The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-11-08
MIRANDA.


1t was sunny evening In June, and
Romulus Corners looked its best. Not
that the best was anything to boast Of,
for 1t was not much Of place, consist
ing only Of dozen or so struggling
houses, two general stores" and
meeting-house, on the line OF the Bosh-
ava & st. Paul railway. All the build
ings were of wood, and most Of them
were painted a dark hideous brown,
though here and there veranda Of vi
vid green or a brilliant blue doorstep
marked the dwelling of some unusual
ly ambitious Corner. All the dwellers
at tine Corners agreed that old Deacon
Tiffany's house "the smartest in the
lot" and this certainly could not be
denied it stood on a small piece of
rising ground, overlooking the railway
track, a somewhat conspicuous posi-
tion, where the eleven different colors
which ornamented its front could not
fail TO be observed of all travellers.
These eleven colors were the pride of
the deacon's heart. He would stand
by the hour and contemplate with
placid satisfaction and modest pride
the green and yellow stripes of the
yeranda, the slate, colored cornice. or,
best of all, the gorgeous new bow-win-
dow, ito Miranda's room" The dea-
con certainly had, as was said at the
Corners, "an eye for color" Even his
beehives were all painted, either yellow
or blue, and instead of being clustered
together IN corner, as is generally the
case, were scattered promiscuously about
his garden, according to an entirely
new and original plan conceived by
their owner, to whom their appearance
afforded the keenest satisfaction. II
was his greatest pleasure In life to stand
at the gate Of summer evening, at
tired in a striped flannel shirt, q palm
leaf hat and pair of trousers depend
ing upon the apparently frail support
Of one suspender, luxuIiously smoking
long stemned corn-cob pipe, and con-
templating with Innocent and profound
admiration his many colored domicile
and its surrounding beehives. The
prospect might have been slightly mar.
red for some people by the effect Of
Mrs. Tiffany's "washings," which were
invariably In full view on either side OF
the house. 1t was a popularity of Mrs.
Tiffany's always to have something "On
the line.n Bat the deacon didn't mind
on the contrary, he rather enjoyed the
sight of few lilac calico gowns and
'rising.sun" counterpanes tapping In
the breeze. SIT kinder brightens
things up, ye see," he used to say,
But, fond as he was of bright colors
and generously as he had been able to
crafty his taste, 1t did one's heart good
to see how careful the deacon was Of
his less fortunate neighbours feelings
He would stroll down to the village o.
an evening, and gazing mildly at the
particularly dull and dingy shade O.
brown which ornamented the residenc,
Of his friend the blacksmith, woult
hypocritically remark that he ''didn'
know but what such color as tina
was best for the eyes after ALL" anC
that "ef it hadn't bin fer Mirandy'
comm home he didn't know as h,
would hev put that thar shade of blu,
ontu the bow-winder: but gals genral
ly has leanin' to blue"
Miranda had been away for fou
years. First at school In far distan
eastern city, and then without colnini
home she went away to Europe for {
year, partly as governess to the tw,
little sisters, partly as companion h
their fussy invalid mother. Mrs. Tif
fany strongly disapproved Of these pro
ceeding. She was not Miranda's owl
mother, and naturally her own girls
Ag and Liz, took precedence in he
eyes. She "didn't see why that pale
faced Miranda should have all tn
book -learnin' and travelin' thar wa
goin'.n But on this point the deacon
usually mild and yielding, had bee
: firm and loyal to the memory of hi
first wife, the pretty, gentle easter
girl, whose "book-larnin' had bee
almost her only consolation in the pin
solitudes of Romulus. and who ha
begged of him "not to let Mlrand
grow up west" And the deacon ha