Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-03-31

lltat te ullEuE Oe tePu0g somewhat
lame after his fall from the ts.llest
steps
Il shan't be gone long" she said
pleasantly, looking into the library,
where her husband was settled com.
fortably with his pipe and one OF the
magazines. why don't you take a
nap while I'm gomez she suggested,
pausing with her hand on the front
door knob Then she went cheerfully
on her way.
When. Mrs. Hurd returned, three.
quarters of an hour later, a strong
odor of paint greeted her nostrils,
mingled with another unmistaliaLly
like bcnziue. johnny she in
quired of her youngest boy, who was
buried in a book in a distant corner
of the library, where is your fa.
ther?"
"Oh, he's up stairs painting the
back entry" he responded. II was
helping him, but got some paint on
me, and he sent me down here"
"On you" his mother exclaimed,
scrutinizing him hastily, say, rath-
CT, all over your lovely new suit
Oh, Johnny, how could you be so
careless !"
Mrs. Hurd hurried up stairs, guided
by an increasing odor of paint, which
plainly bespoke the continuance of
Mr. Hurd $ good resolutions. AS she
opened the door into the back entry
her husbands voice called to her to
look out for paint. I've painted
the door on both sides, he concluded,
but this warning came too late, for
already her velvet cape had swept
against the newly coated surface.
This was more than flesh and blood
could withstand, and Mrs, Hurds
pent up Indignation burst forth.
II should think that you had done
enough harm for one day, Theodore, "
she exclaimed reproachfully; my
best cape is entirely ruined, and you
know it isn't paid for yeti l meant
to have told you that the bill for it
came il only yesterday" "
Go back, don't come out here, my
dear" Mr.. Hurd cried eXcitedly
We've just met with an accident
They will happen in the best regulat-
ed families, you know Here his
voice tooG on a more persuasive tone
as he cast a hurried look at his wife
who stood like some avenging spirit
in the doorway, and then he stopped
down and continued to rub the car
pet energetically with a roll of cloth
which he held in one hand.
Have you decided to paint the en-
try carpet with a whole roll Of my
bandages, Theodore2'
Mrs. Hurd said coldly. Il thought
you had bought yourself a new brush
for that purpose" Then she relented
at sight of his detected coun-
tenance as he knelt upon the floor
What was the catastrophe this
time" she questioned mournfully.
Il was opening that largest pot of
paint, and very excellent paint it is
too" he responded volubly, when
Johnny knocked my elbow, wholly
by accident, my dear, and sent the
contents all over the floor. So we
have had rather bad work here with
it, but it's pretty much all up now,
he announced, with an effort at great
as he gave final rub
with the emergency bandage.
After all, this carpet is about worn
out, Mr.. Hurd went on, so little
paint on it doesn't matter More
over, | told the boys that they might
as well begin to take it right up, and
| would see about getting a new one
tomorrow, They're workers, can
tell you! Why, they have taken out
all the tacks already and, by the
way, Johnny stepped on one and ran
it into his foot, and | told him that
he had better let you look at the
place to see if there was any danger
Of his having lockjaw or anything Of
that sort.
Il will 60 and bathe his foot in hot
water at once she replied, turning
10 depart Then she paused and look
ed across the back entry at her hus-
band, who stood confronting her in
ais shirt sleeves. May l ask why
the stopper is out of that bottle of
oenzinel' she queried.
"Oh," he answered meekly, put
ing in the cork, Il got little paint
IN my own coat, and / thought that
would take it off I've heard |
you say that it was the best thing
Mrs. Hurd lifted her skirts ginger
y and stepped across the entry car
pet. Il will take your coat and get !
Jff the paint, Theodore" " she said re.
lssuringly, IF you will promise me /
,ne thing. Promise me that you will /
Inder no circumstances help any |
more about the house"
Very well, ~ he assented, then /
wont melt up any Of that glue
brought home TO mend the chairs I
With.
mo, no, indeed" she protested /