Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1885-09-25
ROSA'S EXPERIMENT.

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are our gals so dressed up for? Amt
it washing day."
"Hush, fatherr' said his thrifty wife.
They're expecting company. The
Widow Rollins is coming to wash to-
day."
Mr.. Pitcher whistled softly.
"Phew-wl" said he ain my young
days we didn't hire a woman at seven
ty-fve cents day when we had good
stout arms of our own"
"Things change. father" said his
wife, hurriedly.
'NOt always for the better, though"
remarked the good farmer as he got
into his one-hUrse wagon and drove
away.
"Dear me-" said Rosa, "what a start
that gave meP'
"Just like pa" said Fanny. al
ways coming in when we least expect
himp
"He's out of the way now," said
Mrs. Pitcher, peeping over the top of
the big geranium in the window. -
"And he wont be back until dinner
time"
"DO you suppose he'Hbe along soon,"
said Rosa,
How is a body to tell" retorted
Fanny, rather impatiently.
"Oh, Fanny, I'm afraidp' faltered
Rosa. "YOu take my place, won't you?
He'll never know that it wasn't you
who wrote the letter.
"Rosa, what a child you arel" said
Fanny, with the calm superiority that
belonged to her two years of seniority.
Don't you see that it win never do for
you to change your mind now?"
81 wonder if he's handsome?" OBJ
served Rosa, with a little excited gig
gle. 'Ma, there's the apple-sauce
boiling over on the stove. It will be
hOrrid to have the house filled with
the smell of cooking"
Burnt apple-sauce never yet hurt
anybody" said Mrs. Pitcher, as she
made haste into the kitchen, where the
Widow Rollins was just getting the
clothes into the blueing water.
"Oh, DEAR" said Rosa, 81 am in such
a twitterationl almost wish, Fanny,
that we hadn't answered that adver-
tisement."
"It's too late to think of that now"
said Fanny. "There he comes this
"Where?" cried Rosa, divided be-
tween her extreme curiosity to see the
man who had advertised for a wife in
the columns of the FGiroietO County
Journal, and the instinct that babe her
fee to the nearest convenient closet,
"He is handsome" whispered she.
"And he has got his valise with
him." said Fanny.
LAP cried Mrs. Pitcher. 81 won
Ter if he expects to be asked to stayP"
'Isn't he dressed genteel?" said
Rosa, all in a glow with excitement.
Ma, you go to the door. feel as if 1
couldn't stir a STEP"
The Misses Pitcher had, in a way,
aiken the thread of fate into their own
lands. In a neighborhood like Fair
Tiew Centre, where there were at least
i've girls to every eligible young man,
hey felt that it was necessary to be-
tir themselves in order to get married.
And thus considering, Rosa, the
younger, had boldly answered matrl-
nonial advertisement.
Mr. Pitcher was kept in ignorance.
The girls were morally certain that
pa" would disapprOve of their new
eparture-perhaps even go SO far as
o forbid it, up and down. ma" on
he contrary, rather liked the romance
j Inc GnlnB.
IF the young man is in earnest, +"
aid she-"and 1 don't see any reason
Thy he shouldn't belt may be an ex.
client settlement for Rosa"
At the sound of footsteps on the
Fanny fed precipitately,
,osa sank, painting, on the haircloth
ofa, and Mrs. Pitcher fastened to
nsWer the knock.
docs Mr.. Pitcher live hereY' said a
III young man, with sandy hair. a
loustache to match, and pale-blue
yes yelled behind speetacles.
"He does" falteringly answered t
IRIS. Pitcher. "Please to walk in. My {
aughter is in the parlor." I
perhaps" said the young man, hes /
atingly, at might be wen for me to /
splain to you that II" i
mo explanations are necessary" L
lid Mrs. Pitcher, growing more and a
.ore furrled. "She quite understands p
lease 70 walk right into the parlOr. n
'ou'll and her there,