Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-04-15

WHY THEY DIDx'r SETTLE MR.. LINDSAY.

Continued from yesterday
They want to settle Lucretia, Ell ?"
asked DR.. Slow.
The Shaws had enough 10 keep the wolf
from the door, but nothing to spare they
owned their house, but kept no servant.
Help would be dreadfullv in their way"
Miss Rich declared Il wonder they don't
feel glad they can't afford any"
Susan always wore the simplest gar
ments. which she designed and executed
herself, while Lucretia-... Well.if there's
anything that units Lucretia for her future
position at the head of the parish" con-
fessed Mrs. Phelps. Its her love of fin
ery." lalsss a..
Lucretia was always blossomed out in a
pretty spring bonnet-whiIe Susan made
her last wears one answer-and a smart
new suit made in the latest wrinkle
Its NATURAL Miss Rich explained !;
"a girl likes to make the most of herself,
Now Susan looks as well in her old things
as she would in Indy cashmeres; besides,
Lucretia earns her ribbons and laces.
Amt she embroidering day and night ?"
Except when she's off skylarking with
the parson," said DR.. Slow.
I'm sure she's always chaperoned by
Susan" returned Mrs. Grimm.
Yes; there amt been no secession of
Snsan's going about with 'em," added
Miss Rich. .She don't seem to have the
smallest idee she amt wanted. She amt
used to lovers. you see."
'But ii Lucretia embroiders night and
day." said Mrs Grimm's sister-in law
who was only in Lennox on visit, and
had no earthly concern with parish af-
fairs, Mrs. Grimm thouglt-"who keeps
house. and Goes the housekeeping and
the busting and sweeping. cooks and
mends I'd like to know"
"Ot course Susan does them little
things" confessed Miss Rich. Anybody
can de EN-; there's nothing else she
knows how 10 do. Wouldn't it be pity
for Lucreta to waste her time, now,
washing dishes. keeping the dodgers
rooms in pimlico, spelling them white
hands of hers-pretty enough for parish
to be proud ot-when she can make such
lovely ferns and flowers as she does?"
WHO made all the evergreen trimmings
for the church last Christmas ?" asked DIR.
Slow. 1T wasn't those pretty hands of
Lucretia' ?'
>
give her a taste for decorations, | sup
pose" said Mrs. Phelps.
MIR. Lindsay took Susan out in his boat
t'other day" said Mrs. Grimm. a few
weeks later. '.Lucretia had one OF her
sick headaches That's what | call real
sanity in him. it must have been such a
bore. It's pity Lucretia's troubled with
them headaches. if she's going to be at
the head of the parish
.Oh, was that SusanP' asked Mrs.
Phelps. IL thought of course 1t was Luz
cretia | saw them come ashore alter
dusk. and they stood at the gate and talked
till all was blue"
Il suppose they were talking about
Lucreta, persisted Miss Rich; man al
ways likes to talk about his sweetheart,
you know"
They must have had heap to say.
He seemed as interested as when he's eX-
pounding scripture. They looked NIGH
ty atfectionate, too. | don't believe Lu-
cretia would have liked the look of it"
There amt nothing jealous about
Lucretia; parson' wife ought to set her
face agin such a thing"
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 inc chance to test Mrs. Phelps recipes.
Miss Richs cream pies, and Mrs. DIR.
Slows tarts ? OF course Lucretia
went, and Mr.. Lindsay with her. Susan
happened to be making preserves ana
pickles that dav. and the berries wouldn't
keep. and so she staid at home. At about
the middle of the afternoon, when thew
had had dinner and cleared away. and
things were little Slow and they wanted
somebody to start some music. MIR. Lind
say was nowhere to be found
''Oh, he's gone off with Lucretia some
where" said Miss Rich, who felt it her
duty to account for him.
mo; there's Lucretia now. talking
about free will with DR.. Slow"
''P'r'aps he's gone home to write his
Sermon suggested somebody else, the
picnic grove being only half a mile from
town.
"Or he's finding tongues in trees and
sermons in stones out here
But at sunset Mr.. Lindsay strolled
back. with Susan on his arm, in time to
Join them at tea. and he and Susan made
the coffee, and pitched the tunes they sang
before the day ended.
Now wasn't that real thoughtful of
Mr.. Lindsay to 60 after Susan That's
what call real Christian, and a brother
in-law worth having" commented one
old lady.
But when Mrs. Bishop. who had staid
at home with teething baby, reported
that Mr.. Lindsay had not gone home to
write his sermon. but had walked straight
into Susan's kitchen. and had helped her
seal up the preserve jars and set them
away. and had sat in the front porch an
hour or two afterward with her-when he
might have been with Notwithstanding
secular poetry. and not DR.. Watts or
Charles Wesley either, the parish rose in
its wrath to woman. This would never
do; Lucretia must not be trfied with.
Mr.. Lindsay had inspired hope in her
gentle heart; he must marry Lucretia or
leave the parish.
You see." explained Mr.. Phelps, I'VE
want to settle you. Mr.. Lindsay. You
suit US to at. but it kinder seems as if
you ought to propose to Lucretia Shaw,
you've been so attentive"
Propose to Lueretia Shaw! !" repeated
the young man with startled air. "What
has that to do with settling me? Is every
clergyman who comes to Lennox obliged
to propose to Lucretia Shaw as prelimi-
nary preparation ?"
well, no, not exactly" laughed Mr..