The free press., 1892-11-17
sent to borrow The butterfly china

it y" said Maud lifting both her hands
Mrs. Chipley came in at that mo-
ment also clad in what Marian called
her "scrubbing regimentals," and
wearing an old olive silk handker-
chief tied around her still bright and
glossy hair, and the three set them
selves determinedly 10 work.
Rev. Milo Miner, on reaching the
railway station, received telegram
that his friend, Prof. Klingenburg,
could not possibly meet him that
day.
every good" said Mr.. Miner, "I'll
just step back home and get mouth
full of luncheon, and then Pll go to
look over those ancient manuscripts
with DR.. Hodges. He has been urging
me to do so for some time past, and l
may never have better opportunity
than this"
Mr.. Miner tucked the umbrella
under his arm, tipped his black, wide
trimmed hat over his eyes and set of
on swift swinging stride back to
Simpson Terrace. The blue door
stood wide open, so he walked in
without the least ceremony.
"Fresh paint!" he said to himself,
eevating his thin nostrils. "1f there's
anything on the face of the earth l
detest, it is fresh paint. And Pve got
it all over the skirts Of my best dress,
too! Where is Mrs. Chipley? What
has become Of the girls3 Nobody
ever seems to be in the way whom
they're wanted. But, fortunately,
here's luncheon ready spread. l
wonder now how it happened. How
could they know l 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 a crisp, brown
grouse with genuine satisfaction; he
buttered tlaky biscuit aud added to
its flavor by several spoonfuls of
amber ounce preserve.
"All the same," said he to himself,
as he wiped his mouth with damask
napkin, aud rose from his chair, with
another glance at the vegetable-shapcd
watch; Ihis sort of thing is quite
beyond Mrs. Chipley's means. l
thought she had better sense. l must
really speak to her about it. In the
meantime 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.
"Joe! Joel" shriekod Miss Fran
cesca Dean, coming into the room
few minutes later, "what have you
donep Eaten up all the company
luncheon? Oh, you greedy
"I didn't do 10 such thing" shouted
Joe from an upper room, where he
was Transforming himself from an
amateur journeyman painter to
modern tennis player. "What are
you talking about?'
"Some one has eaten his till!' cried
Miss Francesca. "Just look at the
tablew
"Then it's some tramp sneaked IN
through the door that left open 10
dry the paint" bawled Joe.
And while the Dean family were
endeavoring to repair damages, the
task of house cleaning went SWIM
mingly on at the Chipley dom'clie
only two or three doors away, the
GIRLS and their mother scarcely taxing
time to sit down aud eat their nasty
pudding, which, by the way got
scorched through Mauds over-devo-
ton to putting the chintz curtains at
the PASTORS study windows
Bnt hasten as they would, the newly
whitewashed walls were scarcely ary
and the furniture not yet rearrahgeu'
when dusk descended on the scene ana
Rev. Milo Milner came in.
ooh, take care, Mr.. Miner" ex-
claimed Maud. "The door, the paint
is fresh"
Mr.. Miner solemnly advanced lhlo
the area of the lamplight, and' twiSl-
ing himself around to get the sKlrls oi