The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1892-08-27

was her theater and opera, her concert
and lecture. She never missed service
at her church however stormy the night,
and with her kitchen key in her pocket
she felt her dominions were safe. no
matter what might happen to the front
of the house.
One morning Ann came down stairs
with the breakfast tray and message
from her mistress to Sister Martha, beg
ging that she would excuse her that day,
as her head was unusually painful.
well, it's about as lively here as a
graveyard, amt it,? said Mrs. Whitcurnb,
pushing out her foot as she sat stoutly
on kitchen chair. II can't go thrusting
myself in on folks when they haven't
called on me, and | know pretty well
why they don't call. They've got tired
of one sided business. VINES been
shut up so long they know there's moth
ing to look for from this house. You
can't expect to be asked to places if You
don't do something in return" Mrs.
Whitcumb felt the black silk dress and
bead trimming up in the press burning
to be worn.
What do you say ANN" after musing
a moment; Il have an idea. Suppose !
was to give tea party
Ann turned slowly around from the
table where she was doing up the break
fast things, and Mrs. Whitcumb noticed
that her gray pebble eyes had turned
green. why, Marthy Marier Whit
l. e1.a dol ofa1x, No
crazy"
mo, Ann" snapped Mrs. Martha;
I'm clothed and i'll my right mind. But
what's to hinder my having il few people
to tea in my own mother-in-law's house
that was? There's the parlor and dining
room all sweep and garnished, needing
only few lunches of flowers set around
to brighten things and some sparrow
grass bushes in the chimney"
II guess should how something to say,
leastways about the part of the house
that belongs to me. Them are her rooms.
don't claim no control over them"
"Of course you will have all to say,
Ann. am aware of that. If you put
down your foot that is the end of the
worsted. | should think it might liven
You, Ann, to have a few folks in TO tea
almost as much as prayer meetin!"
Il don't want no liveliness," said Ann
grinly. i've got along these fifteen or
twenty year without any and I'm puff
fickly well; not an ache anywhere, least
wise it might be kind of stiffenin of
the joints on damp mornins."
IL don't see as she need know anything
about it, ut least at first. We might get
well started so as not to nuster her"
Ann again withdrew her parboiled
hands from the hot suds and rested the
right-doubled into rather formidable
looking tist-on the table. while her look
went through Sister Martha like a sew
ing machine needle.
III hev no underhand contrivin, Miss
Whitcunb. Them rooms are her part,
and if she says you may hev 'em you
may. that's all. I'll do what | can to
Oblige, but sho's got to be consulted first
If you locked her up in the attic you
couldn't keep it from her, for her ears
are like one Of them telephones that
ketches every whisper. You may take
back your piece of linsey woolsey of
you're mad at my Pain spealIin."
81 amt mad, Ann, only thought TO
save her fret and worry. But | want
you to let her know there won't be any
expense on her. III pay for all the sugar
and butter and eggs that's used"
Ann flashed out on her: You won't |
do no such thing. guess we amt come
to that pinch. There's plenty of every
thing in the house, for lay in supplies |!
once month regular"
but you must let me add some little |
extrys, Ann. If do the thing at all | |
want to Go it up in style. A real first |
class high tea leaves q wake of light be- |
hind IT, SO to speak. And it does beat
all how folks will eat when they get set /,
down to a loaded table. III buy the |
chickens for salad, Ann, for know how |
to make it extry well, with mayonazy
dressing. and | guess | shall order ice !
cream from Holden Sc White, best Phila-
delphy. We will have real loaf at one
end of tho table and the salad at the !
other, and a celery glass of flowers in
the middle and smoked tongue and |
picked oysters in between, and when |
the cream comes on IL will he a sr1rnrixp ~ |