Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-06-19
The Feasting of
John.

John" said Mary. speaking with
such emphasis that John looked ur
in alarm, "John-er-did you have
a good dinner?"
"Fine!" said John, relieved, and
beaming at his outstretahed feet
"Fine!" he repeated, beaming more
than before, If that were possible.
Whereupon Mary sighed,-no be
cause John had had a good dinner
but because she was thinking-and
then she knit her forehead in most
Dr. ,ermined way and remarked:
i"John!"
All Johns alarm returned; and TAX
Ing his feet off the opposite chair
he turned toward Mary, saying:
We'll, Mary? Well?"
"Now-er-did you like your mac
aroni, John?r she said.
"Fine!" said John, patting him.
self to please his wife.
Mary drew a few more stitches
through her embroidery, paused
looked at the back of Johns head
for minute or two, bit her thread
and then, for the third time, ex-
claimed:
joint"
"Yes?" said John. thinking he was
about to be asked to pass Judgment
upon the potato chips and ready to
say "Fine!" again. Eyes, Mary?"
John. it's no use talking any more
about it!' she cried all in a breath
You've Just got to get a top haiti
II ever a woman looked as If she
had sprung mine, it was Mary;
ana II ever man looked as IL he
could not believe his ears, it was
John, as he turned his head round
with sort of under motion until
he looked straight into Mary's eyes,
and them muttered:
"A top hat, Mary? A top hat?"
"A top hat!' said Mary.
Her eyes flashed so and her cheeks
glowed SO that John groaned in spir-
1t; but. nevertheless, Fremont was
edited by the sight of John in his
new head-gear the very next Sunday
afternoon, and John, on his return
home, was even yet in state of
nervous perspiration when MIR. and
Mrs. Scott, their next-door neighbors,
went out for their Sunday afternoon
walk, and as for Scott he had his
top hat on, too.
Seeing this. Mary ran straight into
the kitchen and began making a
lobster salad-a prime favorite of
Johns!
DO you like, it John?" asked Mary,
putting another spoonful on his
plate.
John recrossed his feet under the
table in an ecstasy,-his mouth too
full for utterance,-and gave Mary
mute look so full of gratitude,
pride and devotion that her heart
almost failed her; but for mo.
ment only.
John. did you see that big black
dog when we were out walking?" she
asked.
+ John shook his head.
Wouldn't 1t have been awful If he
had bitten you'll
John nodded his head with yigor.
And If he had come for you, you
wouldn't have had anything to hit
him with, would you, John?"
John shook his head in sorrow.
"A dog is frightened at stick.
Isn't he, John?"
John nodded his head,-his mouth
still far too full for atterance,-re-
crossed his feet again, and gave Mary
such fond look that Mary had to
harden her voice when she ex-
claimed:
John, you must carry stick!"
After John had stopped choking,
he coughed very hard, caught his
breath, coughed again. and cried In
most lugubrious tones:
"A cane, Mary? Do you mean a
cane?
Yes, camel" cried Mary. "And
that's all there is to it,"
Her two eyes sparkled SO and her
chin was thrown up at such an angle
that John surrendered at once, and
the next morning, when he went to
work, he carried, in addition to his
new hat, cane. 1t seemed to be a
fad that had all at once become the
style In Fremont, for when Mr.. Scott
went TO work, on Tuesday morning
he carried cane, too-but in most
sheepish manner!
Seeing this, Mary ran for the cook
book, and that night John sat down
to a dinner that began with pea soap
and ended with frozen custard; and
afterward Mary remarked:
John, Mr.. Davenport is i'll"
moi" exclaimed John. whats
the matter with him?"
Pneumonia" said Mary, shaking
her head, "or at least very bad
cold. Mrs. Davenport was telling
me that he caught 1t by getting his
feet cold. John, how did you like
the white. sauce tonight? Was it
good?"
"Fine!" said John.
Whereupon Mary promptly said:
Went shopping today"
"Yes?" beamed John, .clasping his
hands over his waistcoat buttons.
Eyes, Mary?"
Yes said Mary. "And, John. |
bought you the lovellest present.
Vail I'll fetch theml' -.