The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1909-03-25


ta.nly were not at Alice Mason's, and
X they did not reside upon a shelf,
n either. The sunniest room in that
beautiful new house, the coziest cor
ner by the fire and the most inviting
chair belonged by right of love and
a reverence to Grandmother Parker,
u and when that dear old white-haired
lady spoke her gentle mind. she was
sure of affectionate attention. So
when young Mrs. Mason came in,
4 flushed and excited, from a gay after
noon at a friends reception, she
4 paused with a smile at hearing Grand
mother Parker's call from the library.
Come here a minute, my dear, be-
fore you go up to change your dress.
have such lovely news for you!
Soon after you went out the minister
came in, all worried and anxious.
He said things about the decline of
hospitality in the city, and asked II
we would not take delegates. You
know the conference convenes to-
morrow night, and although the list
has been published in the paper, some
Of the people are making excuses, and
he Is sadly put to it to find homes
for the preachers. He seemed timid
about asking, because we were new
comers, but told him that was sure
that 1t was nothing but inadvertence
that had kept you from asking for
delegates, and that ne might send
you two, provided they were two of
kind, as you have only the one
of,n IA- IA l.
have delegates, deary?"
II don't know, grandma" faltered
Alice, little aghast. "Ive never had
the experience.
TO be sure-to be sure. / am al
ways forgetting that you don't know
anything about real home-life, spend
ing all your days wandering about
over the world with parents that by
rights should have been Gipsies. But
when your mother was a little girl,
and we lived in Brooksville, we used
to have such exciting times when con-
ventions and conferences would come
our way. There is something SO fas-
cinating about entertaining any one
whom the authorities may send you
quite like opening a prize box.
Your dear grandpa and have enter
tanned as many as dozen for more
than week at time. We of the
family would sleep upon pallets made
OF quilts on the floor, giving up our
rooms to the visitors. And such
preparations in the kitchen! Why,
we would bake cakes and pies by the
score, grandpa would kill beeves and
porkers, and the turkeys would be
gobbling in my coops for weeks ahead
OF the time! Oh, am SO glad we
are to have a little peep at old times
again."
Mrs. Parker sighed so happily that
Aiice Mason bent down and kissed
ner' compelling smoothness into a
Drow that was troubled. Then she
slipped away to her husbands study
10 pour out her misgivings.
u Ted" she cried, II never would
nave taken them in all the world, T
oont see how / am ever to manage,
JUST an afternoon tea makes Jane SO
cross that / am afraid to give her an
order for a week afterward. and II
my dearest friend drops in to dinner
reel like making the most abject
apoiogies-and to think of two stran-
gers Tor whole week. Grandmother
forgot the grocery bill. too, Ted. and
makes me faint and sick to think
OF IL, Tor We must not let her feel that
we don't do her justice.
with our pretty new house and
our carriage" she added, "they are
sure TO send us the bishop or some
otner important person, and I. simnlv
"st rise 10 the occasion-but oh, l
uo nope grandma won't revert to old
times this way again!"
Ine bishop or some other i'm
portant person!" repeated Ted Ma.
son, vacantly. "Well, love vour
grandmother, my dear, and / know
that next to somebody else, she "a tbe
sweetest of women, but II thew orc
going to quarter dignitaries upon us
am called out of town. can't rise
10 occasions like that"
% hush, Ted! You are going 10
do exactly as shall-make the yerv
pest oi II, ana grandma is not going
10 be made uncomfortable. am 20.
ing 10 COOK up everything nice / can
think OF. Ill put an extra shine on
the silver and cut glass, and the
house Will be spick and span by to.
morrow night-you'll see,"
Soon the house was full of pleasant
excitement. Mrs. Parker found things
Tor her feeble hands to do. Alice
nitted about busily. Jane was moIIi-
ned by gifts and fiattery. and soon
the night came. and the family waited
In the library for the bishop. There
were American Beauty roses bending
on their tall stems on the library
table, there were violets scenting the
entrance hall. and Alice felt a pleas
urable glow OF self-satisfaction.
believe. after all, that I am
rather glad grandma took the dele
gates. ! am not very much of a
church woman. but / realize that
these men are doing a great deal OF
sood-and the bishops and the other
leaders are always delightful men. |
snail drive them In the carriage to
the church. and IN have James wait
tnere to bring them home after the
sessions"
The looked-for ring at the door cut
snort her hospitable plans. and IN
another moment she was looking
upon her delegates--but not upon q
bishop.
They very evidently were from the
country. A tall. lank, white bearded
patriarch onfarad onx ..,~. a a. -