The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-12-23

MY sakes,~ sne exclaimed, "wna
are we thinkin' OF. keepin' you up this
way? It's after O'Clock. Let me ge
the lamp. Tempy, you do up thai
soapstone for his feet"
Bradley was up early the next morn
ing, and his dressing was sort of jig
for it was freezing cold. When he
went downstairs it was evident that
things had been going on. Miss Prissy
came out of the sitting room, bearing q
broom and with her alpaca" gown
covered with an apron. Miss Tempy,
her curls done up in papers, was busy
with the tidy" for the sofa. Each of
the sisters was nervous and excited.
Miss Prissy said stiff little grace at
the breakfast table. Miss Tempy had a
large cup of pepper tea" for herself
and urged Bradley to partake, but the
elder sister came to the rescue and
gave him hot milk and water instead.
After the meal was over and the dish
es washed Miss Prissy went out to
feed the hens, and Bradley went with
her. The house, seen by day, was a
big. square building, badly in need OF
paint. The roof was four sided and
rloped upward to cupola in the cen
ter. From it's closely shut front door
snow covered box hedges in parallel
lines defined the path to the front gate,
also locked and fastened and, like the
front door, only used on occasions.
There was a large tumbledown barn,
with an empty pigpen back OF the
rear of the barn.
Next door to the left-on the right
was a vacant field-was a small story
and half cottage, separated from the
Allen household by board fence. One
of the boards in this fence had fallen
down, and as Bradley, wading in Miss
Prissy's wake, passed this opening he
saw a girl, apparently about his own
age open the back door of the house
next door and look out at him. He
wanted to ask who she was, but didn't
! feel we'll enough acquainted with his
guide to do so just yet.
Just as the dozen hens and lonesome
\ looking rooster were fed-Miss Prissy
Informed him that by and by looking
after the poultry would be one of his
duties-Miss Tempy's voice was heard
calling excitedly from the kitchen door.
"Prissy," she screamed-"Prissy, come
in the house quick, He's comm! The
cap'n's comin'.'
MY land.' exclaimed the elder sis.
ter wildly, and, her dignity forgotten,
she almost ran to the house, followed
by Bradley, who didn't understand the
cause of the excitement.
"Oh, my sakes," calculated Miss
Tempy as they entered the kitchen,
what made him come so earlyi
You'll have to see him first, Prissy.
I've got to fix my hair"
Miss Prissy rushed into the sitting
room, wheeled a chair into place, set
tidy straight, laid the photograph al.
bum exactly in the center Of the table
instead of two inches from the edge
and pattcd her own hair with her
hands, lodging in front OF the big
gilt framed mirror as she did SO.
Then, as a smart knock sounded on
the dining room door. she assumed her
company" smile and marched sedate.
ly to receive the visitor.
1t was Captain Titcomb who had
knocked, and after cleaning the snow
from his boots on the ''scraper" he en-
tered the house. bearing two packages
wrapped in brown paper.
"Well, Prissy," said the captain, lay.
ing down the packages to shake hands,
.'how d'you do? Didn't expect to see
me in this port jest now, did your
mo, indeed. Cap'n Titcomb,' was the
sreply. But we're real glad to see you
all the same. Come right in. Take
syour things Off Bradley said he rode /
down with you in the coach last night. !
Dreadful storm we had, wasn't it.
How's your health nowadays? Walk
right into the sittin' room. You must
excuse the looks of things. I've been +
.sweepin'."
There was good deal more, but
when Miss Prssy stopped for breath
the captain, who had thrown his cap
and overcoat on a chair. replied that
the storm was bad, that his health was
good and that the room looked ''firsf
rate" SO far as he could see. Then he
held out his hand to the boy, who had
seated himself ON a chair close to the
door. and said cheerily:
"Mornin', Brad. Well, how are you
after your shake I'D last night? Want
seasick after got out. was your
Bradley grinned bashfully and STAN
mered that he was ''all right
Good! We had rugged trip comm
bver, Prissy. The old coach rolled so
q felt like goin' on deck and shortsnin'
sail Your new boy here's goin' to
make a good sailor, I can see that
Where's Tempy?'
"Oh, she's upstairs for minute.
She'll be right down." answered Miss
Prissy carelessly. Tell me what
brought you home so unexpected"
Sprung leak and had to Law the
Did hooker up for repairs. That's q
1,pecialty of my owners repairs.
They'd rather patch up for a hundred
FEARS than build new vessels. II
Brad. fetch me them bundles out of
he dinin' ROOM
Bradley obediently brought the
brown paper parcels, and the captain
banded one of them to Miss Prissy.
laying: Here's little somethin'
>icked up over to New York, Prissy.
thought you might like it, / amt