The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-12-27

MATILDA'S... GOOD. IMPRESSION
By Harriet Lummis Smith.
was applied the family held q iubi.

was applied the family held a jubi-
lee.
ut looks beautifully clean and
fresh" Mrs. Ellicott declared, "and
you've got 1t on so smoothly, deary,
that at first glance II would pass for
new. I'm sure I should never know
the old rocking chair, would you,
father?"
Il shouldn't recognize thing in
the ROOM" said Matilda's father, ad-
miringly. Matilda is a fairy, with
paint brush wand"
Time was really short now, but
the rest of Matilda's preparations
could be quickly made. From her
own room she brought out all the
pretty trifles which girlish ingenuity
and good taste had evolved from lit
tie or nothing. When the transfer
was complete Matilda's room was as
bare as a garret, while the spare
room had so blossomed out that the
most critical of bachelor great un-
cles would have been obliged to look
twice before finding fault
AS rule Matilda had a horror of
borrowing, but in this case she did
not scruple to ask the doctors wife
to lend her rug for the front hall.
And the doctors wife, who knew the
whole story, patte0 the small hands
which had worked so faithfully, and
insisted on adding table cover and
jardiniere for the palm.
All the family treasure were
brought out and put on display. The
children went about asking questions
and admiring everything, as IL they
were attending some sort of exhibit
tion. Matilda had explained to them
that they must be careful not to
move the cushions that covered the
worn places of the parlor furniture,
and to be sure that the footstool was
left standing over the hole In the
rug.
Uncle John arrived in the middle
of the afternoon, and found his
nephew's family arrayed in their
best. 1t was evident that he was
agreeably surprised by the appear
ance OF things. When Matilda took
him to his room she flattered herself
that he looked about him with an air
OF distinct approval. The girls
heart sang happily. There was fried
chicken for supper, and the green
corn and tomatoes from the garden
could not be beaten anywhere. If
Uncle John supposed that her father
was a failure or that his family
wanted anybody's pity, he should see!
Supper was a CHEEKY meal. Matil-
da's father was in the best of spirits.
He recalled one event after another
of his boyhood. and Uncle John
Joined in his laughter over the rem
iniscences. But the old mans at
tention was not rlveted on his
nephew's chat. His sharp eyes
rested on the little woman behind
the coffee urn, now on the tall girl
across the table, whose deferential
manner had in it touch of defiance
which amused, and, to tell the truth,
rather pleased him, now on the
the freckled face of john, and more
briefly on the well hammered young
er children with their air of content
ment and happiness. Uncle John
was thinking.
1t was not till they were leavin.
the dining room for the front porch
, that Matilda caught sight OF some
, thing which drove the color from hel
; cheeks. and then brought the blood
! crowding back in a flaming food
that scorched like fire. AS Uncle
John stood aside to let Mrs. Ellicott
precede him, his back was toward
Matilda, and 1t presented most re.
markable appearance His we'll fit.
! ting suit of black was specked with
blotcnes of white. suggesting somc
: new variety of trout. The children
stared. fascinated. Only Matilda IN.
derstood.
A moment later a crestfallen cir.
walked out on the front porch
Uncle John" she said, in q stihed
voice, IF you wouldn't mind puttine
, on suit of fathers for little
Willie
"A suit of your father's!" cried
, Uncle John. He looked at mis- tail
slender nephew and then down al
his own generous proportions. "What
does the girl mean?" he inquired In
4 voice of much be ewildermen1.
; 1T was that old rocking chair!'
: cried Matilda. struggling with hel
t tears. II had to put on so much
| paint to get the cane part white Il
} didn't dry as quickly as the rest
, You're all over spots of white, I'm
Gle John. but / can get it off with
I turpentine II you'll let me have il
! right away. It's lots harder il II
dries"
l Later when the change had beer
1 effected, and she worked over the
spotted suit In the quiet of her OWL
, room, tine breeze brought TO her ears
! the sound of her fathers boyist
. laughter. Matilda was glad some
: one could laugh over the occurrence
although the tears were rolling dowr
{ her own flushed cheeks. A steI
= sounded in the hall and paused a
I the open door. Matilda did not lool
: up.
) please go away. John!' Matild.
implored. She could not bear tha
any one should sec her cry.
3 There was no indication that Johr
. Was beating retreat Mstilds
looked W. Uncle John stood In Ii,