Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-10-14
TWO PAINTED DOORS.

Mr.. Milncr boarded at Number
Three Simson Terrace. (Thcro was
no terrace, but the Squire thought the
name sounded sonorous and pleasant,
SO he had christened his five little cot
tages "Simpson's Terrace.") lie
boarded with Mrs. Chiplcy and her
two daughters, Maui and Marian,
who felt it great distinction 10 be of
any service, however slight, 10 the
pastor.
Maud gathered fresh flowers for
the study table every day; Marian sat
up late nights TO iron and mend tublc
linen SO that I he good uan might have
o clean napkin every day, and TO darn
his stockings so that you could not tell
mended places from the whole, aud
The little widow herself exhausted
every culinary resource to humor his
dyspepsia, aud TO conlrivs cainty
dishes out of the least possible foun-
dation. To these three simple women
Rev. Milo Miner was like an en-
bodied saint.
''And now that Mr.. Miner is safely
gone for the day." said Mrs. Chip
ley, "wc'll clean tho sitiing-room and
whitewash the walls. Run to Dix
cy's Maud, for lump of unslackcd
lime, and-oh, by the way, bring some
cornmeal, dear. Wen have hasty
pudding for dinner, and cat at the
kitchen table. Hasty pudding and
milk will do for us women"
"of course it will do, mamma"
said Maud.
81 just like pudding and milk" cried
Marian, Jumping gleefuIly up and
down, "and although Mr.. Miner is
such dear, good man, yet is a sort
of relief 10 have him gone once in
awhile, SO that we can clean house and
cat hasty pudding and milk. Oh,
MaudV" she whispered to her aesthetic
sister, as Mrs. Chipley went out to
hang the big kettle over the fire, .I'vc
such an idea In my headI If you'll
only get little grass-green paint,
ready mixed, when you are at Dixey's
and medium-sized brush!"
"Grcen paint, Marian? What
for?"
"Hushl don't let mamma hear!
Pm so tired of heari:.g his called the
house with the blue door"
Maud obcyed; although the elder in
point of years, she had long been ac-
customed to be domincered over by
pretty, positive Marian.
"But it is the strangest thing,
Marian" shc said, as fifteen or twen-
ty minutes later, she handed over a
mysterious tin can and an oblong
paper parcel to her sister; "Joc Dean
is out now painting his door blue.n
"Tastes differ" said Marian, shrug-
ging her shoulders, now invested in a
preternaturalIy shabby old calico
gown, suitable only TO the extremist
exigencics of house-cleaning time.
"Blue is lovely color, but as an
piled to house door, / am heartily
sick of it, Joe Dean has no more
taste than a Newfoundland dog"
"The Deans are expecting city COM
pauy to luncheon" said Maud. s.They
sent TO borrow the butterfly china
plates this morning.
at must be nice to have city com.
pany," sighed Marian.
"Ohl but to think of the work of
It'll" said Maud lifting both her hands
Mrs. Chipley came in at that mo.
ment also clad in what Marian called
her "sorubbing regimentals," and
wearing an old olive silk handker-
chief tied around her stiIl bright and
glossy hair, and the three set them
selves determinedly 10 work.
Rov. Milo Miner, ON reaching the
railway station, received telegram
that his friend, Prof. klingenburg,
could not possibly meet him thai
day.
Every good" said Mr.. Miner. ..I1l
just step back home and get mouth
full Of luncheon, aud then Pll 90 TO