Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-09-24

picking the chickens for dinner. Yes. |
Know the house looks forlorn, as the
lady glanced obviously around, "but it,
blue Monday and everything is in tan.
gle This is my room; yours is all drip.
ping, from the lcaky roof My bed isn't
made, and the dear children's clothes arc
alt over the floor; but you'll excuse all
deficiencies, Aunt Panels, until Leandcl
comes back. Good gracious if ther,
isn't the bell againl l do believe it {
bewitehed to-day! But you will take oS
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 yov'' said Mrs. Crayfsh.
"Pummer's man, mum. Mr.. Crayfsh,
he-n
"But why didn't you come when the
other young man didN irritably de.
manded the lady.
"Ain't no other young man, num-"
"Yes, there Is, toor' 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
oftools.
eyes, do, said Mrs. Crayfsh. q
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 youw
Mrs. Ponsonby, the president Of
'The Social Circle for the Elevation Of
Women, shook the rain-drops from her
bonnet-pume and smiled graciously.
~ am so sorry to take you by sur
prise, dcarw said she,
ooh, not at all" interjected Mrs
Crayfsh.
"But Mr. Ponsonby's mother is very
il, added the president of the Socia'
Circle for the Elevation of Women; Csc
Of course l could not receive company
Aud l knew you wopi3 3be 50 glad to
Welcome Lord Earnest Elberon, ana tt
answer Mrs. Edgeworth's Inquiries on tn
shiect of French Amelioration."
r1sas sara nris. cfayf yfish.
y"Where arc they 2" asked Mrs. Pom
soby, looking around her.
Where are who 2o gasped Mrs. Cray.
Is.
Lord Ernest, to-bc surcw said Mrs
lmsonby, "and Mrs. Edgeworth"
Mrs. Crayfsh gave a little shrek o.
dsmay as the full truth broke in upor
lg mind. She seized Mrs. Ponsonby',
arm, as a drowning woman might grasI
ata straw.
4 will tell you where they arew said
she, with the stony calmness of despair.
'Ipushed Lord Ernest down stairs be.
fore me, and set him to pulling the kitch-
en- range to pieces. And Mrs. Edge
worth is at this moment sitting up stairs
in probably the dirtiest and most untidy
bedroom in Philadelphia"
twas 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
Crayfsh had been.
Let US go up stairs-I mean dowr
stairs-at oncew she cried. ooh, how
could any one possibly have made such a
blnnderl Oh, what will Lord Ernest
thInk' And what sort of account of u;
will Mrs. Elgcworth put into her hus-
bands Chicago newspaper q
Lord Ernest Elberon, 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
But he was quite peaceable when l con
Flnced him that l did not come from al
opposition establishment; and really hc
seems quite an ingenious sort of fellow
ana there is more complication in one o
tnose baking and roasting concerns thar
nad any idea Of. Pray, ladies, max,
no apologies. 1t was the most natura
mistake IN the world. And assure yol
regard it as a capital joke"
Mrs Edgeworth of Chicago, however
was not so placabc.
They found her sitting in the middl,
oi Mrs, Crayfsh's rather disorpanizeo
bedroom, with a face like that of tn,
sphinx; and moth ng but an introduc
IT,,
.'on to Lord Ernest Elberon pacifed he
IN the least degree.
Alrs' Ponsonby carried off the who'll
party, Mrs. Crayfsh included. in he
coupe, to lunch at Damorette's
aud when the luckless housekeene
reached home again, the plumber wa
sOue' Aunt Pamela had arrived, and hac
a.. s'ia'gntened up" everything, a gooc
uinner smoked on the board. and Mr.
smile. Oio"'
:, IT'S all right, Carry" he said. eBlu
monday has come to an end at lastr
= ! should think it might said Mrs
~ rlasnsh' Historically. with an Enc
ilsn lord in my kitchen, a Chicago re =
,oFlner in my bedroom, and nobod,
:, Ano@s what elsel I declare, Pm sick .
s'le society for the Elevation of Woman
ana pVprvth;, ~