Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-04-11
MIS- ALCINA KINGS PARLOR

Mis- King laid down the towel with
which she was VIII ing her dishes and
stood listening intently.
Then size stole on tiptoe to the wood
house and peered in to see if 'Lias, the
hired man. might be about.
Finding she was quite alone. she re-
crossed the kitchen, passed through the
living room, and paused before closed
door as priestess might before a shrine.
She opened the door and looked into
large, uncarpeted, unpapered, and un-
furnished room.
A smile stole over her thin, angular
features that fairly transfgured the
plain face.
Looks dreary enough now" she said,
"but take an paper them walls-a sort
of cream ground with pink roses kinder
traim' along; put some lace curtains to
the winders, an a Brussels here she
stopped and looked defantly around
yes, why not? A Brussels ID outlast a
three ply twice over. 1t will pay in the
end to put down Brussels.
Then a marble top table right in the
center of the room with the dish of
Then the sofy an six chairs-how I'd
admire to have green rep like the Wild
der Beams an the hair wreath hung
over the sofy, an Wide Awake an Fist
As eep' right there, an Uncle AloTzo's
picture - Lordana>sy A Gina King,
what bp ye thin in on? Ye forget the
instrument" and M : King Strengthened
up, threw back her head, and extending
her knotted, wrinkled hands, began
playing on All imaginary musical instru-
ment.
Suddenly she stopped. Her hands
dropped to her Sides The rapt smile
faded away, and in its place crept that
hopeless, repressed look so often seen on
the faces of women of ler class. She
closed the door gently and went back to
washing the dinner dishes
The long summer afternoon wore
away, ard Mis- King began preparations
for the evening meal. She took great
aims with her biscuits, and they came
out from the oven as light as thistle
down.
She opened can of her best preserves
and brewed an unusually good cup of
tea.
Supper was ready to the minute when
the click of the gate was heard, and Mr..
Kings heavy step echoed along the
walk.
He was grave, solemn man, with a
face not unlike that of an owl He was
man of affairs at Podunky Corners,
being the village postmaster and also
of fIn nil ln,c of Makh iof
Church.
He was an expert in exhorting and a
bright and shining light in class meet
ing
Fer out-an'-out exhortin'. his ad.
mirers were wont to say, give me
Brother King every time. He's mas
ter hand at it. His warnin's to sinners
are jest blood curdlin', an fer picturin'
the worm that dieth not an the fire
that is not quenched he can't be beat. +"
Tonight Brother King was, if posi-.
BILE, more weighed down by the sins of
lost and corrupt humanity than usual,
but after biscuit or two and a third
saucersof his wire's excellent "plum
sass, he began to unbend.
Then it was that, woman like, she re-
solved to seize her opportunity. and first
coughing apologetically. she said briskly:
II was thinkin', Mr.. King, this after.
noon, that we might as we'll furnish up
that empty parlor 'Twouldn't cost
nlore'n hum"
She stol ped, awe stricken by the look
on the good mans face. He was we'll
nigh petrified at her audacity.
10, Mis- King. Mis- King!" he mourned.
setting down his cup and regarding her
sadly; ut grieves met cuts me to the
quick to see how taken up We be with
the pomps an vanities of this here sinful,
dyin' world. Parlors indeed why, fer
the price of furnislin' up that air spare
room ye might rescue a perishin' hea-
then. Think which you'd rather have
on the last day, Mis- King, a parlor or a
soul"
Thoroughly abashed, Mis- King made
no answer.
Guilty and cowed, she did not urge
the matter.
The poor woman had tried SO many
times to make her home attractive, and
had always met with encouragement.
For many years she had wished for an
organ-"an instrument" she called it.
for in her youth Alcina Burrows had
played the wheezy melodeon in the
village church, and had loved the strains
she coaxed from it But her lord had