The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-10-22
The Feasting of
John.
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John" said Mary, speaking with
such emphasis that John looked up
In alarm, "John-er-dld you have
a good dinner?"
"Fine!" said John, relieved, and
beaming at his outstretched feet.
"Fine!" 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
hen she knit her forehead in a most
determined way and Remarked:
Joint"
All Johns alarm returned: and talk.
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?" 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
Tor 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. Yes, Mary?"
John, It's no use talking any more
about it'll" she cried all in a breath.
You've just got to get top hiatt"
II 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
ne looked straight into Mary's eyes,
and then muttered:
"A top hat. Mary? A top hat?"
a top haiti" said Mary.
Her eyes flashed SO and her cheeks
glowed so that John groaned in spir-
1t; but, nevertheless, Fremont was
eaiaed by the sight OF John In his
new head-gear the very next Sunday
afternoon, and John, on his return
home, was even yet I'm a state of
nervous perspiration when Mr.. 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
John'sl
DO you like, 1t 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
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 no
had bitten youi"
John nodded his head with vigor.
And If he had come for you, you
wouldn't have had anything to hit
him with would you, John?"
John shook HIS head i'm sorrow.
"A dog is frightened at a stick.
isn't he, JOhn?"
John nodded his head.-his mouth
still far too full for ltterance.-re.
crossed his feet again, and gave Mary
such a fond look that Mary had to
harden her voice when she OK.
claimed:
John, you must carry a stick"
After John had stopped choking.
no cOughed very hard. caught his
breath, coughed again, and cried In
most lugubriOus tones:
"A cane, Mary? Do you mean
Gamer
"Yes. a camel" cried Mary. "And
that's oil there is TO itl"
Hef two eyes sparkled so and her
chin was thrown up at such an angle
that John surrendered at once, and
the next morning, when be went to
work, he carried, In addition to his