The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1895-01-15
| tha, he might be feeling
lame after his fall from ia.


pleasantly, boxing into the
where her husband was settlsd
fc-tabiy with his pipe and one q
magazines. "Why don't you
nap while I'm gonef' she suggestc
pausing with her hand on the frol
door knob. Then she went cheerful
ON her way
When Mrs. Hurd returned, three
quarters of an hour later, stroi
odor Of paint greeted her nostri
mingled with another unmistakably
like benzine. Johnny" she in
| quired of her youngest boy, who was
buried in a book in distant corner
Of the library, where is your fa
| there"
"Oh, he's up stairs painting the
back entry,1 he responded. II was
helping him, but got some paint OIL
me, and he sent me down here"
"On YOU, his mother exclaimed
scrutinizing him hastily, say, rath
er, all overl your lovely new suit
Oh, johnny how could you be SC
carelessl"
Mrs. Hurtlhurried upstairs, guided
| by an increasing odor of paint, which
plainly bespoke the continuance OF
Mr.. Hurd's 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 waning 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. Hurd s
pent up Indignation burst forth.
II should think that you had done
enough harm for one day, Theodore,
she exclaimed responsibility; my
best cape isIentirely ruined, and you
know it isn't paid for yeti meant
to have tolp you that the bill for it
came in 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 took TN a more persuasive tone
as he cast ahurlied 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 energetcally with a roll of cloth
which he Held in one hand.
''Have ypu decided to paint the en-
try carpetwith a whole roll of my
emergency bandages, Theodorel"
Mrs. Hurd said coldly. Il thought
you had bought yourself new brush
for that purpose" Then she relented
slightly at Sight of his detected coun-
tenance as he knelt upon the floor.
''What WIS the catastrophe this
timer" shehuestioned mournfully.
II was opening that largest pot of
paint, and very excellent paint it is,
too" he responded volubly, when
Johnny kpocked my elbow, wholly
by accidett, my dear, and sent the
contents al over the floor. So we
have had hther bad work here with
it, but it's pretty much all up now"
he announced, with an effort at great
cheerfulnSss, as he gave final rub
with the emergency bandage.
"After al, this carpet is about worn
out, = Mr.. Hurd went on, 80 little
paint on It doesn't matter. More
over, / ton the boys that they might
as well begin to take it right up, and
/ would sic about getting a new one
tomorrow They're workers, can
tell you Why, they have taken out
all the ticks already-and, by the
way, JOHNNY stepped on one and ran
it into hisfoot, and / told him that
he had bitter let you look at the
place to Se if there was any danger
of his haYng lockjaw or anything of
that sort,
II will 10 and battle his foot in hot
water at bnce," she replied, turning
to DEPART Then she paused and look
ed acrosSthe back entry at her hus-
band, wb stood confronting her in
his shirt sleeves. May l ask why
the STOPPER is out of that bottle of
benzine2 she queried
"Oh, HE answered meekly, put
ting in tie cork. 81 got a little paint
on my okn coat, and thought that
benzine Sould take it off I've heard
you say hat it was the best thing
Mrs. Hbrd lifted her skirts ginger
ly and slipped across the entry car
pet. "IEill take your coat and get
off the Hint, Theodore" she said re-
assuringf, If you will promise me
one think Promise me that you will
under n circumstances help any
more abSlt the house"
"VeryRell, he assented, then l
won't ntlt up any of that glue |
brought home to mend the chairs
With"
mo, 10, indeed" she protested
earnestly If you have any love
for me, Theodore, say that you will
do nothig of the sort. 1t is all very
well for ordinary men-men who
haven't Four talents and ability-to
do such things, but wig you it is
I 4 q