Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-06-19

looking place! And IL must be all rio
up by the middle Of September. just
ran in to ask II your paint and white.
wash brushes were In good order.
Peter said as how you mentioned hav.
Ing u supply OF 'em when you offered
to keep house for him months ago
My, how red your face is. Emelinei
You hadn't ought to wear pink. Now,
II do say 1t. I've complexion that'll
stand any color"
81 didn't exactly Offer stammered
Mrs. Plat, tears Of modification smart
Ing her eyes.
ooh. well, 1t Is all past and done
with" Interrupted Serena airily. ~
just had to give In. He wouldn't take
no. Well. II you'll lend the brushes
I'll be goin'."
Armed with the brushes. Serena de-
parted, every movement of the organ
die proclaiming victory.
In the days that followed Mrs. Plat
gave much time to sitting on the front
porch watching her friends progress
In the housekeeping line. Serena called
seldom now, and the time passed slow.
~.
II Just ran In TO ask your opinion
OF these samples" began Serena one
day In September. "we're going to
have new carpets for the double par
lors. Don't you prefer the green?'
Serena wore her best dress. 81 shall
need a new one soon," she said COM
placently. smoothing down its silken
folds.
II suppose the affair II come of
soon," ventured Mrs Plat after the
merits of greens and reds In carpets
had been duly canvassed. but Serena
only smiled consciously as she gath
cred up the samples and departed.
81 suppose It'll come of after har-
vest" unused Mrs. Plat despondently,
meaning Peters wedding.
One afternoon as Mrs. Plat was set
ting her table for tea she was sur
prised by a call from Peter Judd.
Coming to invite me to tho we'd
ding" she surmised as he sauntered
up the path. "Well. II it's foreor-
dained he should marry Serena I'll not
be spiteful about It. SIT down and
have cup Of tea. Peter" she urged.
cutting great. fat. shaking. four
storied jelly cake into generous slices.
Peter Judd, a large man with a
pleasant. ford face. seated himself
and absorbed tea and cake with much
satisfaction.
.yo,, alum 90 xyaro m mn otar I'm ma ne
cake Emeline." he commented affably.
II never saw your beat It's some
thing In that line that called to see
you about"
Was 1t possible that he was going to
ask her to initiate Serena in the diff
cult art? Mrs. Platt's face clouded
"WellT she asked In q strained voice.
81 want that you should do little
baking for me. Could your
do some baking for your she
gasped. "For the lands sakes! Whenr'
Peter reached for another piece Of
cake. "For the next Tuesday and the
balance Of the week. You'll know
what's needed"
The wedding was to take place Tues
day. then. Emeline's world was tenn
porary blank. Serena wouldn't like
It," she faltered.
"what II she don'tT exploded Dir.
Judd. "She can't cook. And want
something decent In the house when
I get back from Minooka."
Back from Minookaf' Elneiinc
asked in q dazed fashion. "Are you
going awayT
"why. of course! Going to Minooka
to get married. Don't you know that
Floretta lives there?"
"Floretta! Are you-is She
Her mans dead, II that's what
you're trying to get at. Drank himself
to death. reckon. I thought you
knew all along"
Mrs. Platt poured more tea with
shaking hand. A sudden burst Of sun
shine illuminated her world. Does
Mis- Lamb known
mot She" returned Peter. beginning
another attack on the cake. "'Tain't
none Of her business. anyway. ! got
her to clean up before Floretta comes.
That's all I wanted Of her. VIII you
do them things. Emeline-the cakes
and such?"
Eyes, yesw cried Mrs. Plat. Her
voice was joyful, her face aglow. All
the gloom Of the past few weeks van
ished as II by magic. "Ill do more'n
that, Peter. I'm so tickled to have
Floretta for a neighbor again that I'll
invite lot OF her old friends here for
Tuesday. And I'll have the best din
ner spread out that you ever sat down
tOw