The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-06-07
The Feasting of
John.

7s15251S1S1S15152S5
"John," said Mary, speaking with
such emphasis that John looked up
in alarm, '.John-er-did you have
a good dinner?"
"Fine!" said John, relieved, and
beaming at his outstretched feet.
'fFine!" he repeated, beaming more
than before, if that were possible.
Whereupon Mary sighed,-not be-
cause John had had a good dinner,
but because she was thinking-and
then she knit her forehead in most
determined way and remarked:
"John!"
All Johns alarm returned; and TAX
Sing his feet off the opposite chair,
ne turned toward Mary, saying:
well, Mary? Well?"
''Now-er-did you like your mac
aroni, John?'' she said.
"Fine!" said John, patting him
self to please his wife.
Mary drew 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:
'John!"
"Yes2" 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 breath.
you've just got to get a top hat!"
If ever woman looked as if she
had sprung a mine, it was Mary;
and if ever a man looked as if he
could not believe his ears, it was
John, as he turned his head round
with a sort of under motion until
he looked straight into Mary's eyes,
and then 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-
it; 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 a state of
nervous perspiration when Mr.. and
Mrs. Scott, their next-door neighbours,
went out for their Sunday afternoon
walk, and as for Scott he had his
top hat on, too.
Z Seeing this, Mary ran straight into
the Kitchen and began making
lobster salad-a prime favorite of
Johns!
do you like, it John?" asked Mary,
putting another spoonful on his
plate.
John recIossed his feet under the
table in an eestasy,-his mouth too
full for utterance,-and gave Mary
a mute look so full of gratitude,
pride and devotion that her heart
almost failed her; but for a mo-
ment only.
John, did you see that big black
dog when we were out walking?" she
asked
John shook his head
Wouldn't it have been awful if he
had bitten you!"
John nodded his head with vigor.
And II 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
stil far too full for Itterance,-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 a>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?
Eyes, 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