Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-10-13

with due solemnity, that the Chad
Wlcks must all be invited to tea.
why, of course, have them here
whenever you like" said her father,
with a mans fatuous disregard of de-
tails. They were all gathered in the
sitting-room after evening prayers.
1T isn't so simple and easy as you
seem to think" returned Mary, who
was anxious that the home circle
/. should be impressed with the full Sc
robustness of the undertaking before
she began. "They have everything,
and / do want them to think that we
live like civilized beings, at least. I
have the supper pretty well planned
in my mind, and we can get Katie
Foley to come over and wait on table,
l guess. I've been to the Chadwicks
so many times that I know just what
it's proper to have, and how to serve
the courses and all that, and 1 can do
the cooking as well as anyone. Of
course we shall have to have the table
in here"
"In here? Humbug!" interrupted
Dick. "Why not have tea in the
kitchen, as usual? It's the pIeasantest
room in the house, big and airy and
comfortable, especially in summer,
when you don't cook there, anyway.
l say what's good enough for US"
| oh, of course-you'd ask Mrs. Chad
wick to eat bread and cold sausage
standing up in the pantry, dare say"
retorted Mary, whose temper was not
proof against opposition; however, as
this is my party, not yours"
And the lounge, and the sewing
machine, and grandma's work table.
and my desk will all have to be lugged
out into the shed, suppose, and the
big table squeezed in?" pursued Dick.
Exactly; now do be quiet. / shall
take them up to my room when they
come" she went on to her mother, Civ
ing Dick decided cold shoulder. ut
looks so nice since I stained the floor
and fixed up adressing-tab BILE. Then they
| can amuse themselves a little while in
| the parlor while we get tea dished up
Kate is too stupid to be trusted with
anything"
iii amuse 'em, never you fear" put
in grandma, who was a remarkable old
Lady and great conversationalist.
| Goodness, grandma" began Mary;
she caught her fathers eye and went
on in a modified tone. rOf course 1
mean you to come in, and hope you'll
enjoy yourself, but please don't go off
into one of your endless stories about
people and things that they don't
know anything about. Remember
| they're strangers here, and not alb
sorbingly interested in the Hawlleses
and the Billingses. Now about the in
vitations, mother. / thought I'd have
written ones, in the third person:
Mrs. Fairchild presents her compli-
| ments-'"
Mrs. Fairchild, who had been listen
| ing quietly, pushed up her spectacles at
| this suggestion.
| 'That'd be silly" she said, with the
serene lack of emphasis which made
| her speeches very effective. ''Youmust
recollect, child, that all the trouble you
| take won't make it anything out O.
| the common to them. It's proper
enough, though, that it should come
from me, and I'll stop in there in sea-
! son to ask 'em down."
"Oh,' very we'll, mother" replied
Mary, a little taken back by this I'M
| expected conversance with the pro-
prieties. Il shall have to fix up my
blue dress to wear, / suppose" she
| continued.
That purple striped thing of yours
| is ever so much more becoming" COM
mented Dick, with brotherly frank
| ness.
well, 1 only hope you'll look de-
| cent, and try to show some manners, if
you can," said his sister, reprovingly.
II sha'n't, for | sha'n't be at your
old tea party. I'm going ceiling that
night with Jim Perry" returned Dick,
who had taken rapid resolution.
Just as you please. Their brother is
off on bicycle trip, and dare say we
| can get on without you," answered
Mary, in a tone of relief.
The following Thursday was the APP
pointed day. and Mrs. Fairchild, who
called on Monday, reported that the
ladies would come with pleasure"
Meanwhile new features had developed
with surprising rapidity, until one
would have thought that at least a
presidential visit or a wedding recep-
tion was impending.
"Seems to me it's all foolishness. her
turning things upside down and want
ing me to wear my Sunday clo'es,"
grumbled Mr.. FGirchild in private, but
Mrs. Fairchild only replied: Don't
you worry William; all that young
folks need is little regulating"
On Wednesday father went to mill
fora load of grist, while mother placid
ly did her usual baking and cleaning
up" leaving, as Mary gratefully OBJ
served, an immaculate field for to-mor-
rows operations.
At four o'clock that young lady put
on the striped percale and sat down 10
sew. Half an hour later. happening to
aeance up, she saw four well-known
figures, in dainty attire, approaching
.he gate. She turned white and then
red, and rushed to the kitchen, where
mother stood by the window sponging
coat.
Mother, mother!" she cried. The
Chadwicks have mistaken the day. and
here they are, and no tea or anything.
What on earth shall do?"
"Where are they?" asked Mrs. Fair
child, quickly
Just coming in. Oh, what shall we
do?"
why. make the best of it, of course,
you can't send 'em away again. Take
'em into my room to lay off their hats
yours is all cluttered up with dress
making, l expect. There! They're
IpockinU so run right along"