Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-13
TWO PAINTED DOORS.

Mr.. Miner boarded at 3 Simpson ter
race (there was no terrace, but the
squire thought the name sounded So
norous and pleasant, SO he had chris
tened his five little cottages Simpsons
terrace'J. He boarded with Mrs. Chip
ley and her two daughters, Maud and
Marian, who felt it great distinction
to be Of any service, however slight, to
the pastor.
Maud gathered fresh flowers for the
study table every day. Marian sat up
late nights to iron and mend table linen
so that the good man might have clean
napkin every day, and to darn his stock
ings 80 that you could not tell mended
pieces from the whole, and the little
widow herself exhausted every culinary
resource to humor his dyspepsia and TO
contrive dainty dishes out Of the least
possible foundation. To these three
simple women Rev. Milo Miner was
like an embodied saint.
"And now that Mr.. Miner is safely
gone for the day." said Mrs. Chipley,
"we'll clean the sitting room and white.
wash tho walls. Run to Dixey's, Maud,
for lump of unslaoked lime; and-oh,
by the way, bring some cornmeal, dear
Well have hasty pudding for dinner
and eat at the kitchen table. Some
hasty pudding and milk will do for us
women"
"Of course it will do. mamma" said
Maud.
81 just like pudding and milkl' cried
Marian, jumping gleefullyup and down,
"and, although Mr.. Miner is such
dear, good man, yet it is sort of relief
to have him gone once in awhile, so that
we can clean house and eat hasty pud-
ding and milk. Oh, Maud" she whis-
pered to her aesthetic sister. as Mrs.
Chipley went out to hang the big kettle
over the fire, GIVE such an idea in my
headi If you'll only get little grass
green paint, ready mixed, when you are
at Dixcys, and a medium sized brushr'
screen paint, Mariani What forY'
"Hushl don't let mamma heart Pm
80 tired of hearing this called the house
with the blue door,"
Maud obeyed. Although the elder in
point of years, she had long been accus-
toned to be domineered over by pretty.
positive Marian.
"But it is the strangest thing,
Marian" she said, as fifteen or twenty
minutes later she handed over mys-
terious tin can and an oblong paper par
eel to her sister; "Joe Dean is out now
painting his door blue"
''Tastes differ" said Marian, shrug-
- c1, ivxyocfo6 n n
preternaturally shabby old calico gown,
suitable only to the EXTREMIST exigen-
cies Of housekeeping time.
"Blue Is lovely color, but as applied
to house door am heartily sick Of it.
Joe Dean has no more taste than New
foundland dog"
'.The Deans are expecting city COM
pany to luncheon" said Maud. "Tbey
sent to borrow the butterfly china plates
this morning"
sIt must be nice to have city COM
pany," sighed Marian.
"Oh, but to think of the work of it!''
said Maud, lifting both her hands.
Mrs. Chipley came in at that moment
also clad in what Marian called her
"scrubbing regimentals," and wearing
an olive silk handkerchief tied around
her still bright and glossy hair, and the
three set themselves determinedly to
work.
Rev. Milo Miner, on reaching the
railway station, received telegram
that his friend, Professor Klingenburg,
could not possibly meet him that day.
Every good" said Mr.. Miner, CPL
Just step back home and get q mouthful
Of luncheon, and then I'll go to look over
those ancient manuscripts with DIR.
Hodges. He has been urging me to dc
so for some time past, and / may never
have better opportunity than this"
Mr.. Miner tucked the umbrella under
his arm, tipped his black, wide trimmed
hat over his eyes and set off on swift
swinging stride back to Simpson terrace
The blue door stood wide open. So ht
walked in without the least ceremony.
"Fresh paintl'' he said to himself, ele
waiting his thin nostrils. "If there's any
thing on the face Of the earth detest i
is fresh paint. And I've got it all ovel
the skirts of my best coat tool Wher'
is Mrs. Chipley? What has become Q
the girls? Nobody ever seems to be il
the way when they're wanted. But
fortunately, here's luncheon read.
spread. wonder now how it hap
pened. How could they know wa
coming back. Cold roast grouse, witt
current jelly-chicken salad, pickles
oysters really, now, this is something
quite beyond the ordinary run OF ou
bills of farel'
The pastor sat down and ate with a.
excellent appetite. He made big hol
in the chicken salad mound; he pickle
the bones Of crisp, brown grouse wit
genuine satisfaction; he buttered fax
biscuit and added to its flavor by severe
spoonfuls Of amber ounce preserve.
''All the same" said he to himself, q
he wiped his mouth with damask nal
kin and rose from his chair, with al
,ther glance at the vegetable shape
watch, ''tais sort OF thing is quite b
yond Mrs. Chipley's means. / though
she had better sense. must real
speak to her about it. In the meantin
must make good speed if expect
have much time ct my friend Hodge
place. {" %
Away he trudged. much comfort,
ana sliat,ine5 as reyarlea is inner ma
lo9 josf sagieked ss Frances!