The Jennings daily record., 1902-11-13

muntty the color was not dlgnlneu
with : name. but was simply called
.saniline dye" IT was quite fad inthe
village, and everybody who had any
claim to distinction possessed some
thing dyed to this particular hue. Mrs.
Pottsey had impaired the startling
tint to several objects in the room.
The ribbon which held back the Not
tincham lace curtains showed their ac-
quaintance with the dye pot. The che
mile cover of the small table on which
Law the family bible. took on the same
apoplectic glow.
Mrs. Pottsey was engaged in putting
the finishing touches to the room, BY
going over stripe of dirty white In
the breadths Of rag carpet, with q
paint brush and tomato can full OF
the dye. The knock at the door caused
her to pause, and upon her invitation
"Lazy Joness" entered. He had long
been endeavoring to broach the sub
ject Of life partnership to Mrs.
Pottsey, but, when her sharp eyes were
looking at him, he felt as If his SOUL
with its mixed motives, was laid bare
before her, and his courage oozed out.
She pointed now to her hand4work
and said: "Ain't this room beau
tiful7"
"Yes, Mis- Pottsey, yes: It's -,
ah em-'hem-it's very beautiful. I
never see anything that suited me
better"
And, indeed, he had not, for he In
wardly pictured himself reposing on
the lounge with pillow under his
head and pipe in his mouth.
"You're master hand at fxin' up
things, Mis- Pottsey; you know how
to make a-body comfortable, don't
you7"
MY powers Of mind 10 sech," an
swered Mrs. Pottsey. "that when
likes people can make 'em comfort
able, and when don't like 'em. can
make 'em purity uncomfortable"
Mr.. Jones did not know whether to
regard this 40 encouragement or
discouragement.
"Would you-er-could you-er-"
doubt here assailed him-"lend me
your hoe? he lamely concluded.
Walking home, he resolved as last
resort, to trust his fate to written
missive. He was not "handy," to use
q local phrase, with the pen, and COM
position presented unknown horrors
to him, but something must be done.
When he was gone, Mrs. Pottsey
smiled grimly. "No sech truck ez him
don't take me int" she remarked,
A few days later, Mrs. Pottsey was
preparing to can some plums. She was
seated on the back porch with bushel
basket of plums on one side and
large Jar on the other. On her lap was
apnn filled with the fruit. Deacon Slat-
terry leaned against q support to the
norch and chewed straw medita-
lively.
"Well, you got q job before ye ct
you're goin' to peel all them plums,"
he at last observed.
""Twon't take me long," she re-
sponded; They're wild plums. and
they taste kind of puckery II they
amt peeled"
Judging by the constant stream OF
peeled plums leaving her hand for the
. lar. it was evident the process would
, not occupy her for great length OF
time.
mighty big lot Of pltms for one
woman to eat," he ventured.
! "I'm that fond Of plums coulc
2 2 eat 'em every day in the year!" she an
i swered.
$ Deacon Slattery rubbed his chiI
! thoughtfully and decided to take an
: other tack. He was wise, even beyon'
his wears, which were many, SO NJ
j said. after gazing at her thoughtful.
i for few moments:
j "You are q powerful good lookin
e woman, Zenobia."
l. "Oh, pshaw, now, deacon, sech al
S old woman as mel" but he noticed
t little flush stealing over her sallov
= cheek.
Well satisfied with his progress, h
t went on.
II declar', on my honor, when 20
Y come wall1in' in church Sunday a
o riceed out, / thought you was tn
n handson1est woman there!" - o
,e shameless deacon!-"ahd / never se
r a woman at could turn out work lik
YOU kin. As I says to Jim Watso
r. t'other day. sez I, 4 don t'know wher
Y, you can pint out woman as youh
1t lookin' for her age as Mis- Pottsey
:" I get kinder lonesome at times, an ~
,e often thought I'd like some smar
rood-lokin' woman fyin' round tn
III house, fryin' my potatoes an baki
ne my pancakes fer me-" the deacon wei
r on. with q sad note in his voice.
"why don't you 0it somebod.
he then?" asked Mrs. Pottsey.
1g Here was distinct encouragement
ne "Vell, now, kinder thought may&
ur you was tired livin' alone, too, So
the deacon.
ch "seein' It's you that asks me, may1
mt I be-" said Mrs. Pottsey.
h The deacon, as he walked HON
lis smiled gently to himself. "Hums