The Progress., 1892-08-20

batteries had produced \ certain SOFTEN
| ing about the edges. and now ~ she tool,
the cakes out of tho oven shc said. not
unSraCiOusly: "T'll help you up with
your trunk, Mis- Whitcumb, not rs do
it rs n general thing. let folks get in
n man when there's heavy liftin; but /,
l remember right. yours amt much
moro n bunnit box"
Miss Mayhow, who was listening In
tho sitting room, with the white baby
blanket sho was knitting suspended in
her hand. soon heard tho humping OF
tho trunk on its way UP 10 the chamber
II always did like this ROOM" said
Sister Martha, painting IA little from the
tug up the stairs. Them three win
dows are real pleasant and slightly. aud
there is good press To hang your dresses
can look right down on Mis- Woods
front door and SEQ the Wood girls beaux
when they come to call. Does that old
est Wood girl scream around in the
front yard as much ~ she used to-"
II guess not quite" said Ann; "she's
been gettin engaged. and shouldn't
wonder if it he'd he'd n subduin effect
"Gettin engaged, has she, Ann? Why,
that makes these windows real excitin
And there's the back of Cap'n Blighs
house and part of his orchard. What
sight of apples he's going to have on his
trees-all grated fruit. The smoke is
going up from his kitchen chimney
straight az column"
~, Il =. 4.
died. Don't hev no woman about ex-
cept old Mis- Brewster. She cleans tho
house once week and does his washin.
He cooks his own meals all but bread,
and that no buys Mt the baker's-ken,
they say, brile steak and make coffee
and johnny cake. and even pies, but I
shouldn't want to eat any Of en-"
Its the strangcst thing ever heard
Of" said Mrs. Martha, falling into o
muse, THAT no should be Twin there
and she hero, only stones throw apart,
just as il they was shut mp each in
separate tomb"
Ann went out and shut the door with
out making any reply. She had said all
she meant to say about Cap'n Bhgh and
his affairs. She'll be kerryin things
from me. and spreadin 'cm over the
town." was her inward, self rebuking 10
mark as she went down stairs.
Mrs. Whitcumb soon followed, and
after descending the shallow, easy steps,
opened discreetly the parlor door on tho
other side Of the prim, cold hall from
where Miss Mayhew sat at her window.
There was but dim light in tho large
room, for the shutters were closed, tho
shades drawn and only little ray here
and there filtered through the Stats. Tho
room was spacious and stiff with old fash
Toned gentility. There wiis high wood.
Ell chimney piece with girandoles and
clumsy vases. and over it hung lugu-
brious engraving called "Washington's
Death Bed" The carpet was of an an
tique pattern known rs Venetian stripe,
now worn to dinginess The furniture
was of slippery haircloth, but cased in
heavy numbering frames. An astral
lamp stood on the center table in bead
mat, and there was little tray with
few yellow cards and one or two of Miss
way utW y gu NdlculiIitS. WAY
also highly embellished keepsake" Of
the year 1850. and tho family Bible heav-
lily gilt and looking new and rs il never
opened. 1t was spotlessly clean, for
Ann swept and busted the room every
pinning back tho lace cur
tains and covering all the furniture.
Mrs. Whitcumb gazed around with
the feeling natural to her economical
soul that much good material was going
to waste. Behind the parlor was an am
plo dining room furnished in the same
style. She remembered the
Thanksgivings and merrymakings Of
mother Mayhew's time, but dft6r mo-
ments consideration she stepped to the
kitchen door and said to Ann:
"If folks call to SEQ me wish You
would show them into the parlor."
Ann fairly gasped. II Vas more than
ION years since folks" had sat fainil-
arly in that room.