The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-09

TALE OF WHITE PAINT
BY CARL KILGoRE.


Slater in a resigned tone, remember
it's white paint-and keep out Of it,"
He glared at the three young Stat
tiers and included Mrs. Slater in his
general glance. You know" he added
in her direction little deiiantly. that
you are just as impetuous and thought.
less as the children! Some Of you will
be sure to fall against the woodwork
or try to absorb bucket Of stuff be-
fore the woodwork is finished! l don't
see why the painters had to choose
Saturday. when the children are home
from SCHOOL,"
"Well be careful. john" promised
Mrs. Slater. "Oh-wait till / get
some turpentine and take 1t on"
Slater, clad in his broad-shouldered.
fuzzy winter overcoat, had attempted
to pass through the den door to the
hall and the door jamb affectionately
brushed his right arm. leaving a white
smudge. Tee heel" mistakenly said
Sally Slater. aged nine.
SALLY" barked her father. For
that you get no dessert tonight! 1t Is
time you learned to exercise q little
respect toward your elders! Marcia,
I should think you would endeavor to
! bring up your children in a manner
| that"
ITS all of, now, john" interrupted
Mrs. Slater. Il think II you will go
through the front door sideways--good
gracious. you've whisked the tails Of
your coat against the parlor door,"
"Ye-ow!" yelled Johnny Slater. Jr..
and dived for the swing door into the
! kitchen.
Look at that" cried Slater. point.
ing majestically toward Johnny's exit.
III that door had been white instead
Of oak and If it had just been painted
Johnny would have struck 1t with both
hands just the same! That's what I
mean by your carelessness! l expect
that when get home tonight the
whole place will be marked up with
smears!"
Il hope not" said Mrs. Slater. anx-
iously. "Good-by. dear-oh!"
In turning to kiss her Slater had
rested his gloved hand on the front
door jamb. The glove that Slater
tore from his hand and hurled violent
ly as he went down the front e.eps
hit one Of the parlor windows and left
q smear.
With the exception Of the baby's feat
Of licking of one Of tho freshly done
spindles of tho staircase and the catas-
trophe which befell Johnny. Jr.. who
lost his balance and grabbed the door
ITO save himself. the painting was q
triumphant success. Mrs. Slater well
coined her husbands early return
from the ONCE with tolerably clear
conscience. He was restrainedly calm
about the episode Of the baby and the
kind painter had painted out the evi
dences Of Johnny's misdeed and no
body had stepped into = bucket Of
paint, - he had prophesied.
Il will say that am surprised
Slater confided kindly. you must
have tied up the children all day and
had extra good luck yourself. Well
you see what little forethought will
dol"
A little later there came a yell from
the bathroom. whittier Slater hat
gone to shave before. he and his wife
should start for the card club. "Why
didn't you tell me they had painted
up here?" he demanded. Il hadn't any
idea they had got upstairs yet! Il
won't wash of my hands,"
Mrs. Slater secured most Of the
paint from Skaters hands and soothet
him as best she could. He was still
mutinous when they departed and hi:
fingers showed grimy gray which re
fused to come off.
Lovely looking mitts for playing
cards." said Slater with reproach
III you'd only use your head little
and warn people!"
They got homo late and Slater wal
tired. Its good to get home!" h
groaned. I'm dead to the world"
With . long sigh Of relief. he tossed
his overcoat over the stair railing
where It chung affectionately to tn
spindles. He himself sank down OF
the seat built in at the foot Of tn
stairs. Mrs. Skaters shrek when sh'
: turned around and saw him expressed
some horror. but moro malicious tri
umph. Slater pulled his dress sui
painfully loose from the stair seat an'
, grabbed his coat. which also stuck.
I'm going to tend TO the furnace
and 20 to bed" he growled. AM
,, stalked down into the basement. mel
cifully spared tho tragedy Of seeinl
the rear view Of his evening clothes
7 He was absent some time and whel
: he came up hs was In bis stocking
e feet.
E You needn't ask where my shoe
. are" he snapped to Mrs. Slater, VIII
paused In her gingerly progress u
tho paint-wet stairs. Because they'r
, in the furnace! And" Slater ende
ssvassly a. her lips opened in threat
ened speech, they're In the furnac
because l stepped into . pail Of whit
:, paint the painter left on purpose righ
t in my wayl Darn your old paint. any
! howl"
= Real Life.
:! Many persons know the luxury q
a . skin bath-a plunge In the pool o
mana ha hv