Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-03

much as half an hour slow? It's been that way
| tor years ever since it was moved here out OF
Grandma Shedd's house"
Its been fixed" said Jim's wife, dryly.
'Ot all things! How'd he ever come TO it!
"He did it, Prue interrpted. because he
d'dnt IKE his meals half an hour behindhand
every day."
why, but Lucy auz fggered for that" the
elder matron gasped
Did! Well, ! couldn't seem to quite remem.
per-, said Prue, with such an ingenious look in
her brown eyes that her motherin-aw shook her
head dubiousy and went away to report to Mrs.
Deacon Gibbs these startling Developments.
can't make her out one mite" she ended.
whether she's as inherent as a kitten or as
deep as Jacobs well. ! cant for the life of me
tell But the way she gifts round Jim is some
thin wonderful Jim well. YOU know how tight
he is with his money. and now he's Just a-payin'
it out right and left for things that Lucy auz
hankered arter and had to go without "
But she amt got her house painted yet"
Mrs Gibbs suggested, smilingy.
mo, but ! amt so sure but what t'iat'll come
next" rejoined Mrs. Rice 'for she's got him to
put on screen doors front and back.
"Do tell"
"Yes he done it. You see he was away from
home all day, and when he come back late in
the afternoon he found it cool enough with Just
the winders open. But Pre she said it would
be sight more comfortable for her in the hot
of the day to keep the two doors open besides
and have draught circuatn' about the house.
so to speak"
81 can feel for her That's powerful hot
house., put in Mrs. Gibbs, sympathetically.
''Well. you know how wire screen doors cost?
Jim he said it was enough to have mosquito
nettin's on the winders, and they could Just keep
the doors shet."
81 know. That's what Lucy aluz done
"Yes there's the difference Lucy kept EN-
shet. Prue flung 'em wide open, htched 'em
back, and when Jim comes home at night the
house was swarmin with flies and mosquitoes
and June.bugs. Prue she didn't seem to mind
EN- any, but Jim couldn't eat his supper count
of havn' to beat 'em off all the time. Couldn't
sleep at night, either they pestered him so. He
sent man up with screen doors the next morn
in But +" Mrs Rice concluded, tying her sun-bon-
net with precision, "she may outdo him in small
matters don't see no wayof her gittin' him into
paintin' that house"
Prue herself was beginning to feel sorne doubts
on that point. She had broached the subject to
Jim several times, but with no success. Her h,Is-
band fatty refused to spend any money in hav
ing the house repainted.
"Tt makes the blood go rushn' all over my
face to hear folks deridin it and usn' it as sort
of landmark,-'That house with the paint wore
off, Prue urged, with hot cheeks.
"T don't think I'd vast my time in blushin'
for a house, if / you,'' Jim returned, stoidly
II amt blushin for the house, retorted Prue
"I'm blushin' for the man that owns it,
Jim prided himself on his even temper, but at
this point he was surprised to find himself grow
ing angry.
81 guess I can do my own blushin and take
care o my own house too" he said, hotly.
Prue gave a cool little laugh. "Taint your
house any longer. You forgit you endowed me
with it in the marriage service, streaks and ALL
Lucy" her husband began.
"Say now, Jim, 'taint fair for you to bring
Lucy in to back you up. That makes it two
against one; for I amt had your advantages,
yet"
jim suppressed smile which he would have
considered undignifed
"You amt got any idea how much it costs to
paint house, Prue,' he argued.
That's so. 1t would be real useful lesson
to me- Let's begin it Monday
jim rose angrily. "Well, if I don't want to