Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-04

ready. Maybe yer veesitor II change
her mind"
NO, thank you," said Miss Perk
stifIly.
please excuse me leaving you," said
Jess.
"Oh, certainly. We can have our
little chat presently"
Mrs. Wallace's lips frightened. MAY
be-" she said to herself.
Mrs. Houston, almost alarmed at her
aunts temerity in Drawing such an i'm
portant person as Miss Perk, left the
i'll assorted twain and retired to the
kitchen.
A silence brooded in the porch till at
last Miss Perk, smothering her irrita-
| ton, remarked, with forced pleasant
ness:
II don't think ever see you at any
of our meetings, Mrs. Wallace"
II daur say that, ma'am."
"1'he winter is approaching again,
and we expect to have some delightful
and, think may add, really helpful
meetings. l am preparing n series Of
lectures on The First Year of Married
Life which hope will
"Weel, l doot that's wee thing ju-
venile fur me, ma'am. An, furbye.
I'm better at gi'ein bit lectur's ma
sell nor listenin' to yin," said Mrs. Wal
lace, with dry smile.
The other attempted laugh as she
returned, "Still, Mrs. Wallace, think
you would find it worth your while to
attend and persuade Mrs. Houston and
her husband to attend also"
Mrs. Wallace did not respond.
Il may say take great interest in
your niece" continued Miss Perk.
Il micht say the same, ma'am."
Eyes, yes, no doubt said Miss Perk,
with an impatient movement of her
hand. "And may say, further, that
l consider her quite u capable young
woman, whose mind has been cult.
waited, considering her station in life
to considerable extent What did
| you say, Mrs. Wallace"
81 didna say onythin'," said the old
woman, apparently swallowing some
thing.
well, as was about to observe,
feel it would be pity If that cultiva.
ton were now to cease. No doubt hel
husband is an estimable man, though
I could wish him more Industrious.
heard that he went to town this morn
ing, obviously for a days pleasure, and
hear many complaints Of his dilatori
ness in executing the orders Entrusted
to him. Personally I should not dream
Of asking him to perform any repairs
on my account"
Miss Perk was SO taken up with her
self that she failed to notice the coun
tenance of Mrs. Wallace. "Now," she
went on, "I've no doubt that If you
would induce Mr.. and Mrs. Houston
to attend our meetings they would
both benefit considerably. AS I said
the husband is doubtless an estimable
man, but there is certainly room for
improvement, mentally, If not moral.
~. You, Mrs. Wallace, must naturally
be anxious about your nicce's welfare,
and of course it is your duty to in.
fluence the young couple in the right
direction"
Mrs. Wallace, with tremendous eff,
fort, restrained her temper, but her
speech was rather thick, while beads
Of perspiration broke out on her wrin.
kled forehead. 81 Gamma say l see
muckle wrang wi Jess an her man
They're kind to yin anither, an they're
happy thcgithcr, an, efter a., it's nae
great matter If yin or twa o. the folk
ABBOTT here gangs to the liners at XII.
mabeg an Fairport."
Eyes, yes" returned Miss perk In
some confusion. "Of course l never
meant to imply that there was any.
thing wrong, nor did l suggest that
they were not kind and happy. But are
Kindness and happiness sutlicicntY
"'Deed, aye, if We haze them in plen.
ty."
Miss Perk shook her head pityingly.
ut is the duty of every human being
to improve his or her intellect, Mrs.
Wallace"
"D'ye mean books, ma'am? Fur Jess
is a great reader when she gets the
time, an her mans no. jlst as eegno-
Tant as some nlicht suppose"
Books are certainly good, but hold
that the spoken word is more effec.
tive"
"AIphm! Whites. But I doot guild
books is easier got nor guild speakers,
ma'am."
Good speakers, as you suggest, are
no doubt comparatively rare" said
Miss Pork modestly. But one must
do ones best" She was going to say
a good deal more. but Mrs. Wallace.
who could endure no more, sat up in
her chair and bawled through the door
way:
"Jcss, is nia tea no. ready yeti"
"Just coming" came the reply.
81 suppose 1t is time you were getting
home Mrs Wallace understand Won