Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-09-06
THE HOUSE WITH THE PAINT
WORE OFF,

pike till you git 70 mouse Win the paint
all wore off-you can't miss it-and then
turn 10 the right"
A fresh-faced young woman, who was
standing near the counter in the village
store, REDEEMED slightly as she heard her
new home thus designated and when the
grocer turned to her and said, smilingly,
"Now. ma am, what can l do for you?'
she Strengthened herself with little touch
Of dignity.
81 am Mis- James Rice" she began.
"Shor exclaimed the shopkeeper, with
great interest. you don't say! Wall, |
don't blame him one mite he added, gal
lantly.
A smile stole across the brides pretty
face, and her severe expression relaxed
little.
Jim he told me he did all his tradin'
here 50 | thought I'd just step down this
mornin' and order few things"
That's right. We always done our
best by Jim. Lucy--his first wife,
you know-was mighty particular, but
we always suited her. She was an amaz-
in good housekeeper, Lucy was. She
must be an awful loss 10 jim Ny gingers,
how he must miss her. Er-oh, didn't
you say you had an order to give, maam?'
YES" said the girl, shortly. II want
-four sent up right away"
Bridal Veil, Of course laughed Mr..
Barnes, with a confidential wink, and he
hurried away to the back Of the store to
give the order.
Two pounds Of brown sugar and bag
Of -four up to Rice's right off-Jim Rice's
on he turnpike road, Peter
"The red haouse with the paint all wore
of streaked?' drawled the boy.
That's the one" And Mr.. Barnes re-
turned to the door to bow out his new Gus
toner.
Mrs. James Rice walked thoughtfully
down the village street with her black
brows knitted in a little frown. 1t was
the second time within fifteen minutes that
she had heard Jm's house referred TO in
that disrespectful manner. The day be-
fore, when she and Jim had returned from
their two weeks honeymoon and had
driven up TO the large dingy-looking house,
it had occurred to the bride that her new
dwelling was sadly in need of paint. But
she would not allow this thought 10 be put
into words. 1t seemed almost disloyal TO
Jim to acknowledge even to herself that
she was unsatisfied with anything in her
new home.
But now she felt justified in calling his
attention to this oversight.
II guess men don't think so much about
outside things" she decided, doubtfully.
"Ill just point out to Jim My, if
there amt his mother standing in the door
way now"
tall, melancholy-looking old woman,
dressed in mournful black gown, stood in
the narrow hallway.
Il thought I'd come over and see if
couldn't help you some this mornin', Prue,"
she said, staring soemnly at her daughter
in-aw. Jim is dreadful particular about
his food, and you bein' 50 young and onex-
perienced-"
She was interrupted by gay laugh
''Land"' calculated Pruc. "Why, on
our farm down in Skowhegan there was
four hired men, besides father and my
three brothers, and mother and me did the
dairy-work, besides gittin all the meals
ourselves. | guess if l could cook for
eight great hearty farmers | can look out
for one plain man.
st was hull year afore Jim learned Lu-
cy to cook accoordin' to his likin', said
her mOther-in-law, imperturbably.
Prue gave contemptuous sniff. "Well,
of all sarse I'd like to see man tryin'
to learn me anything about my own kitch-
en-. I'd as soon think of goin' out and
undertaken to learn him how to curry a
horse"
Mrs. Rice senior shook her head dismaly.
''You don't know Jim. He's dreadful hard
to git along with. He's awful sot and con-
trary. The only way Lucy could ever git
things done was by pretendin' she wanted
jest the opposite"
Prue by this time had her work out, and
was sewing busily. 81 amt Lucy" she
said, giving her thread an emphatic jerk,
s,ft Al
way
There was a moments silence, while
Mrs. Rice regarded her new daughter with
some curiosity. Prue's brown head was
bent over her work and her eyes were hid
den, but there was a determined curve
about her red lips which decided the older
woman to drop that topic of conversation
for the present.
"Was you plannin' to do your preservin
next week." she asked. "Coz if you was
I've got lot of currants that you can have
just as well as not"
mo, guess won't begin it just yet, :"
returned Jim's wife carelessly. "Therell
be so much else goin' on. I'm goin' to git
Jim to have the house painted. 1t needs
it terrible"
Then for the first time Prue heard her
mother-in-law laugh. 1t was a short laugh,
with no mirth in it, but it was very ex-
pressive.
"Land of Goshen, child! you'll never
'complish that. I'd as soon think Why,
that's one of Jims sottest points. Pr
haps you amt found it out yet, but he's
terrible cose-fsted. He was alluz a mas
ter hand for savin', even when he was a
boy, and L IN afraid if he keeps on he'll be
a regular miser by the time he's old. I'd
have. warned you about this failin' of his
aforehand, as done Lucy, if I'd ever seen
you"
"Well, it's so. This house is regular
town joke. We pestered the life out OF
him for years, me and Lucy, to make him
paint it, but he wouldn't, and now it's got
to be sort of piece of stubborn pride
with him not to have it touched. That's
Jim all over"
81 guess he'll paint it," said Prue, calm
ly.
Old Mrs. Rice bridled. swell, if his
own mother and his fust wife couldn't
make him do it"
ellis second wife wil," Prue finished
firmly. 81 guess-this house will be
painted"
In the week that followed, Prue had q
chance of seeing for herself the truth Of
Mrs. Rices assertions in regard to her sons
character.
James Rice was an unusually clever
man and his respect for any one who coulC
"get ahead of him. was unbounded. Lu
cy's weak nature had bowed naturally be
fore her husbands dominant will. Hi
4 Il 4 IL ~