The Newtown bee., 1900-05-11
meantime you win be present at another

"Why, Mir Halliday, did not Dobbins ' ellyous My daughter Bessie is to be married this evening at 7 o'clock right lere in this parlor! Her lover is coming 'n the 5 o'clock train from Chicago, and hey will be married by Mir Thomson, the a ustice. They will go back to Chicago 'n the morning train. Everything is to c De very plain, and only few of Bessie's | friends will be here so you can feel quite at home." s1t
 well declare!' and John could not refrain from whistling softly; uthis beats anything; cheated out of my own we'd ding, thanks to broken eecentrlcs, I drift as silent witness into other peoples Is indeed very eccentric"
 "Yes, really," she laughed. aBut now you are hungry. Bessie has just run over to Perkins to see the girls, and will be back presently. Come in the dining room and I'll see what have good for you. Tea? All right" John took a chair at the table and watched the spry widow fuss around preparing some ssvory ham and eggs. He listened to the kettle bubbling and singing and felt 6 desire | never to leave the true homelike atmos- phere of this quiet inn, so far from the l world, with only those two lonesome l wires stretched across the open fields to ! communicate pulse beat from the great | cities beyond! He wondered what Bessie was like, and how Ethel would like this quiet, peaceful home.
 "Well, well 8 penny for your thoughts" ," laughed the widow as she de- posted the savory dish 80 close to Johns nose as to nearly drive him wild with
 hunger. "Were you thinking of that
 eccentricF I think you'll dream of that.
 I declare don't know what 1t is any
 way, do you~
 John nodded his head in the negative,
 and looked longingly at the ham and egge.
 She caught his gaze, and laughed.
 "Go right ahead; don't wait for the
 tea-it will soon be ready" And he went
 ahead and although he had partaken of
 many sumptuous meal he could not re-
 call banquet SO delicious as now spread
 before him with all the simplicity of
 wholesome luxury. AS she poured out
 the tea she said:-
 "Now, MT Halliday, wouldn't say
 anything to Bessie about your misfortune,
 it might upset the dear girl. Just tell
 her about the accident and the eccentric,
 though; am 80 anxious she shall have 8 happy day."
 "Why, certainly, certainly, Mrs Oar.
 lington. If one wants good tea one must go to the country. I remember how 1t , used to be in grandmother's day. Our , grandmothers were wonderful women in the old days. There are many good ) things in the cities, but they Fall come from the country, and we only get them
 at second hand, as it were." , The widow came over and took seat 3 near John, pouring out cup of tea, and
 grew confidential. They talked away about all sorts of things, and as she a looked upon him as an engaged man, be.
 gan to talk of those things nearest he,
 heart.
 'I don't think, she went CD, 'T don't think Bessie loves him enough. You see ;. he came here once for visit as 8 friend = of Uncle Thomas; they rather fancieC ; each other, and one day she told me ths . she was engaged. Of course I crist ; about it; never could fancy it, but = suppose his coming from the city haC :. most to do with it. The last time he wal here he set the wedding day, and hal
 been writing ever since. She is 8 quee, lgirl, 8 little headstrong; but he's got | :, good position and Uncle Thomas think
 the world of him. And she sighed 8 , she asked, twill you have some nor
 tear"
 "Indeed I will, it is excellant," sail s John. He was becoming interested. |" e am anxious to zee Miss Bessie; I wisl 's she'd come back" he thought. 1T won !. der who-" And then aloud: By tn | way Mrs Darlington, you haven't tol o me the name of your future son.in.law u what"
 o "Why you ought to know him. He' S' in bank in Chicago; his name is-. M e gracious!" she exclaimed, and John rs 'e forward to gather up the fragment of hi IS tea cup. "How careless land the las 's cup of tea in the pot, too."
 My sakes, mother, what have 70 y donew called asfresh young voice at tn U door. Broken our best cup and sar "a cer!' Then she burst out laughing; bu 1t seeing John, who was hidden by the bi As table down on one knee. scraping up tn }. fragments, she said with some iprecipits o tion: "Excuse me-"
 n "Oh, this is MT Halliday MT Hallida IS nay daughter Bessie.''
 IS "Never mind about the cup" Mis- g Bessie bowed ccquettisbly. "I'll swee y it up. It's easier than trying to find a. at those small pieces," and away she wer 'o after the broom. She returned befor le John had time to recover from his asto1 at ishment.
 G. "Oh, you were on the train. hear 7s all about 1t. Mir Dobbins was telling M ss Perkins all about something he said va o1 an 'eggcentric.' How unfortunate fo
 you!"
 t, John laughed. Mot at all; quite tn g, contrary" he made haste to reply, cal le ried away by the roses in her brett Il cheeks, and forgetting all about poe at Ethel and old Smith, the owl-eyed mini. t. tar. ''Not at all. After the wreck, ic hope every one may find so peaceful to haven ss I have" And he beamed in smile upon Miss Bessie that would hay H. gone badly with him if Miss Ethel coul is have seen it.
 d 1T don't agree with you, if my mothe @ entertains you with breaking crockery " MNnW ahall make anma more tea ins