The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-02-22

| tnlng interesting or snail ne horribly
homesick tonight
"Then lei us 20 down and eat our
supper in these things" suggested
| Austin hastily. Don't he homesick,
Dorothy; please don't, or l shall be
tempted 70 weep on your shoulder and
throw up the chicken business alto
| gether'
Dorothy paused before him. looking
very lovely in her ancient garb. her
| sweet eyes serious and thoughtful
"Austin Ely, tell me truthfully. did
| you want to go into the chicken bust
ness or are you merely doing II to pro-
vide a home for me?"
Austin walked over and kissed her
face. "Tll confess TO weakness for
! the city" he admitted sheepishly. 81
| wasn't cut out for farmer Dorothy,
although ! do love TO be with YOU all
day long here in the country. There is
something about the life and hustle of
the city that calls me- / wish we
might keep this for a country home
and live as we always have done, in
town during the winter
."Some day we will" encouraged
Dorothy. with her sweet smile. LET
us go downstairs"
All at once the great knocker on the
front door was lifted three times and
4 resounding racket echoed through
the sparsely furnished house.
'Who can that be?" gasped Dor
othv as she drew near her husband.
"Some neighbor" he assured her as
he led the way down to the lower
floor. While Dorothy lighted the bay
berry candles and set the table for
supper Austin went to the door and
flung it open.
There at the curb throbbed and pull
sated a monster touring car. In it
were three shadowy forms, while a
fourth stood on the doorstep.
Hottie innr' called the man on
the doorstep Justify. "Let us in, good
people, and show us what you can do
by way of entertainment"
"This is not an inn,' said Austin
brusquely. you will find a very good
one at the end of this street"
NAY. 'tis not So" corrected the
other. "Many's the time have safe
here in the bar of the Blue Boar and
slipped my glass O. toddy. Come in,
boys; landlord says all are welcome
and that he will broil chickens for us.
Make haste, my man.
Austin planted his feet firmly in the
doorway It's cold night and you
are welcome to come in and have
bite to eat. but there won't be any
thing to drink unless 7 can find some
appleiack"
The four entered with noisy hilarity,
and it was plain to be seen that they
were all in a state of semi-intoXica-
ton. They were well dressed men. ana
their faces were not unpleasing,
though more than one of them showed
signs Of dissipation.
With the impression that the sooner
he served these unwelcome guests the
earlier he would be rid of their doubt
full companionship. Austin beckoned
Dorothy into the kitchen and together
they concocted a tray full of refresh
ments that were mostly got from the
provision box A large piece Of cheese,
a large loaf of Vienna bread, but
ter, cold boiled ham and a pitcher
of appleiack completed a repast that
brought forth a cheer from the group
gathered before the dining room fire.
Suddenly they looked at Austin in
his festal garments of drab velvet and
cherry satin. with gray silk hose and
buckled shoes and at Dorothy peeping
around the door gorgeous in blue bro
cade. With one accord they arose and
touched their glasses.
Its George Washington and Mis-
tress Martha" gasped the spokesman.
"Your healths and long-long-er, you
know"
With bulging eyes the four drank
the toast. while Austin and Dorothy
laughed until they cried. At last they
returned to the dining room, where a
curious sight met their gaze.
Standing in the middle of the round
mahogany table, the spokesman of the
party was calling for bids for its pur-
chase. "As pretty a-bit-of colonial
furniture-as ever your eyes lighted
on-gentlemen. Who will start the
bidding on this table, the property of
the immortal George-you, Freddy7
What am ! offered for this table?
zone dollar" said Freddy feebly.
Pooh! Who will give me more to
cover this insult? Cecil. you bloated
bondhOlder, beat it up!"
Cecil solemnly entered his bid of
hundred dollars, and as if they had
been waiting for this amount, the four
proceeded to raise the value of the ma
hogany table by hundreds until it was
knocked down to the languid Freddy
for $1,000. From a plethoric roll he
peeled off the amount and tossed it to
the table, and then, forgetting the in
cident, he led a solemn procession from
the house and into the waiting auto
mobile.
Dorothy and her husband stared at
each other across the mahogany table.
"Oh, Austin-what does it mean7
Were they drunk?" she asked.
"As lords" said Austin feelingly.
Tomorrow morning they will awake