The Democratic advocate., 1908-08-28

Ing II couldn't think OF imposing on a
stranger in this way"
"Imposing!' echoed Elizabeth. Law.
dy me! If you knew how glad l ara Il
have some one to eat with met" She
dropped into one chair at the table and
motioned him to the other.
AS a boy Waring had visited in the
south and had never ceased talking
about the corn pudding which even his
mother could never make with any de-
gree of success.
Mammy's corn pudding was the same
kind as that which he had eaten in
years gone by, and instead of the com
plants of his townspeople the mayor
told most interesting tales of his boy
hood-hOw he had roamed from one
state to another, how he loved the
south and its people, how he had se,-
tied in Vaudeville and taken up polite
farming to kill time and how the peo-
pie had made him mayor.
Not until after luncheon, when the
mayor and the widow were seated on
the shady porch and Waring caugi :
sight Of MRS. Murray leaning over the
hedge of dahliaS, did he remember why
he was a guest Of Mrs. Yorke. Believ-
ing in the eternal fitness of things,
Waring realized that this was not the
time to push his complaint, and he
left after many hearty thanks and
more complimentary speeches.
Sunday morning found the altar in
the little church laden with dahlias-
gorgeous red and white blossoms, hang
ing their heads in reverence to the text
taken from the tWenty-third chapter OF
the Proverbs and the third verse, "Bn
not desirous of his dainties, seeing
they are deceitful meat"
Waring attended church as part of
the duties of his office, and this Sunday
he walked home with his hostess Of
yesterday. He wanted to leave her at
the gate, but Elizabeth protested.
'Do come in as an act of charity.
You see, I've not been well, and our
old home doctor ordered me to some
quiet country place to rest up. So
nanny and I landed here. But, oh,
I'm just nearly dead with lonesome
ness, although I do feel the change has
done me good. Come along and have a
bit of our fried chicken, won't you?"
He came that day, and he came
again.
The women of Middleville We're still
skeptical of Mrs. Yorke, but in mixed
Il ho how Nd
some of the married men went so far
as to say disagreeable things to their
wives.
The mayor was seldom at his
office, he was seldom found at home,
and the day came when he must be
seen at once. Mr.. Murray knew where
to find him and hurried down the
street toward Mrs. Yorke's little CO..
tage. Just at the gate he met the Rev.
DR.. Botcher, about to make his second
call on the new parishioner. Together
they walked down the broad lane.
They were not disappointed. The
widow and the mayor were on the
porch together
1--WE were just talking about you"
exclaimed Elizabeth as she greeted
the minister.
"Just in time," called out Waring,
and the newcomers noted the blush
that overspread the already pink
checks of Elizabeth.
Mr. Murray lost no time in telling
Waring what he wanted
But you know I resigned my office
last week. You see, I'm going on Il
long trip" announced Waring.
"Tripp' echoed Dr.. Botcher. ''Surely
you're not starting on another one Of
those lonely globe trotting trips of
yours, Jack?
"This one won't be lonesome, 'cauce
I'm going to take wife along to cheer
me up. That's what we were talking
about when you came along. How
about little wedding in the church.
eh?'
They could not see the beaming face
of Elizabeth, for her back was turned
to them. She was busily engaged ir
spreading a white cloth over the hick-
ory table in the corner Of the porch,
and nanny was making various trips
back and forth to her own mysterious
storehouse.