The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-02-21

'DO you think susan Will live Win
'em2" asked Mrs. Phelps. 'P'r'aps
he wont care about marrying the whole
family"
Giles powerful kind to Susan,
though"
"He takes sight of notice of her. "
"You kinder forgot she's Lucretia's
sister," put in Miss Rich, can all she's
got."
1t was surely plain that Mr.. Lindsay
took pleasure in the society at the Shaw
homestead. At picnic, at prayer meet
ings or choir meetings, he was always
at hand to take Lucretia and Susan
home he lent them his books, and di-
rected their reading /; he brought them
flowers from town when he happened to
60 up.
81 shall be so glad to give the presi-
dency of the Bethel society and the
Dakota League to Lucretia," said Miss
Rich. "It's only proper for the cler-
gyman's wife to be at the head ofthem. "
"You'll feel sorter lost without 'em ?"
dSkCQ NILS. L IllClpS.
"The parish is large field. 1 think
l can spare them to Lucretia. Do you
know the other night as was going to
watch with Miss Hart when she had in
Aammation of the lungs, l came across
Lucretia and Susan and Mr.. Lindsay.
1 must say l should think Susan would
have more taste than to follow 'em any,
where. Why don't she keep herself in
the background" ?"
"She's been pretty much in the back
ground all her life," said DR.. Slow.
"Perhaps she's tired of the situation" !"
"But she ought to have more consid-
Grafton. P'r'aps the lovers don't mind
her. There they were all three of 'em,
watching the comet and studying the
heavens"
ga proper study for clergyman"
said DR.. Slow.
"And he was pointing out all the con-
stellations, and it seemed to me they
were looking at him instead of the
stars" pursued Miss Rich.
"It would be a complication, suggest
ed Mrs. Phelps, "if, while he's court
ing Lucretia, Susan should get in love
with him."
''It wouldn't be no use," said Mrs.
Grimm. "Lucretia's that smart she'd
make him believe it was her he was dy-
ing for"
The Shaws had enough to keep the
wolf from the door, but nothing to
spare; they owned their house, but
kept no servants. "Help would be
dreadfully in their way" Miss Rich
declared. 81 wonder they don't feel
glad they can't afford any,"
"Swsan always woreth simplest gar
ments, which she designed and execu-
ted herself, while Lucretia-well, il
there's anything that units Lucretia
for her future position at the head of
the parish" confessed Mrs. Phelps,
otis her love for finery."
Lucretia always blossonied out in a
pretty spring bonnet-while Susan made
her last years one answer-and smart
new suit made in the latest wrinkle.
1t was about this time that the parish
picnic occurred-an institution which
everybody believed in. Hadn't there
been more matches made at the last
than during all the year besides? And
wasn't it a fine chance to test Mrs.
Phelps recipes, Miss Rich's cream pies
and Mrs. DR.. Slows tarts7 Of course
Lucretia went, and Mr.. Lindsay with
her. Susan happened to be making
preserves and pickles that day, and ber-
ries wouldn't keep, and staid at home.
At about the middle of the afternoon,
and things were little slow, and they
wanted somebody to start some music,
Mr.. Lindsay was nowhere to be found.
"Oh, he's gone off with Lucretia
somewhere" said Miss Rich, who felt
it her duty to account for him.
"No; there's Lucretia talking with
DR.. Slow about free-will." p"
"P'r'haps he's gone home to write
out his sermon," suggested somebody
else, the picnic grove being half a mile
from town.
"Or he's finding tongues in trees
and sermons in stones out here"
But sunset Mr.. Lindsay strolled back
with Susan on his arm, in time to joir
them at tea, and he and Susan made
the coffee and pitched the tunes they
sang before the day ended.
"Now wasn't that thoughtful in Mr.
Lindsay to 60 after Miss Susan ? That:
what call real Christian, and a broth
er-in-law worth having" commented
one old lady.
But when Mrs. Bishop, who hae
staid at home with teething baby, re-
ported that Mr.. Lindsay had not gone
home to write his sermon, but hae
walked straight into Susan's kitchen
and helped her seal up the preserve
jars and set them away, and had sat II
the front porch an hour or two after
wards with her-when he might have
been with Lucretia-reading secular
poetry, and not DIR. Watts or Charlie:
Wesley, either, the parish rose in it:
wrath to a woman. This would never
DO LuCrelld InuSI HOt DC lilhSu Win
Mr.. Lindsay had inspired hope In hel
gentle heart; he must marry Lucreti;
or leave the parish" "
"You see," explained Mr.. Phelps
eve want to settle you, Mr.. Lindsay
You suit us to T, but it kinder seems
as if you ought to propose to Lucreti'
| Shaw, you've been so attentive"
"Propose to Lucretia Shaw !" repeat
ed the young man, with startled air
"What has that to do with settling me
Is every clergyman who comes to Len
nox obliged to propose to Lucreti;
Shaw as preliminary preparation3'
"Well, no, not exactly" laughed
Mr.. Phelps, "not unless he's given tn
parish reason to expect it. You know
we don't want the credit of settling
philandering parson who makes low
right and left. I'd no idea the though
would be new to you, but the paris
has set its heart on the match, you see
and we wouldn't like to see man,
he was eloquent in prayer, who'd trifi
with the affections of one of the flock