The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-09-14
WHY NOT 2
How Lucy's Curiosity Got Her Into Seri-
Gus Trouble.
The parlor doors were shut, and Lucy
stood on tiptoe to read the notice that
hung across them:
DON'T opEn THESE DOORS!


81 wonder why not?" she thought, as
she slowly spelled out the words.
''There must be something inside that
we are not to know, | guess"
Looking would not open them, so she
went off to the library, for which she
had started in great hurry. She now
wished much more to go into the par
Tor. Climbing to the shelves where the
illustrated books were kept, she took
one down and began turning the leaves
very fast, scarcely stopping to look at
the pictures at all. And all the while
she kept thinking about the closed
doors.
"Who can be in there, should like
to know" she said to herself, many
times over. AT last she put up her book
and returned to the doors. Putting her
mouth to the keyhole, she called:
John, Johnny She got NO reply.
Could the boys be teasing her? Jim.
JIM" she cried loudly. SIS that you,
Jim?" Nobody answered. Then she
began to shake the handles Them
am sorry to own it, but it is true-she
kicked the door with her little foot,
making ugly marks on the white paint.
Getting no satisfaction in this way,
she went to find Bridget. Perhaps she
could give some clew to the mystery.
"lndade, Miss Lucy, don't know the
Taste thing at ALL" said the maid. "Tt's
no bizniz NV NOME
That was too much for Lucys pa
thence. She began too feel naughty.
where is John, Id like to know"
she asked, GROSSLY.
''Sure, can't tell ye that. eithoAx Hiss
Lucy"
'Well, is Jimmy in there?' pointing
to the parlor door.
"No, Miss Lucy" answered bridget,
meekly.
"Whcre are the boys, then?'
''IIow can poor body answer all
thin questions widout linowin'?" plead
ed the girl.
II wish mamma would come home. "
Lucy whined little as she said this
She fairly pouted as she added: st isn't
any fun to be shut up in the library,
where can't-practicc-nor-- any
thing"
Lucy forgot that it was very pleasant
upstairs, and that she had been ex.
cuscd from practicing because it was
Saturday. Awhile she walked around
the house discontentedly; then she tried
| the doors again.
"Why, they aren't fastened" she ex
claimed, frightening. Il don't believe
it would do any hurt to look in-just q
little peep"
She hcsitatcd a minute before sliding
the doors cautiously apart She lis
! tened. There did not seem to be any
thing strange in there, after all. She
went in. Not Il soul was there, ye
every gas-burncr was lighted, and al
| the curtains were down. as if company
were expected, for it was only fv'
o'clock.
81 know the boys just did it to bottle
me, she said to herself. She made NJ
her mind, at the same time, not to tel
them she had noticed the sign at all
There was one thing, however, whicl
surprised her. The boys had left thei
new camera right in the way. VIVA
would mamma say Il she knew it? VIVA
if company were really to come, and fin,
the parlor in such confusion. Luc,
stood minute, looking into the eye o
the instrument, feeling almost as if i
could see her. Then she wandered out
them.
| Dinncr-time brought mamma home
| When they went downstairs, the boy
were there as usual. John and Jir
asked to be excused without waiting fo
dessert, they were in such hurry t
develop the photographs they had bee
taking in the parlor that afternoon.
Dear me-" thought Lucy, Il wonde
if that is what they were doing i
there But she felt rather hurt b,
cause they had not told her, so she sal
nothing. If she pouted little, tn
boys were too busy to notice il.
After dinner came story-time Mamm
had just finished her book. and Luc
was going to bed, when the boys cam
| in vi,h very long faces.
% mamma. What do you think hi
| happencd?" cried John. AS he spoil
he held up to the light plate whic
they had Just developed. See, ever,
thing is perfect-the piano, the lam
the table, the new easy-chair. all excei
the one thing which we wanted
much to show papa-Lucy's portrait q
the easel. That is all blurred UP. I'll
plate looks as if something had con
between il and the camera" Pc,
John could hardly keep the tears bac
Papa will be so disappointed" sa
Jim ruefully.
!, Somebody has done this on purpos
and I'd like to know who it is .Jof
was angry. I'D like to tell him VIII
q mean"
~ John, John. interrupted 4