The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-06-17

and my correspondence with the editor
had grown very friendly, indeed, but
never, never in my widest imaginings
| had l foreseen such catastrophe as
this.
cast glance of frenzied, but speech
less, appeal at Nell. She nodded, pale
as ghost. She had heard, too.
"'Crar up" she whispered briefly,
aud then she began to laugh, noiseless-
ly and Historically. thought this
downright mean of her, but | didn't
have time to demonstrate. heard Tom
tell our guest in very loud tone-for
our benefit-that he would show him in
Just as soon as he had finished little
matter then claiming his attention in
| the shop. This was to give us time, God
bless him! And we improved it. The
way we did set chairs to their right
abouts and jam things into those bu
reau drawers! Nell got hold of the
muslin and struggled to get it into the
trunk, but there was too much oft.
Put it behind the trunk" 1 gasped,
and as she obeyed, added: "There's
one consolation. He can't hear us, be-
cause he's as deaf as anything; he told
me himself"
We'll. that is bliss" responded Nell,
1apsing into slang in her agitation.
We had barely begun to get things to
rights, it seemed, however, when we
heard them coming, and with hopeless
glances into the mirror we sank into
our chairs.
Tom pushed aside the portiere and
walked in, followed by tall and fine
looking gentleman. With terrible
"Boo-woo-woo!" in the voice of a lion,
Jeff leaped from his own individual
corner and made rush at our guest,
and as the latter was just in the act of
taking step, the dog, more astonished
than any of us, went straight between
the South African ankles and ho,lndered
against the wall. AS the gentleman re-
covered his equilibrium and his self
possession, Tom lamely introduced
him.
Speak louder, Tom," said 1, conceal
ing the motion of my lips behind my
'kerchief. HE is awfully deaf; he told
me himself"
- llliG 81 Sdlu lOlll, dlu lllSH AS
fairly shouted the introduction.
Nell came forward, looking as cool
and sweet as a lily, and gave him her
hand, telling him how really glad she
was to welcome him.
"Oh, fudge!" said Tom, making wry
face at her over Mr.. Everett's shoulder;
''if he's deaf, that's all Greek to him.
Speak up, my little girl
For one dreadful moment l thought
Nell was going into one of her convul-
sions of laughter, but she pulled herself
together and presented me.
$50 this is our little contributor"
said he, taking my hand and looking at
me with kind but amused eyes.
shouted out "Yes," but as that sounded
rather fiat, and hearing Tom giggle in
the background, l Imply subsidized. !.
"Have a chair?" cried Nell, her voice
rising to q little squeak as she proffered
the best and really safest chair in the
house. To our CONSERVATION, however,
he showed preference for guileless-
looking chair that was at heart one base
deception.
Great guns!" calculated Tom, in a
tone of exaggerated emotion, while we
all stood shivering in agonized sus-
pense. Its the chair with the broken
leg!"
Before our guest could seat himself,
however, Nell had happy inspiration.
"Do-do take off your overcoat!" she
cried, and then in a rapid aside to me:
"And Kate, do substitute another chair
while I'm talkin' sweet to him! Tom,
take his coat. Hurry, Kate, or you'll
be too late"
For one instant 1 thought a flash of
uncomfortable mirth swept across Mr..
Everett's face, almost as if he had
heard. But a second glance assured me
of my mistake, for his expression was
sphinxrlike.
Nov that 1 have his coat" put in
Tom, with cold irony, while 1 deftly
changed the chairs, what shall l do
with it? Toss it on the trunk?" Il
"Heavens! mol" said l, sternly.
Put it out in the-in-the-"
"Cubbyhole," suggested Nell, giving
us brief, innocent glance, and then
adroitly continuing her conversation
with Mr.. Everett. Il
Sure enough" said Tom, giggling as
he went out. ''I'll put it ON the bag of
potatoes. He'll think we have hun
dred-dollar hatrack concealed in the
darkness"
Tom, may say right here, was in his
element A guest who was deaf, and
two sisters who had been caught in a
dreadful plight! What more could the
imp ask? He took the tide at the flood,
too He came back and seated himself
in the shadow, so he could fire funny
remarks at us without the motion of his
lips being observed by Mr.. Everett.
Nell behaved like an angel. She sat
quite close to our guest, and carried on
in a clear, high, tlute-like tone which
seemed to carry every word to him dis
tinctly, as he did not hesitate once in
his replies.
Suddenly my alert ear heard some
thing dropping, or, to be more accurate,
running. Nell gave me startled, mys-
tilted glance.
My guns!" calculated Tom, in tone
of fairly diabolical mirth. "You hid
your chocolate cup on the organ, didn't
you? Well, Miss Brilliancy, it's upset,
and it's meandering down right into his
silk hat!"
We would have been more than hui
man could we have kept our Mortified
eyes away from the fatal spot. | even