The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-13

hang the expenses on day like this. When they were all seated at the table the effect was almost riotous. There was the veal and the ham pie and things" smoking bowl of hot potatoes, the only contribution Caleb was allowed to make under pains and penalties, the mutton and the rest of the edibes. And there was the majestic mother of the pretty May seated In state with the others grouped around her fastronomic throne. For the occasion the majestic old soul had adorned herself with a huge, high cap around her gastronomic throne. For the us be genteel or diel lilly Slowboy stared about her at the dolls and toys and at the company in state of more than unusual bewlderment and rapturous wonder at the prolifcness of the good things afforded by this transitory life
 'Ah." said Dot to May, as they sat side by side at the table "just to think of our school days together" Why, you're not so very old, either of you, are you?" growled Tackleton, who did not relish this turn In the conversation. "Oh, butt said Dot we had such dreams and vis- ions then. We planned to get married, of course, and we pictured to each other Just the sort of a husband we would choose Not the least like my dear John here was he May? And if anybody had told me that you would be married to Mr. Tackleton l would not have believed it. And you'd have slapped me-wouldn't you, Nay" But" said Tackleton. laugh rfp could not help yourselves you see. Here we are your gay young bridegrooms; where are the others now?" Some are dead" replied Dot, some real people that we had picked out for ourselves as girls will-and some are fotgotten- though if any one had told them that they ever could be forgotten they would not once have believed it. No not one word Of it."
 She had worked herself up to such A pitch of earnestness and fire that inc carrier was quite alarmed. and cried ont. Why, Dot, my little womanr' May sat "lth her eyes cast down, silent, perturbed and pale. What was she thinking ofa That good and stately lady her mother came to the rescue of the situation bv mt tering with great authority the novel and startling proposition that girls would he girls, and two or three other propositions of like uncontrovertible sort As to Mir Tackleton, she considered him, as a son. ln-law, person to be desired, though. of course. if some things had happened fin the indigo trade which never had han pened, or never had the least likelihood n ipo
 ent. But she would not torture MT. Tackleton by referring to the past. she hoped he had becoming sense Of The honor which was conferred upon hin, hv being admitted into a family which he was well aware, was not without preten- sions to gentility. There was more to tbe same effect. until they choked the old lady off by giving her more veal and ham pie and another glass of the bottled beer. In order that the bottled beer might not be sighted, John Perrvbing,e who had to be off on his rounds and leave them for time, proposed the toast. "ro- morrow-the wedding day!' and called upon them to drink a bumper to it. Dot and Bertha and May did but scant Justice to the toast. Then "Goodby," cried Jobn I'm off--wil be back at the usual time ,,
 Poor Bertha How she suffered and how she began in broken sentences to re- veal to her father and to May Fieldinp the true state of her heart!
 Old Tackleton, of course, was not aware of what Bertha was saying-and would not have cared if he had comprehended He had an idea that the girl. because of the affection she showed him, an affec- ton she could not conceal. was an idiot and treated her as such. But old Caleb began to see how matters stood and if broke his heart. He had deceived his daughter. in kinoness, as he thought, only to break her heart. But Dot. with won derful presence of mind, took the Pre- cious Baby from Miss lilly Slowboy and set Mrs. Fielding going on a lecture re- garding the infirmities of infants and the best way of sdoctoring them. After which, of course, no other conversation was possible. But Dot did really man. age to have a little whispering chat with May. in which she must have revealed