks
Could Mr.. Coates have but stepped
back to his hearth and home, he would
have been shocked at the antics of his
housemaid Martha, who, taking by tho
paws the sleeping Tang, danced hin,
round the kitchen on his hind legs,
worrying him with such queries as:
What d'yOu say to q new mistress,
Tang? Eh7 What? Cant you
speak, p
Although Tang could only bark, he
seemed to understand there was some
thing very interesting in the wind.
Cold. damp. and in anything but an
nmiable frame Of mind. Mr.. Coates
found himself Mt the gate Of Mrs.
Blacks cottage. Once within the gate,
however, and walking up the path, he
found his anger suddenly transformed
Into kind Of nervous dread. Several
times he was on the point Of retreat
ing, arguing that the morning would do
as well; but his sense of duty prevailed;
and rehearsing for the last time tho
speech he had prepared on his journey,
he walked up to the door and knocked,
hoping that the lady might b out His
worst fears were realized.
ENTER" called q soft, musical voice
from within.
himself In the little kitchen and parlor
combined, vaguely conscious of rows
Of shining pans. a bright fire, and last,
but not least, a trim figure meeting him
halr way, and drawing him townrd the
warmth and light
Good evening, Mr.. Coates" said
Mrs. Black, in accents Of genuine pleas
ure; this is indeed a pleasant surprise.
To what must 1 ascribe the honor of
this timely visit?"
Now was Mr.. Coates time to deliver
his carefully prepared speech. But tho
utmost he could do was to gaze about
him in a dazed way as he stammered:
1.-The note, Mrs. Black. I-I-called
about the note"
"Ah, to be sure~you got my note.
then? But really, Mr.. Coates, what q
tremendous hurry you are inv'
Il assure you, ma'am, there Is no
hurry at all. was only joking when
1 said there was-if indeed I ever did
say there was. I can easily wait six
months. or a year, Or"
Ten years, Mr.. Coates had almost
said in his eagerness. But he checked
himself, rejecting that such heartless
Indifference was hardly compatible
with an afflanced husbands passion.
The lady smiled sweetly.
90: am afraid you say that entirely
out Of consideration for myself" she
But I won't be selfish:
o-I hnptIoo Dor roro rorx- xx-on
Siis3 Mines tried me on this afternoon.
md she has promised the dress faith
fully by the 25th."
Mr.. Coates fairly gaspcd ut the auda-
cious manner in which his objections
wer. overruled.
However" continued Mrs. Black,
business will wait, I think,
Mr. Coates. and I'm sure you've had no
tea. You'll have q cup Of tea, of
Tea with this little woman, In q lone
house. and in n lone part! Mr.. Coates
at the thought And, be-
sides, would 1t not be a sort of tacit
He would have protest
ed, but his tongue again failed him.
he allowed himself to be quar-
tered in the old armchair, while Mrs
Black. with a bewitching smile, in
which n shade Of triumph might have
been detected, seated herself opposite
and poured the tea
And here another surprise awaited
the already bewildered Mr.. Coates. To
his right he found plate literally
stacked with mullins, while Mt his left
rose majestically q plate of--and his
eyes sparkled-cheesecake How In
the world did Mrs. Black know Of his
fondness for the particular daintics7
He looked Mt his hostess for an ex-
PLANTATION. That astute lady. antlci-
pating his query, murmured something
ubout studying the wishes Of those we
love, and for the first time began to
blush furiously. Mr.. Coates wasted no
time, but fell to.
"As good as Martha's, every bit," he
rs tie first cheesecake dis
appeared.
$50 glad you like them"
More cakes disappeared. The guest
waxed sociable.
REALLY. Mrs Black" he exclaimed,
'.your cheesecakcs excel Martha's"
Mrs. Black smiled modestly. She
thought 1t quite superfuous to inform
him that they were Martha's; that, In
fact, they had preceded his advent but
4 few minutes
"Alrs fair In love and war;" she nr-
gued; and gazed upon his features with
a scrutiny almost bordering ON rude
noss.
1t was now Mrs. Blacks turn to up
pear embarrassed. aud she excused
herself 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 .
neater or cosier room. Everything was
in perfect harmony, even to the diminu;
tixa canarx In n mink Gaze haQGln1