Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-05-03

He flung the unfortunate rodent Tar
out into the quarter lot, brushed his
hands lightly against each other and re.
sumed Captain Jinks" and the hand
scales simultaneously.
"YCu are right mother. snd--I am a
simpleton. Father does not look like a
man who was spending his life in vain
regrets. am dreadful simpleton. /"
mo, honey, only natcherly little
raw yet. tn all come right in time. I"
She glanced beyond the pretty, cloud
ed face Of the girl to where slow hob
bling figure was advancing toward them
by the aid Of a stout, age blackened
hickory staff.
MY good gracious! Here comes the
old wandering jew. as Seth calls him.
To my certain knowledge old Reuben
has been comm 10 the house every Sat
urday steady for ten years. Won't he
never get over that misery in the back!
Liza shrugged her shoulders and
laughed mirthlessly.
Il should miss Reuben dreadfully II
he were to Get well or to die. He is the
one immutable thing know Of. " All
that was not dismal in her lot was lu-
dicrous, according to Liza's Saturday
cogitations, which were never rose tint
ed.
A little later ON the sm0kehouse door
was closed and its big greasy key was
hanging on n nail by the dining room
mantelpiece. Eben and the boys had
ridden away, uncomfortably incased in
coats and cravats which gave them
quite All unfamiliar appearance. The
drugs had all been dispensed for the
day, and Reuben had hobbled away,
happy in the consciousness Of having
performed sacred Saturday rite cred
itably. Only the clangor in the black
smiths shop, the noisy wrangling of
contestants in foot races or marble
games in the well beaten quarter lot,
with redundancy Of coarse wet wear
ing apparel Tapping gayly from every
fence rail OF low growing bush about
the cabins, remained as unlovely re-
minders Of the day.
Liza was in the pantry weighing
the materials for the soft gingerbread
which was the test Of Seth's enthusi-
asm. Her mother had gone to see about
the oven heat, but returned suddenly
and stood before her flinging her FIT
hands, palms outward, despairingly.
"Oh. Lord. the Chambliss carriage,
with Mrs. Chambliss and Miss Amy in
side, and il stoppin righ. smack bang
In front Of the steps,"
By this time she had intrenched her
self behind the pantry shutter, through
whose liberal chinks she was taking
hysterical observations Of the outer
world
Liza was poising the balances deli
cately on one slim white finger. In one
scoop was some powdered ginger. IN
the other some fiat bits Of metal. Her
nerves stood the shock of this unprece-
dented happening admirably. The beam
remained motionless.
Il think | would not pry on them,
mother. / suppose they are calling on
the blacksmith. A horse has cast "A shoe
perhaps or bolt has sprung. Some
thing is always happening to the Cham
bliss turnorts.
eyes, but, oh, my goodness gracious,
Liza, I've got eyes! It's here they .e
maxim for. They're comm up the steps
as straight as an arrer And, o Lo-i,
every blanket and spread and fanlin
petticoat | own in the world streEed Il
all over the front gallery sunnin, and the
ole mans r.d flannin drawers fiappin
like mad Saturday Of all days! How
could gue-s they was comin:'
Rebeeca's mild voice bad by this time
reached pitch of querulous excitement.
Liza regarded her coldly.
Il don't ,link it makes particle Of
difference, Eother, about one knowing.
l suppose they want to sit down h,re
while the carriage is at the shop Some
one must receive them decently. lean t.
Seth's Sunday cake is in jeopardy. "
"Eat there amt any place for 'em
70 set down. The ole man always leaves
my ruom lookin like a sight when he
dresses up. and that everlastin poke
jimmy is down OH her knees this blessed
minute in river Of suds in the dinin
room"
my room then. They are al the
door. mother. There's no place else. "
Mrs. Martin hurried out of the pan
try r,d and nervors What on earth
did the Dell place people want?
Liza flung the scales from her with a
gesture of despair. The weights had
lost all significance No doubt by this
time these two fine ladies, his mother
and his sister. were i'll full possession OF
her room-the poor little nest where
artistic makeshifts and homespun
adorrments were the perpetual marvel
and delight cf the entire family. She
laughed aloud. Seth could never be i'll
duced to enter it, even for the placing
of q hook the hanging Of shelf,
without removing his heavy shoes.
which be considered a proclamation OF
holy ground.
Doubtless Mrs and Miss Chambliss
would find abundant opportunity for
adverse criticism. Why could they not
have ridden on up to the mansion and
sent the carriage back to the shop: The
whole proceeding was i'll bred and inso
lent. Into this bitter reverie Mrs Mar
tins shrill voice pierced suddenly.
Daughter, it ain't the blacksmith
nor me neither that they want. IL ls
you. They've come to call. l thought,
in your own house, you wouldn't wait
to be asked for, so I JUS kept a runnir
on, talkin most Of the time about you,
and shown them all the things you
done yourself-them little cute pictures
and boxes and things. Miss Amy says
you must be awfully clever, and she
only wishes she could do one-half the
things you can. I laughed out of gen,
uine pride in you, sissy, and | told her
you was some punkins.
"Oh, mother"
"Well, you are. And. oh, good gra-
cious, If you only could get to yorr ar
mo- and slip inter that little pink W rap
per- 1t JUS makes you look like doll.
But you can't, with Mrs Chambliss
settin smack bang ag'inst the armo'
do, and them dressed so nice.
Don't worry about that, mother
am not competing with Mrs. Chambliss
and her daughter. / suppose they have
coms to say something stupid about that
sccident.
II reckon. Daughter
Liza had got az far as the door. She
turned at the pleading sound.