The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-08-13
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A DOUCHE FROM
A GARDEN HOSE
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Toward the end of beautiful June day
M. and Nine. Lemadie were seated In
their garden before the mansion house
and TRANQUILITY waiting for dinner. M.
Lemadie was reading the newspaper, on
which from time to time he commented
in a senatorial voice, and Nine. Lemadie
was deeply occupied with her work.
'sWhere can Jeanne be, wonder?" said
Nine. Lemadie, stretching her hand to-
ward her workbasket and. pulling a
thread of scarlet silk out of its Uttered
skeins. "Your daughter?" said M. Lena
die. He turned on his chair and looked
out Of the corner of his eye toward the
end of the garden 'There she Is" he
said, "nozzle in hand, watering the flow
ers."
Scarcely had he spoken when there re-
sounded from the street sudden cry, ac-
companied by most formidable objur-
CATION, and these were instantly accom-
panied by the furious remonstrances Of a
second voice:
"What has happenedT cried M. Lee
made, throwing down his journal.
"What can be the matter?"
He rose to investigate. A vigorous
knock at his gate, followed by other
alarming strokes, made him hasten his
steps. Opening the gate, he found himself
confronted by two gentlemen, one
young fellow Of IS, the other stout and
hearty gray haired old boy, of opulent
mien, who, drenched from head to foot,
was vainly endeavoring to dry himself
with his pocket handkerchief.
The young man began to expostulate
vehemently, breaking out into exasperat-
ed reproaches "What did they mean by
inundating his uncle in this manner?
And on purpose-to amuse themselves
full In the face-and with head of wa
ter like that?'
M. Lemadie stammered all kinds of
excuses. hopping from one foot to an
other, stupidity turning his straw hat
about In his fingers and In a duncelke
voice repeating, I'm sure 1t must be very
unpleasant-very unpleasantp
"Unpleasant? | should think so!' re-
piled the young man furiously, who, dry
as a bone himself, was twice as vehement
as his uncle. With growing irritation he
continued to apostrophize the poor wretch
planted motionless before him, speech
less and sorry figure, crying out that 1t
was impossible to conceive paying SO lit
tie attention to people who might be pass
ing on the street, that 1t was a perfect
insult, returning with ever renewed an
ger to the iniquity Of this sudden and
formidable avalanche of water. mo, no,
uncle; / refuse to say anything more
about itp' he cried. Gust look at your
self! See what state you are in!'
In fact, the uncle presented most lam
entable appearance. His collar was
nothing but shapeless mass of linen; his
black satin cravat, all awry, was switch
ed up on. his neck; his silk hat was seam
ed with glistening scars, which bristled
up here and there like monstrous cater
pillars; his waistcoat and trousers stuck
fast to his stout and plentiful person, and
from the poor mans elbows, shoulders
and hips there was a regular June show
er.
Who now came stealing up, head down,
on timid, hesitating feet, but Jeanne, the
culprit Jeanne" In angry tones the ia
Their spoke. "Will you kindly look at this
gentleman Will you please to observe
the result Of your carelessness?"
She raised her eyes, the smallest Bus-
picion Of a smile lowering about the cor
ners of her lips, when all of a sudden she
stood open mouthed, In stupefed immova-
bility. Her pretty face was so droll, all
her little figure was so charming, that
with her rumpled hair, her Powered linen
garden dress with Its slim corsage, and
her petticoat pulled up. revealing two al
most invisible little feet In the most mi
mute of slippers, that the victim and the
impetuous nephew of the victim were dis
armed before a word was spoken.
spray, never mind, mademoiselle." said
the uncle. II beg you will not give the
matter second thought. 1t Is not every
day that one has the honor of douche
from so charming hose carrier"
She blushed extremely, tried to speak
and then SO irresistible a desire to laugh
took possession OF her that she turned
and fed for very fear of bursting out
laughing.
Now, somewhat recovering his self pos
session, M. Lemadie was at last able to
express his regret in somewhat decent
phrase. 1t then occurred to his hitherto
bewildered mind that he might at least
offer the unfortunate victim of the acci-
dent change Of clothes, and with such
good humored hospitality did he insist
" accepted. Ten minutes afterward Thi-
baut, Uncle Thibaut. completely dry,
little squeezed together by his borrowed
garments, but thoroughly restored to
spirits by couple OF glasses of Marsha,
took leave Of the Lemadie family.
''Come, let us hurry" said he to his
nephew. "Your mother will be wonder
ing where we are"
Home they reached and sat down to ia
BILE. The bath had developed an appetite
in this old monsieur; he deyoured. At
dessert, In high good humor, full of his
jokes, his elbows ON the table-for Uncle
Thibaut's manners were really something
awful-ha would talk of nothing but the
Lemadies and put his sister-in-law
through q regular cross examination con-
cerning them.
But Nine. E'ilhol could tell him nothing.
At Chaton one sees nothing OF ones
neighbors, and nobody paid visits. She
having seen the girl In the
now famous .garden~opas OF tEsqa QAt