The free press., 1895-08-08
A ROUGH PEACEMAKER.
BY ROSE HARTwICK THORPE.

AZ have ordered the house painted
dirk green, with pencilings to set it
off," said Ned Winters, after his usual
salutation, as he threw himself into
one of Mrs. Halls easy chairs in her
) pretty parlor, and cast proprietor
ship glance of admiration at Mrs.
Halls pretty daughter, who was re-
.clining languidly in an easy chair just
opposite.
"Green !" she exclaimed, suddenly
assuming al erect position. ''Ned
Winters, have you no taste at all that
YOU can even think of having it paint
ed green? Green and red How ridi-
calous!"
81 am sure you will like it, Min
nie," expostulated Ned, in slightly
annoyed tone. Judge Eldridge's new
house is painted green and it is very
pretty"
1t was the evening after Mrs. Dan
iord's party, and Ned Winters should
have known better than to visit his
betrothGd so soon after that exhaust
ing affair. Not only this, but they
had both been dissipating, in the way
Of parties, to an unusual degree for
the past few days, and neither of them
was i'll proper condition for a pleasant,
agreeable visit all by themselves.
Human nature will rebel after
certain amount Of abuse, and the
sweetest disposition is liable to be
converted into its opposite with very
slight provocation.
\ Usually, when vexed questions
arose, Minnie would say, ooh, Ned!"
in that pretty, coaxing way OF hers,
and then she would use all of her
"womans arts" so artlessly and inno-
Gently, he thought, to win her own
desires in the matter.
She never failed of winning, or of
leaving the impression on Neds mind
that he was having his own way IN
granting her requests but now they
were completely exhausted and i'll
tempered on that unfortunate even
ing
"You must countcrmand your or
der at once, Ned" said Minnie, de-
cidedly. "Drab is the color we want.
1t Is so modest and unassuming
Have it painted lovely shade of light
drab with slate colored cornice."
81 have already given my order,
and l shall not revoke it," said Ned,
in tones which had q suggestion OF
angry resentment in them. 81 have
given you full sway over the inside of
the house, and you have kept the car
penters in hot water from the first by
changing the plan of the rooms 80
often. l don't mind that SO much
because you are to live in the house.
and the inside ought to be arranged
to suit you; but l reserve the right to
paint tho outside any color 1 choose,
and I choose to have it painted
green"
81 won't 1.-Two in a green house!"
cried the little woman, looking very
severe and dignifed, with her diminu-
tive figure erect and naughty. 81
tell you won't live in house that is
painted green!" more emphatically;
and if you persist in having it green,
you can get some other girl to share
ltwith you, that's all /"
(Which l can do without any
Serious trouble?" said Ned, springing
to his feet and starting for the door.
"Wkea you desire to see me again you
can let me know!"
He scarcely realized what he was
saying in his angry impatience.
cor perhaps come and fling myself
al your feet and implore forgiveness
she cried out sharply, with husky
lone in her voice, which was followed
as soon as he had gone out and he had
closed the hall door behind him by
tempest of tears.
How could I say such hateful
Fhlngs to him?" she murmured, re-