Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-01-21
PAINTERS IN THE HOUSE.
nY WINlTRNn nOLAN.


my wife said to me. John don't you
think that while we are away the land
lord might paint the house,"
Certainly the form of speech was n
query, but the. tone in which II was ut
tered was that Maria always assumes
when She has settled matter already in
her own mind beyond the possibility of
dispute. | am a close observer Of human
nature. and have lived with Maria seven
years.
Therefore ! answered Yes"
But Maria knows me better even than
| know her. | tried 10 sneak aut of the
house an hour later unobseryed, but she
was too quick for me. When I slopel
down the stairs On my way 10 the hat
stand there she was in the hail holding
my coat for me with Il seraphic smile
upon her innocent face Now | hate a
woman To help me on with my coat; a
woman never makes the collar set nicely
AT the back or pulls down the uudcrcoat
behind; besides, | noticed she had been
brushing my new top hat the wrong way
before she discovered the right one.
knew what was coming. Maria is always
SOLICITORS on these occasions We walked
round the subject for Il minute or two and
then Just at the last she said with an adj
mlrahlc hurst of recollection. Then you
will see Mr., Murgatroyd about that little
affair darling? Goodbye"
Maria can-sh is SO delightfully."- uncon-
Scious OF any intention To he rude.
! saw Murgairoyd during the day. used
the usual arguments, met with the IA
miliar rehufs Finally. | agreed 10 nay
half the cost and was able 10 tell Marin
triumphantly at dinner that we should
return from M2rgate To a green villa
picked ont with Indian red aud Il white
matchwoud balcony upon which we never
dare sit. She was enchanted, bless her.
and seemed to expect me To consider II
both clever and good OF her TO have
thought Of it..
We went away. The cook was left in
charge on board wages and narrowed us
with details Thy posU concerning the
ways of the British workman. Life be.
came a perfect burden with letters and
telegrams. Al last, after we had been
AZ AtarEAte i've weeks instead OF four,
Maria said: II see what it is. John.
you'll have To- 60 home first: they'll never
finish the Job unless You are there
Cheruh and | will follow in II week When
the smells worn off
left the seaside in q pouring rain,
and found London in 4 blaze Of August
stutliucss The ladders were up againsr
the house the paint pots in pcrlons and
unexpected places. buckets al water on
the landings and stairs TO take up the
SMELL rs cook expressed it, but the
men bad gone for drink Presently
they came back.
lie is a joyous animal the house paint
err he sings al his work like a bird and
has Il fund of dry humor at the expense
of his neighbour. As | sat in our little
drawing room behind the blinds among
the dust-seuted chairs and mournful Ia
bIcs whose legs still pointed to the etcr-
nal stars | heard an agreeable tenor
voice launch into the melody punctuated
with dahS from skilfully handled brush.
II n-dcrthe de-o-dnaar, lit by the even
ing StaaHr-pasS MS that turpsy rag,
| mate, or | shant hc able To 20 ia the
fancy dress bail tcrnghl with these ere
fingers With yer cad at--rcst Upon Is
breast 'nder the dc-o.dar.' CThcn
like m nfterthouelt, probably to point
the corulcel 'Af-faaarrr"
Stop, Down went something into the
area below
what ho. she bumps" cried the arist
| on the ladder, and hcnrd the cook coIac
ont.
"You clumsy fcllcrs," she exclaimed.
whatever are you doingY"
'Ali right. darling came the answer
pat as drum. 'he did II o purpose just
10 catch sight ~ yer sweet face; and
ho ought ter know better too than 20
droppn' IS tools about-'c's been at the
job donkey's years, 'aven't You, matcE'
The mate multnred something; he WIS
Il meek man.
"Wots thatf' cried the other. "No
! lrunblin now you needn't think a lot
II ycrself though yer are up a ladder \
man on Il stick thAt'S wot yoa are Wol
! did yer ave for brcakfa4tT
/ "fuppeny waterproof, came the am
/ SWcr snllcnly.
/ "Wot'e thatt"
'IIoddickS.'
/ Yer should teach Yer mi~sus better
! Now if il weren't such thirsty Catiu'
/ there amt nothing ike n bloater. Say.
. 1 % TO-
/ who owns this 'ousc. do yuuF'
/ ! c0ughed. bat it was <upertluouS The
artistic mind fits from subject to sub
/ ject with amazing rapidly, AMI here the
/ spirit Of song again assumed the upper
! band 'The wild flowers scattered DER
the plain rang out on the SuItry air
/ but the mate was unimVresSed His was
- slow and numbering perception, bnt il
/ worked steadily ON given lines and WINS
! capable Of arriving Gin timcl at definite
conclusions,
I sulen voice slowly aud deliberately. mot
/ if anybody gave II to me-nOt now thar
mackcrel is iu--too dangerous. llcrrin'~
i very dangerous at this season when
! mackcrcl is inlay yer out in no time.
"Well, ser couldn't choose "a bcttc@
month 10 ho planted in responded the
/ other checrily "Dyin's fashionable just
now; tbcy'u ave to trot the funerals soon.
/ The wild flowers sratf"rrcd
Il wouldn't eat a bloater--
Then dent talk of one; YOU make roe
/ thirsty. Come aud ave another drink;
! yer owes me one
! At this juncturc thought it time 20
/ appear and demonstrate. ] NHS sorry aft
( crward il was Ike Gliding little children.
/ They ceased to talk and they worked
gjpomiIy, bu they finished the joa next
/ day Maria kept The chcruh 'Oul Of the
/ way Of the hprrid paint however, for