The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1906-11-10

@1C nature OF nOuSe-Warm1nS.
The Blossoms, the Ridgeways, the
Eldridges, the Gordons were there, in
addition to perhaps dozen and q half
other people whom I had never met.
Also. MIR. Blodgett was there.
Old Mr.. B1odgett is Hawkins IA
ther-in-law. There is a Mrs. Blodgett,
too. but she is really too sweet an old
lady to be placed in the mother-in-1aW
category.
Rlodgett, however, makes up for any
deficiencies on his wife's part in the
traditional traits. He seems to have
analysed Hawkins with expert care
and precision-to have appraised and
classified his character and attain
ments to a nicely.
Consequently, Hawkins and Mr..
Blodgett are rarely to be observed
wandering hither and thither with
their arms about each others waists.
Finally, was there myself with my
wife
It seems almost superhuous to men
tion my presence. Whenever HAWKINS
is on the verge of trouble with one OF
seems to sweep me along in his Oh
rection with resfst1ess energy.
Sometimes I wonder what Hawkins
did for a victim before we met-but
let that be.
Dinner had been lively, for the
guests were mainly young. and the
wines such as Hawkins can AFFORD,
but when we had assembled IN the
drawing-room, conversation seemed TO
slow down somewhat, and to pass over
to q 1anguid discussion of the house as
q sort Of relaxation.
Then it was that a pert miss from
one of the Oranges remarked:
Eyes. the freseoing is lovely-aimost
all OF it. But-Whosyer could have
designed that frieze. Mr. HaWkinsE'
esEr-that frieze7" repeated the IN
ventor, a little uncomfortably, fndf-
eating the insane-looking strip OF
painting a foot or so wide when ran
along under the ceiling.
eyes, it's SO funny. Nothing but
dots and dots and dots Whoever
could have conceived such an idea9'
esWell, I did, Miss Mather," Hawkins
replied. ST designed that myself
"0h, did you?" murmured the IN
quisitive one, going red.
Hawkins turned to me, and the girl
subsidized; but old Mr. Blodgett had
overheard. He felt constrained to put
In, with his usual tactful thought ana
grating, nasal voice.
sTt's hideous-simply hideous.
don't see-T can't see the sense In
spending that amount of money in
p1astering painted roses and undressed
young ones all over the ceiling, Her
bert"
"No?" said Hawkins, between his
teeth.
..FoI1y-pure folly" gfunted the old
gentleman. mo reason for it-no
reason under the sun.
Hawkins at least reserves family
dissensions for family occasions. He
held his peace and his tongue.
Eyes, SIR persisted Blodgetst,
everything else out Of the question,
the house might catch fire tonight,
and your entire sock Of painted ba-
bies 60 up in smoke. Then Where'd
they be? En-"
see here said Hawkins, goaded
into speech, you just keep your mind
easy on that score at least, will you,
papa, dear?"
whats that? What's THAR"
sThis house isn't going up IN
smoke" went on the inventor, tartIy.
You can take my word for it,
isn't, eh?" jeered the elderly Blod
gett with his nasty sneering little
chuekle 'tAnd how do you know it's
not? En-? Smarter men than you,
my boy, and in better built houses
have
Look here! This particular place
isn't going to burn, because HaW
kfns raped out.
What isn't going to burn, Her
berteo inquired Mrs. Hawkins, with a
cold, warning glance at her husband
as she perceived that hostilities were
in progress "Is he teasing you again.
papa %
Teasing met" shifted Blodgett with
an unpleasant leer at Hawkins.
Teasing that antiquity" Hawkins
groWled in my ear Say, isn't that
enough to"
Don't whisper, Herbert-it isn't po-
lite" continued Mrs. Hawkins, the
pIayfuIness of her manner somewhat
belied by the glitter in her eye. Let
us all into the secret.
aOh. there's no secret said the in
ventor, shortly.
mo dance. either" pouted the girl
from Jersey, who was an intimate OF
the family.
It was the signal for the light fan
tastic business to begin. Hawkins is
VIGOROUSLY out Of sympathy with
dancing. He took my arm and guided
me zteaIthily from the drawing-room
"Phew!" remarked the inventor
when we had settled ourselves up
stairs with a couple of cigars. Say,
Griggs, do you still wonder at crime?''
sMeanfng?"
Meaning dear Papa Blodgett.' !. |
snapped Hawkins Honestly, do You
believe it would be really wicked to
lure that old human pussy-cat down
cellar and sort of lose him through /
the furnace-door?"
Don't talk nonsense, Hawkins" ! |
laughed.
ct isn't nonsense. It's the way / |
feel. But I'll get square on that spite |
fuI tongue of his some day-and when