The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1900-10-11
AFTER THE STORM. +:


Patty Chickson, and the sooner the
better, according to my way of think
ing"
Mr.. Burlington was a portly individ-
ual, with Roman nose, iron-gray
hair, and stout, short figure.
Miss Chickson was tall and spare,
with little spiral curls and the remains
OF a complexion, and with blue eyes,
that had been passing bright 20 years
ago.
Z There is an end to all human endur-
ance," observed the gentleman. stern
II.
Sir" said Miss Chickson, Il have
put up with your eccentricities until
forbearance has ceased ODE virtue.'
"a months notice. said Mr.. But
flngton, savagely fourishing his yell
low silk Observation-Disclosures
You are quite at liberty to go at
the end of "a hours, for all l care!
retorted Miss Chickson, with dignity.
Madam, take you at your Word'
said the gentleman.
Mr.. Barnabas Burlington had lodged
with Miss Patty Chickson for ~
years. He was rich and eccentric;
she was poor and proud As young
people. there had been certain love
passages between them-or rather the
buds of loves passages, which hao
never blossomed into full perfection
and when Mr.. Burlington came home
from China and found his old pastor
orphan daughter trying to gain
scanty livelihood by letting apart
lnents, he engaged her entire second
floor at once, and paid his way like
rajah.
Poor girl. poor girl!' said Mr.. Bar
nabas Burlington. But how thin and
old-maidish she has grown! 1 really
can't imagine how 1 could ever have
fancied her a divinity. What fools
young men are, to be sure.''
poor, dear Mr.. Burlington. how
stout and vulgar he has become said
Miss Chickson. And only to think
how slender he was once. How the
dreams of ones youthful days do al
teri"
Mr.. Barnabas Burlington was not
perfect enough to be canonized, ana
Miss Chickson had her petty pecullari-
ties. The consequence was that little
collisions were inevitable.
And one day there came longer
measuring of wordy words than usual,
and Mr.. Burlington and Miss Chick
son formally parted,
Ten years is quite long enough to
tolerate this state of things" said the
old bachelor.
I'm only surprised that I haven't
turned him away long ago. said the
old maid
So when Mr. Burlington had gone
away, in cab piled high with bag
gage, Miss Chickson rang the bell for
her maid.
Barbara" said she.
eyes, ma'am?" said Barbara.
'NIr. Burlington is gone at last"
$50 l perceive. ma'am." said Bar
bara. "And won't he come back again,
ma'am?"
'Neverw said Miss Chickson, with
spirit.
"Oh!' said Barbara, rather sur
prised.
st will be necessary for us to re-
duce expenses" remarked the mis-
tress. "Of course l cannot any long
er afford to keep so large a house as
this. Mr.. burlington, whatever were
his faults, cannot at least be accused
of parsimony.'
Certainly not, ma'am," said Bar
bara.
"Of all liberal, free-handed, kind
spoken gents"
Barbara, you will oblige me by
hiding your tongue" said Miss Chick
son.
certainly, maam," said Barbara.
"Get me cup of tea" said Miss
Chickson, "and when l have drunk it
1 will go out to look for cheaper
house, In less aristocratic neighbor-
hood"
Barbara brought up the tea. in a
quaint little Wedgewood teapot on
japanese tray.
Miss Chickson drank it in silence,
looking sadly at the fire.
Lea was, 81 W Spcdhs MOO y L. n
sons inspiration. When she was low
spirited or in doubt or puzzled or in
any way thrown off her mental bal
ance, she drank tea, and straightway
became herself again.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Barnabas Buhing-
ton in the solitary splendors Of Il
west end hotel, was scarcely less i'll
at ease.
81 don't like this sort OF thing ar
ALL" said Mr. Burlington to himself,
+, one morning a month later 1T isn't
.{homelike There's no cat here. Patty
7 Chickson always kept n cat, There's
something very domestic and cozy
looking about a cat III go out ana
look down the advertising columns of
the daily paper and see what induce
ments they have to offer in the way
of quiet, respectable homes for elder
~ gentlemen"