United States or San Marino ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
You can just as well sit under that dove as stand under it," she said. The girl started listlessly to obey, but the next words revived her like wine: "I declare it's Mis' Lawrence, and she's bringing that water-set; she hung on to it till the last minit."
But a repetition of the sound sent him bounding through the open door into the dining-room, dazed and trembling. Seated beside the dining-table there, with her head buried in her arms, sat his little wife. Before her, ranged in line upon the table, stood the silver water-set her present to him. He was beside her in a moment leaning over her, his arms about her shoulders.
I forgot to wind her up. No. It's half-past three o'clock that's all it is." By this time he had placed his water-set beside hers upon the table. "Why, honey," he exclaimed, "where on earth? I don't see a sign of a' inscription on this an' what is this paper in the spout? Here, you read it, wife, I ain't got my specs." "'Too busy to mark to-day send back after Christmas sorry.
"That was the first place I called, and I said pretty plain what I was gittin' at; but after I knew about the water-set, that settled what kind of weddin' we'd have." But the next morning the world looked different. Her rheumatic foot ached, and that always affected her temper; but when they sat down to sew, the real cause of her irascibleness came out.
The water-set had not yet been presented, but its magnificence grew upon her, and she persuaded Joe to get a spindle-legged stand on which to place it, although he could not furnish the cottage until October, and had gone in debt for the few necessary things.
"Let 'em set me out in the road; I guess I'll git along." He had a humorous vision of himself and Esther trudging forth, with the water-set between them, to seek their fortune. He flung himself from the porch, and was confronted by Jonas Ingram. The old fellow emerged from behind a lilac-bush with a guilty yet excited air.
Then a vision of Esther rose before him, and the innocent preparations she had been making for the display of the gift; "No," he answered, shortly. And Mrs. Lawrence, with a shake of the shoulders as though she threw off all responsibility in her young relative's affairs, bustled away. "I'm going to keep that water-set if everything else has to go," he declared to the astonished Harry.
So their team gets the first prize. Well, we weren't in that. What's next? "First prize, silver water-set, donated by Hon. William Krouse." Since when did old Bill Krouse get to be "Honorable?" Yes, well, don't talk to me about Bill Krouse. I know him and his whole connection and there isn't an honest hair "Association trophy will also be competed for."
"Oh, I wish they would; I ought to give 'em up. I didn't care for them after I thought that. It was just that I had to have something I wouldn't let go, and I tried to think only of saving the table for the water-set." "Come mighty near bein' no water-set," muttered Jonas to himself; then he turned to his companion. "Young man, I guess they don't need us no more," he said.
Lawrence if she won't step out on the porch," the other commanded; "she's my great-aunt, and I never asked anything of her before." But Mrs. Lawrence was not sympathetic. She told Joe flatly that she never lent money, and that the water-set was as much as she could afford to give. "It ain't paid for, though," she added; "and if you'd rather have the money, I suppose I can send it back.
Word Of The Day