The record-union., 1898-02-25


What was the matter, Deacon Dur
fey?" I asked, innocently. i thought
that huckleberries were common prop
erty''
But that isn't the idee," he rejoined,
hastily. The idee is. picking buckle
berries in other folks lot when you've
got plenty in your own. 1t amt right.
I have just been talking with her about
it, and she agrees with me- he added.
jerking his thumb with an upward mo-
ton toward Aunt Tilda.
Probably you are right, Deacon
Durfey," said l, seeking to guide the
conversation into safer channels. And
soon he was occupied in giving us an
account of a meeting which he had
been privileged to attend as dele
gate" the previous week.
/ At intervals came curious rumbling
sounds, from the kitchen-rumble, rum
BILE, ROLL What could Josephine be
doing? Apparently, she was moving
all the kitchen furniture out of doors
| AT last, in the midst of the Deacon s
recital, came a longer, louder rumble
than usual, followed by crash, slam
bang. Involuntarily, glanced at Aunt
| Tilda. Her eyes were fixed meaningly
| on me.
Excuse me-" said I, hastily; Il am
afraid there has been some accident in
] the Kitchen
Il stopped at the foot Of the stairs to
call John, and then went on to the
kitchen Strange as had been the
noises, I was not prepared for the
facts. In the middle of the room stood
Josephine, mounted on a pair of roller
skates, a long handled mop grasped
| firmly in both hands. She was wipins
up a flood of water that covered the
| floor.
"Josephine!" 1 gasped.
Now, this is how it happened Miss
ANNIE" she exclaimed, eagerly. Il was
just a-rractising with my roller skates
and that ar tipply water pail knocked
off. Tn a-mopping it all up nice" she
continued hopefully; "and l reckon q
mop would be a good thing to learn tc
skate with. 1t pears to sort % steady
you. But, Miss Annie she said. ap-
pealingly. seeing me about to speak, q
can't ever learn with these skates. just
| look at them wheelsl' She seated her
self and held up both feet for my in
!
linktum-vity skates she explained.
| "Linktum- -vity?" said /, blankly
''Yes'm; don't you know? Hardwood
wheels. My. but they're awful nice!
Josephine, you would better take Off
the skates now and put on your over
shoes, while you mop up the floor"
replied with APPARENT irrelevance
| And now, Josephine" I continued
more encouragingly as her deft fingers
undid the straps, 'if you will try as
hard as you can to be a good girl for
month, 1 will ask Mr. Ashland to give
you a pair of lignum vitae rollers; only
you must practice in the barn"
| ''Cracky. won't I try!" she exclaimed
her eyes dancing. But Miss Tilda all
| pow ful aegravating," she added, re-
| fectively.
Yes, she air." was my inward re-
| joinder as I left the kitchen and went
| upstairs to see If John was doing his
| duty as host. I expected to find "the
den" empty, and planned to rest there
little while myself, in fact. But there
was John stretched out in his steamer
| chair smoking serenely.
why, John Ashland, what a shirk
entertain your company you invited?'
Now, Annie, just go gently" he re-
| sponded leisurely. II did go down. But
| had on my slippers, and the door was
ajar, and saw that I should be a su-
perfiuity, so I retreated.'
Nonsense" said I, skeptically. The
| news vas too good to be incautiously
| believed.
Nonsense yourself You can go down
and peek if you don't believe me-"
John, l am ashamed of you!" said
l. beginning to put things to rights in
the room.
Now, Annie. don't muss things up.'
Muss them up, indeed" said I, max
ing my escape with a handful Of loose
| papers, as he started up to prevent
| further dissertation.
| When / went down to the kitchen to
see whether Josephine had finished her
mopping, the floor was comparatively
| dry. Josephine stood at the sink
wringing out the mop.
Air that Durfey man gone yet ?''
she demanded. sitting down, and be-
| ginning to take off her clumsy over
shoes.
l
| behind us. We both started like gull
/ ty children. IT request that you will
not allow your servant to speak in that
way of my future husband"
| Land O. Massey, what'n you think OF
next" grasped Josephine, the gum
shoe" slipping from her nerveless fin
gers.
1T is scarcely necessary for me to
answer that question: said Aunt Tilda
passing from the room with dignified
mien.
| But what she did think Of next" was
to be married to Deacon Durfey in less
| than a month. So peace settled down
upon our household. Her departure
| seemed to have a good effect, not only
| ON Josephine, but on her mistress as
well. We both grew more womanly.
| Josephine won her skates. and even
as l write these words there floats in at
| the open window, mingling with the
scent of apple blossoms and the hum of
bees, distant rumble Of the ''linktum-
vity" rollers.-Jennette Barbour Perry
| in New York Evening Post
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