The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-03-18
MIRANDA.

It was sunny evening in June, and Ro-
mulus Corners looked its best. Not that its
best was anything to boast of, for IT was not
much Of q place, consisting OF only a dozen
OF so struggling houses. two general stores"
and q meeting house, on the line of the
BoshaHs and St. Paul Railway. All the
buildings were OF wood, and most of them
were painted q dark and hideous brown,
though here and there veranda of vivid
green or a brilliant blue doorstep marked
the dwelling Of some unusually ambitious
Cornerer. All dEellers at the Corners agreed
that old Dea. Tfsny's Housewives "thesmsrt-
est in the lot, and this certainly could not
be denied. Tt STOOD on q small piece of ris-
ing ground overlooking the railway track, a
somewhat conspicuous position, where the
eleven different colors which ornsmented its
hont could not fail to be observed of ell
travellers. These eleven colOrs were the
pride OF the Descon's heart; be would stand
by the hour and contemplate with placid
satisfaction and modest pride the green and
yellow stripes Of the versuda, the slate col
ored cornice, or, best Of sll, the gorgeous new
bow-wlndow 'to Mirandy's room." The
Deacon certainly had,ss was AID admiringly
at the Corners, ian eye tor color.n Even
his beehives were Au painted, either yellow
or blue, and instead Of being clustered to-
geth in corner, as is generally the case,
were scattered pEomiscuO1sly about his gar
garden, according 10 a new and original
plan conceived By their owner, to whom
their appearance afforded the keenest salts
faction. 1t was his greatest pleasure In life
to stand at the gate of a summer evening,
attired in striped flannel shirt, palm leaf
hat, and pair OF trousers depending on the
apparently frail support of one suspendsr,
luxUriously smoking long-stemmed corn
cob pipe, and contemplating with innocent
and profound admiration his many coIored
domicile and its surrounding beehlves.
The prospect might have been
s shs e %si'0 Of for m s2@e ps TsnS y
"Nashings," which were invariably in
full view on either side Of the house-it was
a popularity of Mrs. Tiffany's always to
have something ''on.the line" But the Dea-
COZ 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 be mad
been able to crafty his taste, it did ones
heart good to see how careful the Deacon was
Of his less fortunate neighbors' feelings. He
would stroll down to the village of an even
ing, and gazing mildly at the particular dull
and dingy shade Of brown which orna-
mented the residence of his friend. the
blacksmith, would hypocritically remark
that he didn't know but what such a color
rs that want best for the eyes, after ALL !" and
that ''sf Il hadn't been for Mirsndy's COMM
home he didn't know as be would hev thst
thar shade Of blue onto the bow winder; but
gals generally has q leanfn to blue"
Miranda had been away for four years.
First at school in q far distant Eastern city,
and then. without coming home. she went
away 10 Europe for year, partly as gov
erress to the two little sisters of q former
schoolmate. partly as companion to their
.fnssy invalid mother, Mrs, Tiffany strongly