Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-07-07
TIE MINISTER'S COAT.

look Of despair; "if there isn't father
bringing home another minister tonight
| told him this morning that thought we
had entertained cur share. And George
comes this evening, too" she added, with
still mere yexation, rs she came down
stairs in answer to her fathers call.
"This is Mr.. Compton, Hetty," said hel
father, land he will spend the night with
Us. Ny daughter and my housekeeper
Mr Compton"
Mr.. Compton looked at the trim figure
and bright face of the young housekeeper
and rejoiced that the fates had led him
into her domain. Hetty, however, hardly
spoke to him, and followed her father out
Of the room.
''Ob, father p she said, "why did you do
it, again? It keeps me working every
minute"
''Sho, Puss," said easy Mr.. Darrell
don't fuss for him; give anything you've
got in the house, crackers and cheese if
you like"
lyon know I can't" pouted Hetty;
ministers always expect the very best,
and they know what is good, too'
"He don't, l guess" said Mr.. Darrell,
she has been working his way while he
studied, and keeping himself, and | guess
most anything will seem all right to him .
''Ohi is he one of that kind?" said
Hetty. Il wish, if I must have them,
you would bring home somebody with
good clothes and plenty of money for q
change"
This one is smart, any way" said her
father; there is a big church waiting
here somewhere | heard one of the Mid
dletown churches wants him up there"
"Well, suppose he can't starve," said
Hetty and with toss of her head, ex-
pressing many things, she began to get
the supper. 1t was certainly very unfor-
tunate that he should have come on one of
Georges evenings.
But as Hetty set the kettle to boil, she
began to feel little conjunction for in
hospitality, and as she remembered that
the young minister, just from his studies,
had been Excepting himself" she began to
feel enough pity for him to stir her into
concocting dish of cream toast, such as
only she knew how to make. This neces-
STATED going down cellar after cream. and,
taking her skinner, she descended into
the lower regions.
1t CHANGED that the door of the cellar
way was furnished with spring latch,
and Hetty, forgetting to fasten it back
before she went down, found herself, when
she would return, prisoner.
Fatherp she screamed, but Mr. Darrell
p,alx;-n, II, f0.lot -
and could not possibly hear.
Poo Hetty called until hoarse, and then
paused in despair. At the same moment
she caught sight Of pair of black broad
cloth legs passing by the cellar window.
With frantic rush Hetty sprang towards
this straw of hope, and, putting her bloom
ing face close to the bars, shrieked again.
Fatheri fatherp after the retreating
limbs
They hesitated, stopped, and finally
returned.
Is any one in trouble?" said strange
voice, far above Hetty's vision.
Yes" said Hetty, Il am in the cellar
and want to get out"
The knees bent, and a face confronted
Hetty from the other side of the window
bars. was, as she had guessed, the young
minister.
How can get you out ~ said the face
outside.
You will have to go into the passage
and pvt back the spring." said the lips
within. They were exceedingly red and
dainty lips as they spoke from between
the bars {Hetty had her face pressed close
to the iron), and the young man may be
hardened for prolonging the interview for
q few moments.
what spring." said he.
The spring on the door," said the
pretty lips, impatiently.
"Ahi What door p
Good gracious The cellar door,"
''Yes3 Where is it?"
Mercy me- In the kitchen p' cried
the lips.
The Young man rose and took 4 few
steps toward the apartment mentioned, bu
some way he paused again. Some way
those lips behind the bars reminded him
unaccountably of kissing child between
the banisters, and the moment he opened
the door he would never see them in thai
position again. If his had been secular
Office, / might have had to record mos
unworthy act, as it was he went int
the kitchen, found the cellar door ant
opened it. Hetty came out flushed and
breathless, and began to hurry her supper
The young man fingered.
Had you been prisoner many min
utes?" he inquired.
NO" said Hetty; "and, gracious,
didn't bring up the cream after all.
never shall get supper ready Y
q Let me bring up the cream for you,
said the minister, quickly. 81 used tC
help my mother, and | am the one that j:
making all this trouble"
In moment he had appeared with the
forgotten bowl, and was inquiring, "Can'i
toast that bread"
Hetty hardly knew how it was, but in a
few minutes Mr. Compton seemed to be as
much at home in the kitchen and dining.
room as herself, and the two cooks were or
the best of terms.
Hetty decided that Mr.. Compton hat
very fine eyes, and Mr.. Compton had dis
covered, some time before, that Miss Oar
rel had beautiful mouth.
''One would think you had been 4 cool
ali your life" said Hetty, when the toas
was at last piled in the dish and she begar
to pour over it the rich cream.
= I have been for some years" was tht
quiet reply.
A vivid carnation covered Hetty's fac
and neck. How had she happened to for
get and say such thing2 A flash of fun
shone in the minister's eyes.
Al never made cream toast, however,
be said; Oatmeal, coffee, and an occasion
al chop, was about the extent of my culin
airy labors. have learned new dish
am ever reduced again to donning tn
apron
Hetty did not laugh. her eyes were full
of the softest pity. He noted them witt
surprise :, r.,
fWhy, don't be sorry" he said. II
was fne exercise, assure you
But l am sorry" said Hetty.
WASH; right; didn't it hinder your stu
dies2
81 worked little later into the We
sma' hours, perhaps" he said, lightly, an
he stopped the conversation and carrie
the cream toast in for her.
Hetty glanced at the clock as she too
her place behind the teapot. Georg
ought TO have appeared by this time-sh
had forgotteIfall about him. In order I
stone she nearly petriied her guest by tn
naughty manner in which she stared a
no toni- ct.or,