The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-09-16

gle. This is my room; yours is all drip
ping, from the leaky roof. My bed isn't
made, and the dear children's clothes are
all over the floor; but you'll excuse all
deficiencies, Aunt Pamela, until Leander
comes back. Good graclousl if there
isn't the bell againl / do believe it :s
bewitched to-day! But you will take off
your things, and presently I'll bring you
up one of my big gingham aprons, and
tell you what is to be done first"
Down she hustled to the door for the
third time. A grimy-faced parsonage
stood there in an attitude of utter indif-
ference.
"Who are yOu'" said Mrs. Crayfsh.
"Plummer's man, mum. Mr.. Crayfish,
he"
"But why didn't you come when the
other young man did" irritably de-
manded the lady.
"Ain't no other young man, num-"
"Ycs, there Is, tool" said Mrs. Cray
fish. "And he's at work down in the
kitchen now."
"Well, if you've got some one to work
on the job, you don't want me-" said the
independent citizen, shouldering his bag
of tools.
eyes, I do" said Mrs. Crayfsh. 81
want all the plumbers can get. Make
haste down stairs and expedite the other
man all you can. Why, Mrs. Ponson.
by" as a smiling matron skipped out of
a coupe and hurried up the steps, "it
can't be possible that this is youm
Mrs. Ponsonby, the president OF
"The Social Circle for the Elevation OF
Women" shook the rain-drops from her
plume and smiled graciously.
81 am SO sorry to take you by sur
prise, dear!" said she.
ooh, not at all" interjectcd Mrs.
Crayfsn.
"But Mr.. Ponsonby's mother is very
ill.," added the president of the Social
Circle for the Elevation of Women; $50
Of course l could not receive company.
And l knew you would be so glad to
welcome Lord Earnest Elberon, anu to
answer Mrs. Edgeworth's inquiries on the
subject of French Amelioration."
EAR" said Mrs. Craytish.
"Where are they 2" asked Mrs. Pom
sonby, looking around her.
"Where are who ?" gasped Mrs. Cray
fish.
Lord Ernest. to-bc sure!" said Mrs.
Ponsonby, land Mrs. Elgeworthw
Mrs. Crayf,h gave a little shrek Of
dsmay as the full truth broke in upon
her mind. She seized Mrs. Ponsonby'S
arm, as drowning woman might grasp
at straw.
II will tell you where they are!" said
she, with the stony camness of despair.
'T pushed Lord Ernest down stairs be-
fore me, and set him to opuling the kitch-
en- range to pieces. And Mrs. Edge
worth is at this moment sitting up stair:
in probably the dirtiest and most untidy
bedroom in Philadelphia.
1t was some time before Mrs. Ponsonby
could be brought to quite understand the
position of affairs. But when she did,
she was even more perlurbed than Mrs.
Cray fish had been.
Let us go up stairs-I mean dowr
stairs-at oncc.' she cried. "Oh, how
could any one possibly have made such a
blunder2 Oh, what will Lord Ernest
think? And what sort of account of IL:
will Mrs. E lgeworth put into her hus-
bands Chicago newspaper 2"
Lord Ernest Eiberon, sitting on the
edge of the wash trays, was meditatively
watching the operations of the plumber
when they came down.
"He wanted to fight me at first" OBJ
served the sprig of English aristocracy
"Blt he was quite paaceab!e when con
vinccd him that l did not come from al
opposition establishment; and really ht
seems quite an ingen Gus sort of fellow
AMI there is more complication in one o
those baking and roasting concerns thai
l had any idea of. Pray, ladies, max
no apologies 1t was the most ratura
mistake in the wcrld. And assure yo'
Iregarl it as a capital joke"
Mrs. Edgeworth of Chicago, however
was not so placable.
They found her sitting in the middl,
of Mrs Crayfsh's rather disorganizet
bedroom, with face like that Of tn,
Sphinx; and nothing but an introduc
tion to Lord Ernest Elberon pacified he
in the least degree.
Mrs. Ponsonby carried off the who'll
party, Mrs. Crayfish included, in he
coupe, to lunch at Damorette's.
And when the luckless housckeepe
reached home again, the plumber wa
gone, Aunt Pamela had arrived, and haC
Strengthened up" everything, a gooc
dinner smoked on the board, and Mr.
Crayfsh welcomed her with broad
smile.
"Ii's all right, Carry" he said. 'Blu
Monday has com; TO an end at lastl"
81 should think it mi ght," sIid Mrs
Crayfsh, Historically. "With an Eng
lish lord in my kitchen, Chicago re
former in my bedroom, and nobod,
knows what elsel l declare, I'm sick o
the Sod ty for the Elevation of Woman
and everything that belongs to itm-
Hen Forrest Grdces.