Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1884-01-05
THE MIsERIEs OF A BACK DOOR.
BY MRS. NJ. n. DYER.

There was gong to be ~ wedding in
the Dorsey house. 1t was odd that OF
the three girls Lily the youngest should
be married first.
But Lily had been visiting in the city,
and met young fellow who had good
position, and who soon found out Lily's
charms. And SO he came to see Nam
ma Dorsey--there wasn't any Papa Dor
sey, hadn't been for ten years--and
they were all so surprised, and a little
provoked, and good deal pleased, and
there was going to bese weddingl
Now Lily was very sensitive and
timid, and could not bear to be tcased.
She blushed hotly every time her bridal
robe was alluded to, and was frightened
at the idea Of people finding it out. Hill
born was a gossipy little place, and if all
the neighbors knew it, the whole town
would soon find out all there was to be
told, and poor Lily would be the butt of
everybody's jokes.
Harriet and Elva, Lily's older sisters,
were determined that nobody should
know, until it was time to send out the
few invitations they meant to give.
"There's no use of having Lii tor,
mented to death, and we won't stand
it," said Elva decidedly.
$50 we won'tv' said Harriet. "Of
course we always have Miss Birch in to
do our spring sewing, and when it itcomes
to Lips dresses, why she can sew up
stairs.
"But know one thing that you can't
do" said Lily
"Well, what is it 2"
"You can't shut the back door. At
least you can't keep people from pop
ping in that way. And when you get
to the cake making, why, here'll come
Mrs. Brown for the irons, and Mrs. Scott
to borrow tub, and Florence Lockman
to bring home pattern, and whatll
you do then?'
"Well, III seer cried Elva, shutting
her mouth very tightly. "The wedding
cake must he made at least month be-
forehand, or it won't cut well. SO must
the fruit cake, and il people seeit, they'll
guess"
"Take rainy day for it," suggested
Harriet.
"Then the cake wont be light. And
il people do'come at that time they'll
stay longer than ever"
..I.et 'eIn come. I'll fix 'em!' said
Harriet.
But that very afternoon their miseries
began. Some OF the wedding things
had been sent from the city, among
them Lily's white slippers. She put
them on, to try them, and looped alove-
ly scarf around her neck, and as Har-
riet was in the kitchen mixing bread,
she Just ran out there to show the effect.
She had hardly stepped beyond the
table, when the back gate clicked, and
shadow passed the kitchen window.
"Run, Lii, quick!" said Harriet,
''she'll see you!
But to cross the kitchen and get out
before Mrs. Brown got in, was impos-
sible.
The pantry door was open, and Lily
popped in there, while Mrs. Brown
made known her errand, as soon as the
good-evenings were said:
"Harriet, have You made any fresh
yeast fately?"
eyes, l made yeast yesterday" said
Harriet.
ssDo, please, let me have little, to
start mine," said Mrs. Brown, ~ had
such bad luck with my last making"
"Certainly !" said Harriet. But she
was in cold sweat, for the yeast cakes
were drying on the shelf in the pantry,
and Lii was in there, too, in her wedding
slippers.
But there was nothing to do but open
the door saying:
Certainly, Mrs. Brown, You shall
have starting Of my yeast"
~sOh, hog sweet it does smell! And
how nicely it is drying! never can
make mine do that wayP" said Mrs.
Brown, pushing right into the pantry
behind Harriet. As she did 80, she
pressed against the door, and it swung
back, concealing poor LII behind Il,