Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-12-03

womans though trifle run to fat. and
me pest hand at a Yorkshire pudden
We come acrost since / lost pore
motner. Wonder what she's got for
breakfast? Hullo! What's up with
the door?"
Ihen ne remembered that he had
bolted 1t over night. He drew back
the bolt, but still the door refused to
open, though he shook and showed
vigorously. He was glad to hear a
substantial tread upon the stairs, and
nailed lts owner through the keyhole:
Something's gone wrong with the
door-its stuck somehow sos / can't
open it,
No, 'taint." was the answer. ITS
locked, that's what's the matter with
it,"
That's queer" said Mr.. Jebbings; II
never locked it not to my knowledge"
But l did, was the startling reply.
Il locked it. and the keys in my
pocket. and there it's going to stop till
you knows your own mind"
And with that she turned and
creaked down the stairs again.
Here's pretty howdy do" observed
Mr.. Jebbings, as soon as he grasped
the situation. Bin and locked me i'm"
I'll take and kick that door down,
blamed if / WON'T he declared furi-
ousiy.
so he kcked-kicked hard and reck-
lessly-with theresult that in less than
half minute later he was sitting on
the floor nursing his foot and loudly
anathematizing widows in general and
Mrs in bat ba
voice of the latter, speaking outside of
the door, took him quite by surprise.
Yes, you may kick. Joshua Jeb-
binSs, only remember whatever dam
age you does You pays for. And you
can cuss'n swear, too, if you finds it
helps you any. Hungery, are you?
Serves You right. S'pose you thought
you was going to carry on jest as you
liked and then sneak off with week 5
notice. That's where you made mis-
take. l amt no worm to he trample1
on, l amt. So there you stops till you
thinks better of it,
The morning Wore away somehow,
and the church clock struck IL. Half
past was Mr.. Jebbings' dinner
time. She was bound to let him
out for dinner, he told himself,
repeatedly. She'd never dare to make
him miss two meals. Ii would be alto
gether too--He could hear her setting
the table. How many was she setting
it for? Now the frying pan was on
again. A few minutes. and Mr.. Jeb-
bings began to snuff the air like war
horse scenting the battle afar. But
What he snuffed was not fire and earn
h,,t His nnStrilS
curled with rapture.
There was step on the stairs,
substantial step, that made his heart
beat and the stairs creak. 1t came on
and on. and stopped outside his door.
Mr.. Jebbings waited anXiously to hear
the key inserted in the lock, but in
stead there came a thump, and a voice
saluting him by name.
Joshua JeDbings, you there?'
We'll, that's good" observed the
captive, sotto voce. ''how'm / to be
anywhere else, I'd like to know, see
ing she've bin and locked me in? l
only wish l wasn't"
"Howbeit," he answered meek1y
enough.
''Yas'm.''
Dinners ready" was the announce
ment.
Mr.. Jebbings licked his lips in an
ticpation.
som l." he replied eagerly. ready
and waiting"
cReady to have the banns put up
Sunday?"
"Banns. Sunday" in mufiied stac-
cato. Then with a burst of decision,
mo, I'm jiggered if I am.
Very we'll, then
And to his horror he heard the steps
retreating from the door and down the
stairs to the kitchen. Mr.. Jebbings
gave way to despair
$50 she means to keep me shut up
Yer till | give in. Well.' taking him.
self into his confidence, as it were, ana
speaking in a tone of despondency'
mingled with reluctant admiration,
"she's a oner, that's what she is.
s'pose," he continued refiectively.
s'pose she's a matter o five or SIX
years oldern me, and weighs. maybe,
couple O. stun more. Ought to be
t'other way round if a chaps to have
anv chance. Banns Next Sunday. l
should like to catch her at it. m sorry
now T didn't take and marry Prisciller
Potts matter O ten year back. she
was dreadful set on me at one time
was PriscilIer, and then l shouldn't
never a-bin in this fix
At O'Clock Mr.. Jebbings gave up
and took to his bed. At the voice OF
his landlady drew him from between
the sheets and lured him to the WIN
dow. She was talking to a nelghbof
over the wall, and her words pene-
trated to his ear with blood-curdling
distinctness.
"Yes, Mrs. Kirby, you're right, that
rain last week have made the peas
come on wonderful. And my hens have
bin laying bettern reglerer than I've
ever knowed EN-; and I've got beau
tiful side O. bacon left over from my
last pig. Altogether. one way
| other. I've been pretty torch nit TINS
year. and | don't fancy all the luck
| used up neither. Maybe you'll be
hearing some news fore long thatn
! s'prise you. No, l amt going to let 1t
out vet, and faint no use your trying
to guess Anyhow, l must run in now,
| for the kittles on the bile, and I seem
| to fancy rasher with my tea.
Mr.. Jebbings shook his fist at her re-
| treating figure.
| "D'ye hear that now?' he demanded