Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-04-01

ue'ega'e chair. She thought her
eordlalliy ought 10 thaw him-that
and the basc-burncr.
But ho sat down with his coat on,
without response beyond a cough. lie
Seemed stiff.
Annio supposed young ministers
were commonly afflicted that way.
Or wasn't he young? That horrid
beard made it difficult 10 Judge, and
the parlor was dim.
"Mr. Fraser will be sorry not to
nave been here 10 receive you," said
Annie. She contrived to shove foot
stool within tho mans reach, and
placed the last magazine on tho table
near him. The pies were cngrossing
her thoughts chiefly. 81 know you'll
excuse ne2 I'm SO busy just nowl"
"Certainly, ceriainlyln the delegate
responded, making evident the fact
That his voice was heavy enough to
Keep the slcepicst congregation awake.
''DOn't let INC detain YOU"
TN come back now and thon,"
Annie thought, with recovered self
possession.
Aud when the pics were out of the
oven, and tho bread in, she did go
back, with a set little phrase for tho
entertainment of the earliest delegate.
"Will the conference be o largo
one?' shc qucried. "Nlr. Fraser
thinks so."
Gle ought to know" tho delegate
rcjOined.
Some of his dignity had cvaporatcd
before tho genial glow of tho base
burner. lie leaned forward with his
elbows on his knees.
at was in Connellsvillc last time"
said Annie.
"Whcrc the cheese factory is" said
the delegate. 81 suppose the confer
cHce subsistcd Oh cheese mainly"
Annie smiled. Why, the delegate
was quito bright and humorous.
"Cheese always makes you think of
pic" he added. 81 beg your pardon,
but do l smell pumpkin pic baking9"
"You smell pumpkin baked"
Annie laughed. "Would you-wouId
you have a picce?"
The delegate made a gesture of
pleased assent.
"Thcre's nothing I'm so fond Of"
he declared.
Annie went and brought it. The
delegate was surprisingly unmiais-
tcrial; but he wasn't the poke she had
taken him for. As for that, she could
remember when Lorenzo had been q
regular "casc."
She put the pic, big and thick and
misunderstanding wedge, on china
plate, and the plate on a napkined
tray.
"Ahl" said tho delegate, smacking
his lips. $50 many thanks"
..Perhaps," said Annie, conscience
stricken, ''you havn't had any din
ncr?"
"Well-a lunch," the delegate an
swercd, hesilatiugly.
"Wouldu't you like Waitl"
Annie whisked away, and came
back with cold meat and milk and
bread and butter and pickles.
Tie delegate spread them on the
centre table with an air of extreme
81 was hungry" no said, in his
CORRESPONDING voice. ''Famished.
| feel like tramp, though, TO be get
ting away with all tho cold food
you've got"
"Getting away" with things was
peculiarly unclerical. Annie wavered
between astonishmcnt and mirth.
"Shall you make nc chop wood in
tho back yard to pay for it?' qucricd
the delegate.
"Td rather you'd stone raisins,"
said Annie. "rvc got n cake TO
make for the delegates. Cousin lilly
saws that the conference delegates are
dreadful eaters"
ats frcm being asked to tea SO much
by members of their congrc Cations"
said the delegate, sand not being given
anything but tea and preserves. When
they get where there is something to
cat, they eat"
Annie Uttered. She wished the
parlor were less dim, or that he would
look at her moro squarely. A really
humorous minister was something
new. She could almost forgive the
coat, which was still on, and the
beard.
ais it going to be a fruit cake"
said the delegate. "With curran's'
besides the rasins"
"Ycs," Annie responded.
"And citron"
"And citron," said Annie.
al will stone the raisins." said the
delegate. ~ like fruit cake next TO
pie"
lie took up the cmpticd tray with
in enthusiastic flourish and followed
Annie to the kitchen.
She was filed with astonished
Was there ever such a
conference delegatc-such Minister
Certainly nc was jolly, but was he TO