Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-10-25
THE. MINISTER COAT.

look of despair, ''if there isn't father
| bringing home another minister tonight!
I told him this morning that I thought
we had entertained our share. And
George comes this evening, too" she
added with stin more vexation, as she
came down stairs IN answer TO her father
call.
''This is Mr.. Compton, Hetty," said her
father, 'and he will spend the night with
US. My daughter and my housekeeper,
Mr.. Co.Dplon."
Mr. Compton looked at tie 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 follow
ed her father out of the room.
"Oh, father" she said, "8hy did you do
it again? It keeps me working every
minute"
"Sho, puss," said easy Mr.. Darrell, "don't
fuss for him; give him anything you've
got in the house, crackers and cheese, If
you like"
"Youlknow can't" pouted Hetty, 'min-
listers always expect the very best, and
they know what is good, too"
Gle don't 1 guess" said Mr.. Darrell;
she has been working his way while he
studied, and keeping himself, and [ gaess
most anything viii seem ell right to
him"
"Oh!ihe is one of that kind said Hetty
81 wish, if I must have them, you would
bring home somebody with good clothes
and plenty OF l.oney for change"
''Gh!= one is smart, anyway" said her
father; "there is big church awaiting
him somewhere. heard that one of the
i y
there
"Well, ST ppose he can't starve," said
Hetty, and with toss of her head, ex-
pressing many things, she began to get
the supper. It was certainly very un-
fortunate that he should have come on
one of Georges evenings.
But as Hetty set the kettle to boil, she
began to feel little com junction for
her inhospitality, and she remembered
that the young minister, just from his
studies, had been keeping himself" she
began to feel enough pity for him to
stir herself 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 skim
mer, she descended into the lower re-
gions.
It 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.
"Father!" she screamed, but Mr.. Oar
rel was making his toilet in an upper
room and could not possibly hear.
Poor Hetty called until hoarse, and
then paused in despair. At the same
time she saw pair of black bro&dcloth
| legs passing by the cellar window. With
| frantic rush, Hetty sprang toward this
straw of hope, and putting her blooming
! face close to the bars, shrieked again:
| "Father! father!" after the retreating
| limbs.
They hesitated, stopped, and finally re-
/ turned.
SIS any one in trouble?" asked a strange
voice, far above Hetty's vision.
eyes," said Hetty, 81 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. It was, as she had guessed, the
young minister.
Glow can I get you out?" asked the
| face outside.
and put back the spring" said the lips
| w
dainty lips, as they spoke from between
the bars, (Hetty had her face pressed
close to the from, and the young man
may be pardoned for prolonging the in
! terview for few moments"
| "What spring?" said he.
"The spring on the door," said the
prettp lips impatiently.
"Ah! What door,"
! Good gracious! The eel Or door,"
| YES? Where is it?"
"Mercy me! In the kitchenm cried the
lips.
The young man rose slowly and took a
few steps toward the apartment men
toned, but somehow he paused again.
Some way those lips behind the bars re-
minded him unaccountably of kissing a
child between the banisters, and the mo-
ment he opened the door he WOULD never
see them in that position again.
If his had been q secular office, might
have had to record most unworthy act;
as it was he went into the kitchen, found
the cellar door and opened it. Retty
came out flushed ard breathless. and be-
gan to hurry her supper. The young man
fingered.
Had you been prisoner many min
utes?" he inquired.
no." said Hetty, land gracious didn'
bring up the cream after all. I never
shall get supper ready!'
"Let me bring up the cream for you,'
said the minister quickly. II used to
help NV mother, and I am the one that is
making all the trouble"
In moment he had appeared with the
forgotten bowl, and was inquiring, "can't
toast that bread?".
uatbr borSIv I.peu how b7It 9
few moments Mr.. Compton seemed to be
as much at home in the kitchen and din
ing-roo as herself, and the two cooks
we're on the best of terms.
Hetty decided that Mr.. Compton had
very fine eyes, and Mr.. Compton had dis
covered some time before that Miss Oar
rel had q beautiful mouth.
zone would think you had been q cool
= all your life" said Hetty, when the toas
= was at last piled in the dish, and she
' began TO pour over it the rich cream.
81 have been for some years." was the
2 quiet reply. q
! A vivid carnation covered Hstty's fac,
nd neck. How had she happened tt
\ forget and say such thing? flash o
: fun shone in the minister's eyes.
az never made cream toast, however,
/ he said. oatmeal, coffee and an ocoa
j sional chop, was about the extent of N.
: culinary labors. 7 have learned a nev
u dish, if I am ever reduced TO DOMINIC
: the apron"
;. Hetty did not laugh; her eyes were full
: of softest pity. He noted them viii
s surprise.
"Why, don't be sorry" he said. sit Wa
! ine exercise, assure YOU"
d ''But 1 am sorry, said HettF. ut wasn'
S right; didn't it hinder your studies?"