The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1906-11-16

fairly choked with rage when she
found l meant it. | told so much
truth it hurt. She called me a jealous
scold and said she never wanted me at
all, but always invited US because we
had SD few friends and went out so
little. That was stinger: wasn't
it?'
81 can hear the echo Ct the hammers
now was Johns solitary comment.
about how far did this mania for
truth carry you during the day? You
might as we'll tell it all now"
"Well, to go on, the Rev. Mr..
Prosy dropped in about ll.30 o'clock.
You know he always comes about the
time you are trying hardest to do
something: says he knows he's intrud.
ing excuses him self every i've minutes
and stays ab ,ut three hours He came
to the door when hal both hands
covered with fl 'ur, making pastry,
and know he saw me wiping them
on my apron. When opened the
door he said he knew his e, WAS ILL.,
timed, but he was passing and could
not resist the temptation to- drop in."
Then you said you We're delighted
to have him, and tLat if he would
come in you would max. a cup OF tea
for himY"
Indeed, did nothing OF the sort
That passion OF truth overcame me
again, and | stood in the door without
inviting him in. Mr.. Prosy,' l said,
I am busy making pastry, and know
you saw me wiping the -four off my
hands when came to the door. If
should invite you in, would be guilty
of deceit for I do not want you. You
would interfere with my domestic ar
rangements. and in my perturbed and
irritated state of mind do not believe
any spiritual advice you might offer
would fall on fertile soil. Sc l shall
ask you to excuse me, and hereafter
to time your calls more opportunely.'
TRY for the laity," said John, who
was an Rugby football player.
The poor old soul looked 80 shock
ed and bewildered l was tempted to
violate my pledge and go back to fib-
bing, but l stayed firm, and shut the
door as gently as l could, but no less
decisively."
"And the next propaganda
"This afternoon Mrs. Merrill
brought that boy Of hers over and
planted herself for the usual two hours,
while her infant destroyer should
roam at large among my bric.a-brac.
She has done that same thing, John,
until she has worn my patience to q
nervous frazzle. l don't know why
people never appreciate the value of
other peoples things. They let their
youngsters roam about like mad, and
if you reprove them or attempt to
check their impetuous destractlveness.
you get frosty cough, and. Come,
Jack, think it is time to CO. with
the emphasis on the 'us.' Now, Mrs.
Merrill's boy has marred and broken
all OF my property l intend be shall, 50
when she came this afternoon / was
all on edge to tell her few truths"
"First act?"
"She said she couldn't stay a min
ute and proceeded to take off all of her
things and Jacks, and set him down
right in front of that mahogony cab;-
net with the vases or it. Then she
forgot all about him, and united her
bundle OF gossip for me to look at the
patchwork. In the meantime Jack
pulled down Sevres vase that nam.
ma gave, and broke it into thousand
pieces"
"Then you said it didn't matter, that
it was cheap little thing, and you
didn't care for it in the least?" sug
gested John.
"Did l? Well, l don't recall it if l
did. l said: Mrs. Merrill, that is
about the tenth time that ill-reared
child of yours has broken some one of
my priced possessions. 1t isn't accl.
dental, it's simon pure, inexcusable;
inquisitiveness, and ill-behavior.
am always glad to have you come here.
but don't like that boy Of yours, and
l didn't think his bringing up reflects
much credit on you as mother. Un-
less you can teach him to keep his
hands of things, shall ask you to
leave him at home.'"
"About how high did the balloon 60
up?"
"She was torrid, / tell you. She
snatched Jack up and kissed him
4