Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1886-04-23
Eflfrf Neabing,
AN ENPENSINE LESSON.

taule potliHS coffee iol HtE uuSDdHu,
and dispensing bread and butter to
the three plump little Piercys. She
was "a handsome, oyeriressed woman,
with a good deal Of false hair. frlzzled
aud pulled and braided on the top of
her head, and complexion that bore
remote witness 10 the constant use OF
{. smetics. Ana Mr.. Percy, at his
end of the table. was evidently il! at
ease, as he broke his eggs and hibbled
diligently AT his roll.
But what was | to do, my dear
sand be, after "a brief silence, which
was by no means peaceful.
DO shrlIy retorted Mrs. Percy.
why, what do other people do: Are
We to keep hone tor the INDECENT
poors Or refuge for the widowed
aud fatherless" !"
My dear. ms dear" pleaded Mr.
Percy, who was small man, with
thin hair aud spectaclcs, "you may be
a widow yourself, some day
And If am, shall not go beg
glug among nv relatives, that Won
may depend on, saii Mss. Piercy.
And, after all. she isn't any relative
OF yonrs-onIy your brothers wife.
Ia ike to know what earthly claim
she has upon You, | declare. the
mere ] think Of It the more am
amazed III the womaus presumption
Her very name Is ali aggrayatIon. too.
plume plrfcy' indeed. I'll wager
my new lace pm THAI she WAS second
rate actress when she married your
brother. No, Nr. Percy. II you think
that i"
Bat here the torrent OF the lady 5
'eloqueuce vas cut short by the uu~x
pected APPEARANCE on the scene Of the
very subject of her objargatiou--a tall
pretty sonan oil about four aud TWEEN
". whose wayy gold tresses and deli
casslv fair complexion contrastsd Wv
IDLY With the deep mourning weeds
she woe.
AZ veil down to her feet. mentally
calculated Mrs Abel Pi,gcy. Aud =
SIX ,nch bias band Of very best Court.
land crepe on her gown. wonder
who's expected to pan for all thss:"
AbeI Percy, the hindes; hearted o!
little men. welcomed his brothers
ow with genuine hospitality; but Ma.
tllda. his wife, looA d sskanee al her.
With no friendly smile upon her couu-
teuanct,
"ot course yen ssll consider this a.
L. /
made haste e. draw char 81 $ 10 the
fire
Until you are able l. nj Yourself
Somewhere else cs.-piy added his
wife
/ widow sad little; she only iook
ID, Nth large, wIsttul ewes, from one
to tie other. A. she sat there, the morn
ing SUNSHINE turning hsr fair LOCKS 10
bra'dc,! masses %! gold, the lear!y deli.
cacy ui her skin aruusiuE the liyrIlest
envy IN Mr.. Ab-ls heart
Though, OF course, rs Only some
French balm or CIrcassIau CT. aua or
other, that haven't heard Of, said
,he 10 herself
But after Mr.. Percy had bu,toneJ
on LIS oyrrcoat and gloves, he came
back 10 til, breakfast room, while his
"ie VAS putuug up the children ;
school luuches ~ tie pantry.
Il am not much of il taIA.r. Plume.
said he, IN an odd, hesltatIug Nay ::
but you are welcome. INV Lear-sery
welcome, Aud | hope you will try
TO feel 10 home Don't mind Matilda
just at first She's lItGIc peculiar.
Matilda IS but | DO assure YOU she"
MIR Percy" uttered sharp. warn
ing voice. at this instant, from the
threshold, rs II possible that You
hastn't started yet: And YOU know
how particular Dodge y Bodlry are as
TO your getting 10 the store at nine
precisely.
Mr. Percy turned pink all over.
"les. my dcar-yes, sa:d he. I'm
quite sure to be IN time.
And he started of on gentle trot.
When he was gone, Plume took of.
her bonnet and veil, removed her man
tie md gloves, and went into the
Kitchen.
Cannot | DO something to help
you, Sister Matilda = said she plead
insIy.
Mrs. Abel Percy looked, with cold
blue eyes ana lips firmly compressed,
at the fair face, which was Younger
and fresher than ever without the jet
black circlet Of the tonuet, and the
slight graceful figure before her.
No, | thank YOU, sald she, Il am
not used to having fine ladies in my
Kitchen
but i you viii lend me an apron
No, thank you, Mrs. Oswald
Piercy," repeated the housewife. y on
will find the newspaper IN the hall.
Perhaps the advertising columns may
interest you.
I'VE ae sisters" said the young
widow, with a qulyerlng lip. VIII
YOU not call me Plume:'
oh, no, we're no relations at al, in
reality; sand Mrs. Abel Percy, weigh
ing out ounces of sugar and pounos Of
flour with an unerrlng hand. "And
really, your name is such very recu-
liar one; Jane, or Martha, or Eliza,
would have been more t. my taste.
Perhaps, however, with keen side
long glance, "you have been ON the
stage
No. said Plume, Il was a teacher
when Oswald married me. BIT what
did you mean about the advertising
columns Of the paper
"Situations, you know" said Mrs.
Piercy, reaching over to the ralSln
box. bridget, you have been at these
raisins, as true as | live! There s
half 'om gone since | was here last"
No, mum, l haven't" sharply re-