The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-09-25

morning answered Mr. Pettibone, IN
heedful Of his wife's
They might do very wei for des.
sert," said Mrs. Pettibone, thoughtful
u, 'sbut these would scarcely make g
dinner for i've or six hungry people
@No. Mr.. P~ettibone,r she continued
you have gotten me into this dilemma,
and now you viii have 10 get me ont OF
lit In the first place, you had better
hitch the horse to the buggy and starr
cut at onc to hunt some help, and, re
member" she added. impressirely, aft
must be obtained IL there is any this
side the Chinese empire. The baby does
not require Hetty's attention at pres
en.- and while you are gone, she and ]
viii do all that we can. There is no time
&c lose, / assure you"
With these words Mrs. Pettibone
arose and buckIed on her armor, SO to
speak.
A tour of investigation revealed the
fact that there was in the pantry a
stack cake, which might do, in case
there was no timeNto prepare a better,
while the cream, which had been set
aside for churning, was still sweet, and
could be utilized.
So far things wore rather q cheerful
outlook, and as time sped on. all that
Mrs. Petitioners active hands could eff
feet, and a good deal that her active
brain suggested, was happily accom-
plished. until the preliminaries had as
sumed such shape that. with an expe-
rienced hand to complete what had been
so well begun. an excellent dinner
might shortly be Forthcoming.
When an hour had slipped rapidly by,
however, and another was on the wane,
Mrs. Pettibone grew restless and un-
easy at the protrncted stay of her hus-
band, and consumed a good deal of her
valuable time in running to the corner
of the house to see if help was near at
hand.
When two hours had passed, Mrs.
Petitioners restlessness increased with
each succeeding five minutes, as If the
minute hand on the clock was the needle
that registered her feelings, and she
found it a difficult task to bestow the
proper attention on the making of her
transparent pies.
AS train time approached, and yet no
sign of her absent lord, she had reached
almost a fever of excitement, and while
the pies were being removed from the
oven and placed upon a shelf to cool, the
whistle blew, and the train came speed
ing through the springfield country,
pausipg for q brief space at the station,
only half Q mile from the pretty cottage
ct the Pettibones, and just out Of view
behind a green hillock.
When the pastry had been hastily
placed on the shelf, Mrs. Pettibone ran
cut to take another look, and this time
was rewarded by seeing her guests duly
appear over the hill, and stroll leisurely
the pleasant country lane.
A sigh escaped her at the sight. for
she had family hoped that some kind
interposition of Providence, short of a
accident, would delay the visit
DTS until a more propitious time.
"What viii they think at finding no
one at the station to welcome them?
And what can have detained MI. Petit
bone SO long?" thought his wife, as she
her steps toward the house.
Before she reached it, there was an
alarming clatter in the kitchen and a
little shrek that Hetty evidently voiced.
Fastening on, a scene met the. eyes
the mistress that was calculated to
make, considering the attendant cir
cumstances, a stouter heart than hers
grow faint.
The stovepipe had abruptly severed
III connection between chimney and
stove, and had descended to the COM
mon level. of the floor. and, not content
% play this prank alone. had coerced
The shelf of pastry into joining in the
'pree. ~whereupon the vicinity of the
'tove presented a chaotic mingiing of
lisjointed pipe and transparent pies,
With a liberal sprinkling of SCOT over
,verything-even Hetty's Mortified
,ountenance, as she stood near by, root
d to the spot in absolute dismay.
Mrs. Pettibone took in the unhappy
ituation at a glance, and then sank
on the nearest seat, also sooty,
md burst into tears.
In the MIDST of her weeping the
,uests arrived, their laughter and mer-
iment jarring ~unpleasantly upon the
,yertaxed nerves of the miserable host
IS, who hastily dried her tears and
'ade Hetty show the company into the
'srlor, where she would join them pres
ntly.
Hetty presented herself at the door,
fter first rubbing her hands over her
ace once or twice, with the pleasing re-
ult of distributing the spot q little
more evenly ove her light-brown coun-
enance. d
as your mistress we1l?n asked
Desmond, as she paused in the
all, while the others entered the par /,
DR., for she felt confident that some
hing was amiss. by the tone Of things +,
general, coupled with the socty dec
rations on Hetty's face. /,
~She amt feelin' very well right I
answered the truthful hand i
who had not been cautioned to
reserve a discreet silence.
"What is the matter2" questioned
whose curiosity was by no ]
leans satisfied by Hetty's answer. /
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