Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-02-23
MIS- ALCINA KINGS PARLOR


Mis- King lail down the towel with
which she was vii ing her dishes and
stood listening intently.
Then size stole on tiptoe to the wood
house and peered in TO see if 'Las, the
hired man. might he about.
Finding she was quite alone. she re-
crossed the kitchen. passed through the
living room, and paused b fore a clio ed
door as priesless might before a shrine
She opened the door aud looked into a
large, uncarpeted, unpapered. and un-
furnished room.
A smile stole over her thin, angular
features that fairly transiigured the
plain face.
Looks dreary enough now, she said,
shut take an paper them w;,lls-a sort
of cream ground with pink roses kinder
trailin' along; put some lace curtains to
the winders, an Brussels here she
stopped and looked defiantIy around
Eyes. why not? A Brussels u outlast a
three ply twice over. 1t will pay in the
end to put down Brussels.
Then marble top table right in the
center OF the room with the dish of
wax fruit on it that Aunt Sally made.
Then the sofy an six chairs--how I'd
admire to have green RIP like the Wild
der Beams an the hair wreath hung
over the sofy, an Wide Awake an Fast
Asleep right there, am Uncle Alonzo's
picture - Lortlama,syl A Gina King,
what be We tlinkin' on? Ye forget the
Instrument; and M $ X ng Strengthened
up, threw back her head. and extending
her knotted, wriukled hands, began
playing on an 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
tile faces of women Of er class. She
closed the door gently and went back to
washing the dinner dishes.
The long summer afternoon wore
away, ard Mis- XII & began preparations
for the evening meal. She took great
| aims with or biscuits. and they came
out from the oven as light as thistle
down.
Size orened can of her best preserves
and brewed an unt sualiy good cup Of
tea.
Supper was ready TO Il e minute when
the click OF the gate was heard, and Mr..
Kings heavy step echoed along the
walk.
He was grave, solemn man, with
face not uni Ike that of an owl He was
a man of affairs at Podunky Corners,
being the village postmaster and also
one OF the pillars of the Methodist
Church.
He was an expert in exhorting and .
bright and shining light in class meet
i.g
Fer out-an'-out exhortin'. {" his ad.
nirers were wont to say, give me
Brother King every time He's a mas
ter hand at it His warnin's to sinners
are jest blood curdlin', an fer picturin'
tie worm that dieth not an the fire
that is not q lenclled he can't be beat
Tonight Brother King was. if possi-
ble, more weighed down by the sins OF
a lost and corrupt humanity than usual,
but after Iiscuit or two and a third
saucer of his wi e's excellent @plum
sass, he began to unbend.
Then it was that, woman like, she re-
solved to seize her opportunity. and first
coughing apoIog, ticaliy. she said briskly:
: was thiukin'. Mr.. King. this after.
noon, that we might as well furnish up
that empty pafl.r. '7wouldn't cost
more'n hun"
She stol psd, awe stricken by the look
on the good mans face. He was well
nigh petrified at her au lacity.
20, Milking. Mis- Kingi he mourned,
setting dpwn hs cup and regarding her
sadly; : it grieves met cuts me to ths
quick to see how taken up We be with
tie pumps an varisies of this here sinful.
.dyilf world Parlors indeed why. fer
the price of furnislsili' up that air spare
room ye might rescue q perishin' hea-
then. Think which you'd rather have
on tie last day, Mis- King. q parlor or
soul
Thoroughly abashed. Mis- King made
no answer.
Gailty and cowed. she did not urge
the matter.
The poor woman had tried so many
times TO make Ter 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 AIcina Burrows had
played tlse wheezy meIodeon In the
village churc'a, aud had loved the strains
she coaxed from It But her lord had
proved TO her by mathematical calcula-
ton that the prics Of the organ would
keep them provided many years with n
weekly religious paper Therefore
NOR AIia. King hnaL riAldad ana sran