The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-05-16

every step told of something done, and
at half past 10, despite all her hindrances
from baby, who was cross, she was hang
ing out the clothes, so snowy white they
dazzled her eyes as the sun shone on
them. One end of the clothes-line ran
nearly out to the front fence through
the side yard, and the whitest, incest
CLOTHES were hung there, of course.
Chow many people are passing| she
thought to herself, "and how they all
stare at me guess it must be the clothes
though, instead of me-" and she tenderly
pinned the rear of one of the deacon's
shirts to the line. Hark was that the
front gateY Before she had time to turn
around, the deacon's energetic strides
had brought him close to her; but what
was the matter?
Martha Pendleton-Flintw he ex-
claimed, "what in the world are you
doing? Come straight into the house,
With look that defies description, the
little body Strengthened itself up as high
as it would go, as she said "Not until
you speak to me different from that,
Samuel and tell me why" her lip quiv-
ering
Don't you see the people all going
to meeting, and you a hanging out
shirts! It's Sunday morningp'
Such a laugh as rang out then on the
Sunday air, I'm sure the good people
never heard before.
ooh, Samuel" she said, holding her
sides, "it's so funny no wonder the
folks stared at me and my clothes. Oh,
oh, oh :" and she sank down on the grass
in convulsion of laughter.
The poor deacon was scandaliZed.
Martha ~ he said, in such q sadly
anxious tone she only laughed the more,
and it was not until she looked up in his
face that she realized how he was touched
then she stood up soIcerly and walked
into the house. The door closed behind
them, and she went up to him with q
little carcss, and said
"SGmuel, kiss and forgive me, and I'll
60 to work and. ravel it out. [ truly
WILL" and she laughed again with the
thought of what she had been guilty of,
till the deacon kissed her, and laughed
too, in spite of himself. Then he walked
to the window and looked out.
you're not going to let them clothes
hang out there all day, are you, Martha
Flint Z"
"Of course l am; you don't suppose,
now I've got them out, Gods going to
grudge me the sunshine to dry them
with, because it's Sunday, do you: Why,
it would be wicked to bring them in be-
fore sundown. But, see here, Mr.. Deacon,
it's about time l called you to account,
think How came you to be travelling
10 l, 10
breaking on both sides, isn't there 2"
The deacon turned slowly around, and
sat down. Then perching herself on
his knee, she took his honest brown face
in her hands, and said:
"Be good boy, now, and tell me all
the truth. Remember George Washing
ton, dear"
The deacon smiled, Just trace of
trouble in his smile, and taking the
hands that held him captive in his own,
said:
"Well little woman, had everything
up last night, ready to start for home on
the 3 o'clock train. Somehow 1 must
have been uncommon tired, or else it was
the heat, leastwise l dropped asleep in
the depot, and missed the train. Then
l thought I'd take the 8 o'clock train,
and get home at midnight, so you
wouldn't be lonesome Sunday, but we
broke down, and just got here half an
hour ago. Then to think, after walking
through town from the cars, and folks
a-looking at me on their way to church.
"To think, Samuel" she broke in,
"after that dreadful trial, you should
walk in at your front gate and find your
wife hanging out clothes in your front
yard, and you deacon of good stand
ing in the church Dear. dear! what
do you suppose the Lord will do to me
for thinking it was washing day: l
don't think" she said, "he'll be very
hard with me, because yesterday was
my Sunday, though I had such a sick
headache, it seems didn't know much
about the day. I'll tell you what, Sam
uel, I'll stay at home with the babies
tonight, and you can go to meeting,
and then piece out your Sunday to-
morrow; won't that do 7"
But the deacon couldn't get over it
his heart was heavy; and while his wife
was busy in the kitchen he put on his
hat, and with his hands clasped rever-
emily behind him (his Sunday way
slowly and solemnly he walked out to
the clothes-ines. Most of the clothes
were dry, for the sun was very hot, and
one by one he dropped the snowy
things into the basket, unconsciously
humming to himself, "Have pity, Lord
o Lord, forgive"
Mrs. Flint was washing dishes, and
nearly dropped her best glass dish, when
the deacon walked in with the clean
clothes. "I could not stand it, Martha, "
he said in explanation.
"Guess Imust sprinkle and iron them,
to-day, Samuel-would you?" she said
archly
The deacon merely calculated dis
approving my DEAR" and went into
the other room to read his Sunday paper.
By and by the people began to come
from church. What a sudden, surprised
interest they seemed to have taken in
his household premises they gazed,
and stared, and looked back, and gazed
again but the deacon was a humble
man; it did not fiatter him; he read his
paper and sighed; opened his Bible to
read, and sighed again, and then fell to
thinking. A little while after two arms
stole softly around his neck, and sweet
voice said:
Forget all about it, dear, and I'll
A knock at the door interrupted, and
she went to open it.
She had brushed her brown, wavy
hair, and dressed in cool, white muslin
dress, with far-between dottings of pink
and looked not bit like the guilty lit
~ 4 L