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

AHO plCo NClc CHS iOoeiuS
her thoughts chiefly. al know you'll
excuse inc? Pm so busy just now!"
"Certainly, certainly" the delegate
responded, making evident the fact
that his voice was heavy enough to
Keep the slcopicst congregation awake.
'Don't let me detain YOU"
"Tll como 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 90
back, with set little phrase for the
entertainment Of the earliest delegate.
"'Will the conference be q largo
oneP' she qucried. "Mr. Fraser
thinks so."
ale ought to know" tho delegate
rcjoined.
Some of his dignity had cvaporatcd
before the genial glow of the base
burner. lie leaned forward with his
elbows OH his knees.
at was in Conncllsvillc last time"
said Annie.
"Whero the cheese factory is" said
the delegate. 'I suppose the confer
once subsistcd OH cheese mainly"
Annie smiled. Why, the delegate
was quito bright and humorous.
"Cheesc always makes you think of
pic" he added. 81 beg your pardon,
but do l smell pumpkin pic baking?"
"You smell pumpkin baked" I"
Annie laughed. "Would you-would
you have a picce?"
The delegate made gesture of
pleased assent.
"rhcrc's nothing Pm so fond of"
he declared.
Annie went and brought it. The
ds3egate 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 "case."
She put the pic, big and thick and
delicious-looking wedge, on china
plate, and the plate on a napkine d
tray.
"Ah~ said tho delegate, smacking
his lips. $50 many thanks"
'.Perhaps," said Annie, conscience
stricken, "you havn't had any din
ncr?"
"Well-a lunch," tho delegate an
swercd, hcsilatingly.
"Wouldn't you like Wait!'
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
sHtiSiuCtlOu.
81 was hungry" ho said, in his
iloarse-sounding voice. 'Famished.
| feel like tramp, though, TO be get
ting away with all the cold food
You've got" --'''' ''''''''' ''''''
"Getting away" with things was
peculiarly unclerical. Annie wavcred
between astonishmcnt and mirth.
"Shall You mako INC chop wood in
the back yard to pay for it?' qucriod
the delegate.
'Td rather you'd stonc raisins,"
said Annie. I'vo got cake to
make for the delegates. Cousin Tilly
says that the conference delegates are
dreadful eaters.'
ats frcm being asked to tea so much
by members of their congrc cations" !"
said the delegate, "and 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 more squarely. A really
humorous minister was something
new. She could almost forgive the
coat, which was still on, and the
beard.
'Is it going to be fruit cake?"
said the delegate. "With curranis,
besides the rasins?"
"Yes," Annie responded.
"And citron?"
"And citron," said Annie.
81 will stone the raisins," said the
delegate. 81 like fruit cake next TO
pumpkin pie"
lie took up the cmpticd tray with
an enthusiastic flourish aud followed
Annie to the kitchen.
She was flied with astonished
amusement. Was there ever such
conference delegato-such minister?
Certainly ne was jolly, but was he to
be exactly approved Off She was be-
wildered.
"Ifyou could lend me dish-apron,"
said the delegate, "why, | could pitch
right in."
Annie turned TO look at him. 1t
was not dim in the kitchen. The
light from the south window fell
squarely upon him.
She dropped with crash the spoon