Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-06-23

all over the skirts of my best coat, too
Where is Mrs. Chipley? What has be-
come of the girls? Nobody ever seems
to be in the way when they're wanted.
But, fortunately, here's luncheon ready
spread I wonder, now, how it hap
pened How could they know I was
coming back. Cold roast grouse, with
currant Jelly - chicken salad-pickled
oysters-really, now, this is something
quite beyond the ordinary run OF our
bills Of fare!"
The pastor sat down and ate with an
excellent appetite. He made big hole
in the chicken salad mound; he picked
the bones of crisp, brown grouse with
genuine satisfactions he buttered
faly biscuit and added to its flavor by
several spoonfuls of amber ounce pre-
serve.
''All the same" said he to himself, as
he wiped his mouth with a damask
napkin, and rose from his chair, with
another glance at the vegetable-shaped
watch; ''this sort Of thing is quite be-
yond Mrs. Chipley's means. I thought
she had better sense. 1 must really
speak to her about it. In the meantime
I must make good speed if expect to
have much time at my friend Hodges
| place"
| Away he trudged, much comforted
and sustained as regarded his inner
| man
s'Joe! Joer' shrieked Miss Frances
ca Dean, coming into the room few
minutes later, what have you done?
Eaten up all the company luncheon!
Oh, you greedy"
| II didn't do no such a thing" shouted
\ 1<r
| Transforming himself from an amateur
| journeyman painter to a modern tennis
player. ''What are you talking about?'
''Some one has eaten his fll!7 cried
Miss Francesca ''Just look at the
| table!''
"Then it's some tramp sneaked in
| through the door that [ left open to
dry the paint" bawled Joe, shifting his
leg.
And while the Dean family We're en-
deavoring to repair damages, the task
of house cleaning went swimmingly on
at the Chipley domicile, only two doors
| away. the girls and their mother scarce
ly tax ing time to sit down and eat their
hasty pudding, which, by the way, got
scorched through Maud's over-devotion
to putting the chintz curtains at the
pastors study windows.
But hasten as they would, the newly
whitewashed walls were scarcely dry,
and the furniture not yet rearranged,
! when dusk descended on the scene and
Rev. Milo Miner came in.
''Oh, take care, Mr.. Milner!" ex-
claimed Maud, ''the door-the paint is
fresh"
Mr.. Miner solemnly advanced into
the area of the lamplight, and, twisting
himself around to get at the skirts OF
his coat, eyed them disconsolately.
"More paint" said he. 'Blue paintf'
"No," said Marian. Green"
The two colors were ludicrously
alike by 1amplight- The green might
be mistaken for a lively blue-the blue
for dull green
''Blue!7 said the pastor, firmly. "De
you think I haven't the use Of my
eyes?"
''Green," persisted Marian 81 know,
because put it on myself"
sit is not WE'LL" said Reverend Mil
ner, ''for the young to be too positive. >
But truth is truth" said Maud.
"And while I'm about it." said Mr.
Miner, now thoroughly exasperated
81 deem it my duty to demonstrate with
you concerning the extravagant anc
, | y y
indulge during my absence!''
81 don't know what you mean," saie
Mrs. Chipley, feebly catching hel
breath.
''Hasty pudding and milk can't be
called extravaganza. hazarded Maud.
''Scorched at that" murmured Ma
rian.
Roast grouse and currant jelly
said the pastor. Chicken salad an6
sponge cake. And-here again I trus
| to the evidence of my eyesight-an Sc
out on your old butterfly pattern china
I know, because ate of it myself
"You-you got into the wrong house.
L gasped Maud.
f ut was the house with the blue door,
, serenely uttered Mr.. Miner, as if thi
2 were an incontrovertible argument
, Marian clapped her hands hysteric
) | ally.
Mamma she cried-"Maud, Nh
! Miner was the tramp who ate up Mis-
, Deans company luncheon That was jus