The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-01

they had come to downright quarrellng,
through all which Eveina sought and re-
oeived the sympathy of Miss Flora and
Aunt Clary.
About this time the superior court COM
menced its session in the city, and
hundred like favors received from the
Judge and the bar, imposed upon George
the absolute necessity of giving a dinner
to his brethren. He used every precau-
ton to pass 1t off we'll He gave his wife
four days notice; he provided everything
himself, of the best that the town could
afford; he became all courtesy and af-
| lection to his wife, and all respect and
| cheerfulness to Aunt Clary, in the inte-
rim. He promised all the servants a
handsome present each if they would ac-
quit themselves well upon this occasion,
ana charged them all, over and over, to
remember that the time between two and
half past three was all that the bar could
allow to his entertainment; and conse-
quently dinner must be upon the table
precisely at two.
The day came and the company assem-
bled. Evelna, attired like queen, re-
ceived them in the drawing room, and all
were delighted with her. All were cheer
full, talkative and happy. Two O'Clock
came and no dinner. The conversation
be gan to flag a little. Haf-past two rolled
round, and no dinner. Conversation sank
to temperate, and George rose to intem-
perate. Three-quarters past two came,
but no dinner. Conversation sank to
freezing and George rose to fever heat.
At this interesting moment, while he
was sauntering every way, George saunt-
cred near his wife, who was deeply en-
gagged in a conversation with his brother
Paine, a grave, intelligent young man.
and he detected her in the act of repeat
Ing verbatim ct lteratim. the pretty
sentences which first subdued his heart.
Good Lord! muttered George to him
self; 'Jenkinson in the Vicar of Wake
field with his one sentence of learning
revived!''
He rushed out of the room in order
to inquire what delayed dinner; and on
leaving the dining room was met at the
door by Flora with two pale-bue, dry
boiled fowls, boiled almost to dismember-
ment. upon dish large enough to con-
tain a goodly-sized shote, their legs
sticking straight out, with a most undig
nified straddle. and bowling with a be-
witching grace and elasticity to George
with every step that Flora made.
Behind her followed Billy with a prod
igious roast turkey, upon dish that
was almost concealed by its contents
his legs extended like the fowls, the
back and sides burned to crisp and the
breast raw. The old gentleman was
handsomely adorned with a large black
Irvine necklace, and through a spacious
window that. by chance or design. the
cook had left open the light poured into
his vacant cavity gloriously
George stood petrihed at the sight, nor
did he wake from his stupor of amaze
ment until he was reused by a burned
round of beef and raw leg of mutton
making by him for the same port in
which the fowls and turkey had been
moored.
He rushed into the kitchen in a fury.
you internal heifer!" said he to Aunt
Clary; what kind of cooking is this
you're setting before my company"
"Eh-eh! Name o. God. Mas George
how anybody gwine cook ting good when
you hurry EN- sop
George looked for something to throw
at her head, but fortunately found moth
ing
He returned to the house and found his
wife entertaining the company with
never-ending sonata on the piano.
Dinner was at length announced and
an awful sight 1t was when full spread
George made as good apologies as he
could, but his wife was not In the least
disconnected; indeed, she seemed to as
sumo an air of self-complaisance at the
profuson and richness which crowned
her board.
The gentlemen ate but little owing as
they said. to their having all eaten a very
hearty breakfast that morning. George
followed his guests to the court house.
craved a continuance of his cases for the
evening on the ground of indispostion,
and it was granted, with an unaccount-
able display of sympathy. He returned
home and embarked in quarrel with his
wife, which lasted until Evelina's ex-
hausted nature sank to sleep under it.
at three the next morning.
Georges whole character now became
completely revolutionized Universal
gloom overspread his countepance. He
lost his spirits, his energy, his life, his
temper his everything ennobling. and he
had Just begun to surrender himself to
the bottle, when an accident occurred
which revived his hopes of happiness
with his wife and determined him to
make one more effort to bring her into
his viewA
~ an. unfortunate invest
n. ..-..zs.y,,on, failed; and, after
bungling attempt TO secrete a few thou