Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-11-30
The BiOtting Book

ulo rIlttlc VITA 1T 4hdlud dlc anu
consequently made matters general
ly unpleasant for everybody and
everything about. The parrot, a
weird bird, had squeaked welcome
to him while lifting up one foot
and Gistended claw, as though Civ
ing him its benediction, but he had
only replied by hinging his muffler
at it, whereupon it had burst into
series OF stridcnt laughs, inter-
sperscd with a few choice explosives
it had learned from the major him
self. The black cat had also mewed
welcome to her master, whereupon
that master had endeavored to kick
the Harmless necessary" one,
though no had only missed his mark
and fallen forward on to the coal
scuttfc and barked his shins, which
did not make his temper any the
more angelic. Meanwhile the cat
jumped on the arm of a chair and
sat blinking her green eyes at the
dear major with a semieentemptu-
Gus and semiseraphic appearance.
"llere, YOU, down there" the
major howled, rushing to the head
of the basement stairs. MARY, Eli
"a, where are you: Talking to the
butchers boy again, eh? What?
The postman, is it? I'll postman
you. III have discipline maintain
ed. What are you singing? Pm
not a soldier at 10 pence a day ell !?
I'll show you. Come up here
Then a few minutes afterward
the nymph named Eliza appeared,
Il amt your wife," she began,
"thank 'cvings, and | amt a soldier
servant, for which | says thank
'evings again. If | don't suit, ! can
60. Mother says | oughtn't to stay
in 'ouse with man who uses the
langwidge you do"
where's your mistress % the
major asked in u quieter voice now,
perhaps because he thought that be-
fore future matron he had better
simmer down little.
Gone to the club. She's got an
appointment.
Has She" inc najoF said, look
ing ominously-for his wife's flu
ture comfort. "And as she thought
| was going TO be away for a week
| suppose she was going to haye an
appointment at the sidb every day
and all day."
81 dunno. shouldn't wonder.
Her life isn't happy and isn't likely
to be. Then she's going to her Md
for three DAYS. she say"
"lcs, ! don't doubt she does say
so. En-" cqntemptuously. "lier
mother. Well see about that. Her
mothers, ehi All right. You can
CO."
The major flung himself down at
a little Davenport, or Chesterfield,
table with caster off, which was
his wife's particular property, and
seized on some of her light smoke
colorcd writing papeg aud her. gold
j pen and hGga9 to dash! off very
strong letter, full Of reprimands and
commands as to her future conduct,
The words u intend to be Oheyed,
and discipline must be maintained"
brought Tho first page to a conclu'
sion, and the major turned the sheet
over full downward on to the blot
ting book, which, as it had a kind of
japanned cover with ridiculous imi-
tation opal bosses, or bumps, all
over it, slid about like a skater who
is beginner on a sheet of ice. Then
when he had captured this wandering
object he was just gQlAg to bring his
Sutstretehed hand down on the back
| 81 the sheet when he uttered hid
eous grunt.
"What's thisY he cried, snatch
ing up the buvard and rushing with
it to the window. "What's this in
Matilda's handwriting? What
What. Oh, the seypaAti All, the
wretch. the minute my back was
turned TOO. Gone home to her moth
er, eli: Yes, that's where she will
60 before l put her in something
else. Oh, heaven help me!'
Then be held the telltale hlotting
paper up to the light after stamp
ing his foot at the cat because 1t
had q painfully monetonous tit OF
sneezing and readl
"Ny own Sweetest Loye-lie'-
| suppose II is he or Is 1t an H.
meaning me, Henry9-'he, poor
deludcd husband, has gone away
again, for week this time, | ex-
pect' us hc?' the major mutter-
ed), and isn't likely to come back
till then. So-bother the blot.
can 60 together cQh~ ahe
groaned the poor majof) 4 have
told Eliza | Inn going to mothers
Tor three days CIIere's another
blot the major said) Take me
for run to Brighton. haze miss
ed you so l can't tell your
"That will do~ the major said
"That's about enough, / think. Ii!
20 and see my lawyerV
Then he looked at the parrot, VI
had gone to sleep in an idiotic pos.-