Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-03-23

pale cheeks became almost as red as the
, deacon's.
Got the hoss ready?' ventured the lat
ter.
n Yes, father But
I Wall, we hain't much time to spare
Ye see that The good man was or
the point of making an explanation, but
checked himself and began, with short
cautious steps to cross the room, add
ing: Come, come, if the hoss is all
ready
A more ridiculous figure than that
cut by the deacon it would be hard to
find. He had put on his new suit of
| clothes. They were made of dark goods
of fine quality. But the legs were sew
eral inches too short, and so tight that
they set like the costume of circus
performer. The coat was equally short,
and to introduce the buttons to their
respective button-holes would have
been an impossibility. And every mo-
| ment the deacon made a vain attempt
to stretch the too economical waistcoat
down to cover zone of white shirt and
suspender buttons betwixt that gar
ment and the trousers.
What in the world did you buy them
fOr?' gasped Samantha in the deacon's
ear, when they were seated beside each
other on the forward seat of the beach
wagon.
Don't say word, please don't, and
mebbe there won't nobody notice it!'
was the hurried response.
Not notice 'emp echoed Mrs. Appleby
There's pesky mistake, unless the
clothes shrunk tremendously after left
them,' said the deacon.
At the meeting house the latter glided
into pew near the door partially un-
observed, after the services were begun;
and in perspiring misery he sat through
the hour of worship, and until all were
gone but his family, when he was
aroused by a touch upon his arm. 1t
was the boy who had brought the ex-
press bundle the evening before, and
he had another bundle now
Dad didn't see this one when he sent
me up last night, and so 1 fetched it
here, knowing you always was ter meet
ing" said the boy, handing over anoth-
er bundle.
What have you there, father?' Doris
exclaimed, noticing the bundle hugged
under his arm.
'Oh, yes-I forgot-but it's your'n, 1
guess he stammered, giving it to Mr..
Graves.
The latter looked at it and shook his
head.
L think not Mine was longer and in
plain wrapping
The deacon stared at the bundle
| which was returned to his charge, and
| the words 'Misfit Parlors' in large let
ters swan before his gaze. "a
| On the way home Mr.. Graves and
Doris did all the talking. The deacon
went into the house with the bundle.
and the first thing he did was to open
| it.
Wall, l do vumr he exclaimed, hold
ing up coat and trousers, which were
certainly a fit for himself Them are
the clothes l bought
Then whose are those you've been
trying to squeeze yourself into, I'd like
to knows? asked Mrs. Appleby.
Both glanced toward the doorway.
Mr. Graves and Doris stood on the
threshold, and both were smiling.
Father, the parcel which came last
night was for Mr.. Graves. Those are
his clothes which you have on laugh
ed Doris.
1t hardly seemed like Sunday in
deacOn's household, with a minister for
a guest, during the next half hour. 1t
would be difficult to sayswho laughed
the hardest, for even Mrs. Appleby
joined in it.
Wall, we'd better swap back, if tits
the Sabbath, said the deacon.
Mr.. Graves laughingly assented.
4
Mr.. Graves remained through his
vacation and preached regularly at the
little meeting house. With the next
term he graduated, was called to the
rural parish, and set up his home there,
with Doris Appleby to furnish sunshine
for him.