Paste Jewels | Page 8

had worn one dress four
days, Thaddeus's collars were getting low, and altogether he was just a
little uneasy about things. So he availed himself of his opportunity and
went home, taking with him a friend, in consideration of whom he
telegraphed ahead to Ellen to prepare a good breakfast, not caring for
dinner, since he and his companion expected to dine at the club and go
to the theatre before going out to his home.
The result would have been fatal to Bessie's peace of mind had she
heard of it during her absence from home. But Thaddeus never told her,
until it was a matter of ancient history, that when he arrived at home, a
little after midnight, he found the place deserted, and was compelled to
usher his friend in through the parlor window; that from top to bottom
the mansion gave evidence of not having seen a broom or a dust-brush
since the departure of the family; that Jane had not been seen in the
neighborhood for one full week--this came from those living on
adjoining property; that Ellen had been absent since early that morning,
and was not expected to return for three days; and, crowning act of
infamy, that he, Thaddeus, and his friend were compelled to breakfast
next morning upon a half of a custard pie, a bit mouldy, found by the
lord of the manor on the fast- melting remains of a cake of ice in the
refrigerator. Whether it would have happened if Thaddeus had not been
accompanied by a friend, whose laughter incited him to great deeds, or
not I am not prepared to say, but something important did happen.
Thaddeus rose to the occasion, and committed an act, and committed it
thoroughly. The Thaddeus of old, the meek, long-suffering, too amiable
Thaddeus, disappeared. The famous smile was given no chance to play.
His wife was absent, and the smile was far away with her. Thaddeus,
with one fell blow, burst his fetters and became free.
That afternoon, when he had returned to the seaboard, Bessie asked him,

"How was the house?"
"Beautiful," said Thaddeus, quite truthfully; for it was.
"Did Ellen say anything about the hamper?"
"Not a word."
"Did you speak to her about it?"
"Nope."
"Oh, Teddy! How could you forget it?"
To the lasting honor of Thaddeus be it said that he bore up under this
unflinchingly.
"Did you have a good breakfast, Ted?" Bessie asked, returning to the
subject later.
"Very," said Thaddeus, thinking of the hearty meal he and his
fellow-sufferer had eaten at the club after getting back to town. "We
had a tomato omelet, coffee, toast, rice cakes, tenderloin steak, and
grits."
"Dear me!" smiled Bessie; she was so glad her Teddy had been so well
treated. "All that? Ellen must have laid herself out."
"Yes," said Thaddeus; "I think she did."
All the following week Thaddeus seemed to have a load on his mind--a
load which he resolutely refused to share with his wife--and on Friday
he found it necessary to go up to town.
"I thought this was your vacation," remonstrated Bessie.
"Well, so it is," said Thaddeus. "But--but I've got one or two matters to
attend to--matters of very great importance--so that I think I'll have to
go."

"If you must, you must," said Bessie. "But I think it's horrid of your
partner to make you go back to town this hot weather."
"Don't be cross with my partner," said Thaddeus; "especially my
partner in this matter."
"Have you different partners for different matters?" queried Bessie.
"Never mind about that, my dear; you'll know all about it in time, so
don't worry."
"All right, Teddy. But I don't like to have you running away from me
when I'm at a hotel. I'd rather be home, anyhow. Can't I go with you?
Little Ted is well enough now to go home."
"Not this time; but you can go up next Wednesday if you wish,"
returned Thaddeus, with a slight show of embarrassment.
And so it was settled, and Thaddeus went to town. On Wednesday they
all left the sea-shore to return to Phillipseburg.
"Oh, how lovely it looks!" ejaculated Bessie, as she entered the house,
Norah having opened the door. "But--er--where's Jane, Norah?"
"Cookin' the dinner, mim."
"Why, Jane can't cook."
"If you please, mim, this is a new Jane."
Bessie's parasol fell to the floor. "A wha-a-at?" she cried.
"A new Jane. Misther Perkins has dispinsed with old Jane and Ellen,
mim."
Bessie rushed up-stairs to her room and cried. The shock was too
sudden. She longed for Thaddeus, who had remained at the station
collecting the bath-tubs and other luxuries of the baby from the
luggage-van, to come. What did it all mean? Jane and Ellen gone! New

girls in their