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


ing suit of gray, with russell shoes and
crush hat.
Doris greeted him with unconscious
grace, but he was little embarrassed.
If l might tax your kindness SO
soon,' he said, las he paused in the door
, way of the pleasant bedroom to which
she conducted him, Il would like a
needle and thread. Icaught the sleeve
of my coat on the door of the coach
: and the result is a rent And he held
up his arm to show the extent of the
damage.
That is too bad, but can soon mend
it for you. I'm afraid she added, with
her sunny smile, that unless you are
more ninble with the needle than fa-
ther is you would have a hard time
mending that. 1t is a dreadful tear
and it will show, the best can do
Mr. Graves laughed, and handed her
the garment with a grateful look.
The worst of it is, he added, Il had
a parcel checked on the cars and the
baggage man couldn't find it at the
station when l arrived. 1t contained
more suitable garments than these for
Tomorrow
4 hope it is not lost, said Doris.
Probably it will be found in time for
me to check it back again when l re-
turn
In the meantime Mrs. Appleby was
bustling about in the preparation of
tea, and the deacon, having finished
mending the harness, was out attend
ing to the chores, which always busted
him at that hour.
| Six o'clock came; supper was all
ready. Still no express bundle arrived
for the deacon 1t ought to have come
on the coach.
i Mrs. Appleby became mo and more
uneasy; even the calm deacon began to
brush with his hand the clothes he had
on, wondering if they couldn't be made
to answer in case his new suit did not
come.
But no-they would not do. He had
J been humiliated enough by being com
PEELED to wear them to town that day.
: The truth was, his thrifty wife had un-
dertaken a few days before these events
to sponge the deacon's clothes with a
famous cleansing soap which had been
recommended to her.
The soap was indeed effective. 1t
removed all the stains and grease, but
at the same time took out every vestige
of the original dye wherever the sponge
was applied. The result was a gener-
ally notified effect which was so ridicul-
he looked at them.
He had hoped that the new suit
would arrive before the young minister
) came down to supper. But it was a
vain hope.
i 4 guess he'll think we're mortal poor
for you to wear them things said Mrs
i Appleby.
| 'Mebbe he'll think I'm all the more
stiddy for deacon if l don't pay so
Imuch attention to dress, like the
worlds people, was the ready reply.
AS a matter of fact Mr.. Graves did
mot think of noticing his genial hosts
attire, and although Mrs. Appleby was
'fidgety' at the table, Doris and her fa-
ther were pleasant enough to make up
for it.
i But when o'clock-the deacon's
bed-time-came, and Mr.. Graves retir-
ed for the night, the Applebys looked
at each other in dismay.
| Now what dye think? exclaimed
Mrs. Appleby.
i Looks as if l had got to stay at home
from meetin' tomorrow or go and wear
these here brindled trousers said the
deacon, with a rather dismal smile.
If it only wasn't wicked to pretend
to be i'll and not to CO. said Doris
family.
But it is wicked, asserted the father
Jest as | expected 'twOu1d turn out
when you came home without the new
clo'es, said Mrs. Appleby.
L don't see how | could helpit They
needed fixin' over, and l knew you'd
scold if l asked you to do it with so
little time
You oughter got 'em the fust of the
week, as | told ye to. 1t all comes of
| CT in int that I'm oil Inc
tellin' ye about
There is somebody at the door this
minute cried Doris, and she flew to
answer the knock.
The boy stood on the step with a
bundle
Express for the deacon explained
! ! the lad. Carried on by t'other train,
and come back on the one from the
i, West. Dad told me to fetch it right up,
as we might be wanting of it p
There, there, Samantha = cried the
deacon, holding the bundle exultingly
close to the good lady's face, in rather
an aggravating manner. Now, what
comes of all your talk? Here are the
cloes, and they sent 'em jest as they
said they would
Samantha relented in spirit, as she
usually did after the worry of the day
, | Was ONoT, dHu 81 UIlcy IcblIcu Ill pSttCc.
The deacon would have liked to try
on his purchase before going to bed
but it occurred to him that that would
{ { appear like boyish impatience, SO ht
contented himself with tearing hol'
in the wrapping paper and obtaining g
u glimpse of the dark goods through the
opening.
;. In the morning, for some unaccount
able reason, the Applebys all oversight
and when the deacon and his energetic
wife arose they found that they had ;
: narrow margin of time in which to d.
l the ordinary morning work of farm
u which can not be omitted even on tn
Sabbath.
This tended to irritate Samantha, an,
Z even the deacon found it hard to keel
y y his Sunday countenance during has
y tily prepared breakfast. Mr.. Grave
y was a little anxious over the comm!
ordeal of preaching, for the second tim
% % in his experience, regular written ser
y mon.
Well be late, just as sure as tn
's world!' said Mrs. Appleby for the doz
II enth time after Mr.. Graves had gon
I to his room for half hour of medita
- ton.
% Time enough, mother Don't fret
10 said the deacon.
D But you've got.your clo'es to chang
T. yet, and no knowin' whether they
: come within rod of fittin' ye,' persist
. ed Mrs. Appleby.
II 'I'll resk it. i'll wear 'em anyway, f
. or no fit said the deacon impatiently
al L will hitch up the horse for yor
y father, so you can have more time sal
u Doris.
- That's good gal l wish ye would
" for | declare that I hate to have tie
), hustle around so like a house afire Sur
- day morning.
II Mr.. Graves came down ready to start
u Mrs. Appleby trie to entertain hir
Y, with becoming topics before meeting
y while the deacon was getting ready
l. Doris came in and said the team was a
the door.
r Still Deacon Appleby did not put i
an appearance. His wife fidgeted. Dori
y became uneasy, and DR.. Graves locke
~ at his watch.
| e ~