The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-27

Miss PrlSSv, now thoroughly awake.
The kitchen door had swung TO. but
there Was a great clatter of voices be
hind it. Miss Tempy was exclaiminc
and arguing; Clara Hopkins. who was
visiting the old maids during the alb
sence of her folks from town. appar-
emily. was saying very little. and 4
third person. in deep bass rumble.
was explaining something or other.
Land OF goodness" cried Miss Pris-
sy, Il hope il amt the minister. and
me In this old wrapper,
The kitchen door was opened Miss
Tempy appeared beaming and there
followed her into the sitting room nc
less a parsonage than Captain Ezrs
Titcomb. The captains face was the
least bit redder than usual. but he was
otherwise as suave and unmoved as il
the time of his previous call had been
but yesterday instead of four years
before
We'll. Prissy.' he said. shaking
hands with the invalid, ''how are you
tonight: Most ready TO come on deck
and take command: No. don't git up.
Evenin'. Brad
Poor Miss Prissy! She patted her
tumbled hair into the most present
able shape possible. hurriedly pulled the
red and white knitted afghan" over
the wrapper and managed TO gasp that
she was glad TO see the captain. Then
she sat still and stared reproachfully
at Miss Tempy.
But that lady was too excited 70
notice her sisters agitation. She fiut-
tered about the visitor like hen with
one chicken. trying to hang up his hat.
dropping it. blushing violently as she
collided with him in the attempt TO
pick il up and generally behaving. as
Miss Prissy said afterward, like a
born gump.
"Set right down. cap'n," she pleaded.
Were reel glad to see you. What
made you come to the kitchen door,
I couldn't think who twas, could you.
Prissy? oh. my sakes."
In her nervous haste she had pushed
forward the big armchair that had
once been the throne OF Captain Dari-
us. but which. owing to the infirmities
OF age, had for some time been kept
in the corner for show purposes only.
1t had weak leg. and when Captain
Titcomb planted himself on the worn
black oilcloth cushion the infirm men,
Der promptly bent inward. and the
captain slid gracefully to the floor.
'Tempy" exclaimed Miss Prissy In
a freezing tone. Bradley laughed and
ran to assist the fallen one. Miss Tenn
by. now in a perfectly helpless state.
wrung her hands and suffered.
"The idea OF g;yin' him fathers
- s.,Bp .sn.y Dssse
have you gone loony? I hone YOU amt
hurt, Cap'n Ezra. We never use that
chair now. It used to belong to ia
ther."
Miss Tempy was heard to remark
feebly, that it looked $50 like him."
She declared afterward that she didn't
say 1t.
The captain made light OF the acct
dent and selected another seat, care
fully testing it beforehand. He at once
began to talk about the weather and
Miss Prissy's illness. But the older
sister interrupted him as soon as the
opportunity offered.
what made you come to the back
door," she asked.
There wasn't an inStantS hesitancy
in the captains reply:
"Oh," he said lightly, ''it's rainin'
little. and l thought / wouldn't muss
up them floors OF yours. / know them
floors OF DID," he added, and laughed
heartily. He continued to talk about
the floors and seemed to think his fear
of soiling them a great joke. Miss
Tempy, who was trifle more rational
by this time, laughed with him, but
Miss Prissy seemed still curious.
you used to come to the dinin' room
door, even when it showed" she said.
Yes, but ] had on my sea boots this
time, and they're so big tote hat the
road along with me. Reminds me-" he
added hastily, just in time to cut on
another question, "of what the old man
my dad. mean--said about colored
cook he had aboard his ship once. Dad
said that darky's feet was the largest
live things without lungs that he ever
saw out of water
Bradley thought he had never seen
his partner SO willing, even anxious,
to monopolize the entire conversation
as he was that evening. He cracked
jokes and spun yarns without stopping
to rest. Clara came in. after a little.
dhu SCdtCh hCiSCil quiSly Oh AisC SOia.
She, too, seemed a trific nervous, but
the sisters did not notice it. They
were hypnotized by their callers live
ly tongue and laughed like girls. Miss
Prissy grew more like herself every
minute.
Don't go. capin," she pleaded. as the
visitor pulled out his watch and rose
from the chair. IT declare. you're
better'n the doctor!'
Much obliged, Prissy. but twas too
much Of a good thing that busted the !
the cider jug. Two opposition doc /
tors in one house would be like the two
Irishmen fightin' for the pig-'twas an
Elegant row. while II lasted, but it
killed the pig. No. I must be gittin'
on. I left my umbrella out in the
Clara. bring the lamp, will
you. please"'
Ci.ra, rose and started for the kitch-
IN, but Miss Tempy intercepted her.
''I'll git your umbrella, capn," she
said
mo. no. you set still! Clara knows
ust where it's; she put il away"
"Well, I guess l can find it. You