The Washington critic., 1886-02-16
A HIGH TEMPERED GIRL

rf'f M IA NH.N.'IA NN tf
imrciuousiy. u WON'T wcnN Sd
there's an end of lhe matter
ThCodon was busy making her pear
marmaladc. with a pocket hanlker
chief fastened. Beatrice CcnCi fashion,
over her luSuriaut brown trcsscs q
huge. chcckorcl apron cnvcloplng her
trim little hrup. and sleeves rolled up
above the elbow.
Deacon Powers stool opposite ncry.
ously feeling Of hls brisuy chin.
Theodore was young and pretty.
with llmpid, hazel eyes. rings Of
brown hair, straying Ike floss six over
her temples, and rosy lips.
Deacon Powers was elderly and
wrinklcd, with an indescrihablc sharp.
ness In his face ~ II u had worn
away In contact with the world
at Is getting 10 BE- m imposition, %
said Thcodora. brusqucly. Last
week we had two tract distributors
here, and week before that Old Mr.
Doddington aud his wife aud three
children stayed hero five days. so that
IL would be convenient for the semi
annual convention. In fact, ] don't
remember single month without
company since we have lived at the
parsonage. And we have no girl now.
and papa has the neuralgia, so you
must tell this young clergyman TO go
somewhere else. ! won't have him
here -
But, my dear Mis- Rec"
"1'm NOT your dear Miss Reed said
Theodore, vchcmcntly. III was you
would try 10 spare me q little Of this
annoyance. Yes, | know ! am the
ministers daughter, and as such. am
expected TO have neither feelings nor
| preference nor senslbilities of any
kind. But I'm human, after all; and
! decline to keep perpetual free hotel
| for every ono who comes In this
| direction"
"Your predecessor. Miss Recd-thc
lamented Mrs. Smiley-was never
averse to entertaining the saints" re-
proachfully uttered the deacon. Her
door was ever open, and her amiable
hospitality"
"Oh, yes, know - said Thcodora
"And she died at forty. intend TO
live great deal longer than that. She
was killed by sewing societies and com.
pany and Dorcas meetings. I've had
enough of that sort of thing, and
mean to stop. If the church people dc.
sire papa to entertain all creation they
must raise his salary-thats all.
But, my good young friend"
AT that moment, however, third
person unexpectedly appeared upon
the scene. The door between the par.
lor and kitchen, which had, unpcr.
ceived by Miss Reed and Deacon Pow.
ers, stood slightly ajar, opened-a tall,
frank-faced young man stood there with
a decided color on his cheeks.
"Deacon Powers" said he, "pray
assure this young lady that | will not
trespass upon her hospitality. Per.
baps we had better go on TO the next
place at once"
There was something in the air and
manner which caused the deacon to
shoot out of the kitchen like an arrow
Theodore was alone.
She colorcd and bit her lips
"It's all truc,' she said, "every word
of il. But I'm n little sorry he heard
it. Perhaps he wasn't TO blame, after
all.
And Theodore went vigorously or
with the pear marmalade until tho
old clock in the corner struck eleven
and then she poured out cup of choco
late and ran up stairs to her fathers
room.
Mr.. Reed was sitting before his
study table, his temples resting on his
hands, his elbows among the chaos OF
books and papers. Theo went TO hi
side at once and laid her hand ON his
head.
"Papa," she said wistfully, "is YOU
neuralgia worse p
"Ncry much worse. Theo, HI
said, lifting his pain glazed eyes to hei
eager, questioning young face, dc
not believe that | can preach to.mor
row. / do not believe that ] can ever
prepare q sermon"
Theodore looked aghast.
But papa" said she, "what ca!
you do? Old DR.. Denton is out o
Town and"
"NIy DEAR" said the poor clergyman
pressing his hands to his throbbing
temples, "you must send note to Mr.
lIervey and ask him to ofliciate in IN,
place, as special favor"
"Who is Mr.. Hervey?' asked Theo
dora.
Il don't know" sighed Mr.. Reed
II only know that he is to be at Wind
field this week. Most probably he viii
be at the Star Hotel
Every well, papa" said Theodore
fcigning a cheerfulness that she wa
far from feeling. Drink your choco
late now, there's darling, and don
fret yourself the least bit in the world
and / will see that all arrangements ar
made"
She ran down stairs and set horsel
TO thinking,
A substitute must be found for tn
pulpit, and here it was IL o'clock o.
Saturday.
She sat down and wrote a little note
consulting the dictionary more tina
once to make sure of no errors, an
carefully copying the whole bccaus
} of a little blot which fell rs if o
; "malice aforethought, directly acros
, the second line.
Dear Mr.. Hervey; VIII you gran
us the great favor Of preaching Il
papas place tomorrow? lie Is yer.
0 III of neuralgia, and is unable even t
, prepare sermon. We shall be great
. Obliged if you will dine with us tC
. morrow after church.
Q "THEoDoRA REED"
0 And after satisfying herself that
2 was all quite right, she carried it hel
q self to the Star Hotel.
. Mr., llcrvcy was not in, hadn't bee
: in since morning.
0 But they would give him the not
0 directly ON his arrival; so Theodor
o hurried home again, and in the cours
q Of the afternoon little colored bo
. from the hotel brought card, on on
side Of which was engraved "Ilenr
Hcryev," while up0n the other WI