Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-01-25

that she would take them In for few
days until they could find quarters
elsewhere. The letter was counter
signed by n pretty little plea for
friendship from MRS. Betty"
Mrs. Burke replaced the, letter and
murmured to herself smiling:
"Poor little dearl OF course they
could come and stay as long as they
pleased; but as the rectory is in Or
DER. think that I'll meet them at the
depot, and take them there direct.
They'll be much happier alone by
themselves from the start. I'll have
supper ready for 'em, and cook the
chicken while they're unpackin' their
trunks"
AS Mrs. Burke thought It best to
maintain a discreet silence as to the
time of their arrival, there was no one
but herself to meet them at the sta
ton when the train pulled in. AS Max
well presented his wife to Mrs. Burke
Hepsey took the girls two hands In
hers and kissed her heartily, and then,
looking at her keenly as the bride
blushed under her searching gaze, she
remarked:
You're a dreadful disappointment,
Mrs. Maxwell. I'm afraid it'll take me
long time to get over it."
I'm horribly sorry to disappoint
you SO, Mrs. Burke.'
Maxwell laughed, while Mrs. Betty
looked puzzled.
"Yes," Mrs. Burke continued,
"you're dreadful disappointment.
Your picture isn't half as sweet as you
are" Then turning to. Maxwell she
said:
"Why didn't you tell me! Who
taught you to pick out Just the right
sort Of a wife I'd like to know?'
"She did!" Maxwell replied, point
ing delightedly to the young woman,
who was still smiling and blushing un-
der Hepsey's inspection.
"But Mrs. Burke" Mrs. Betty in.
terposed, cant you give me little
credit for picking out Donald, as you
Eay?'
"Yes; Mr.. Maxwelrs pretty fine,
though I wouldn't want to have you
tell him so for anything. But I know,
because Durford is calculated to test
q mans mettle. If any place ever was
Now, Mrs. Betty, IL that's what I'm
to call you, il you'll get into the wag-
on we'll drive home and have some
supper. You must be most famished
by this time, IL you stop thinkin'
about Mr.. Maxwell long enough to
have an appetite. l suppose that we
might have had committee Of the
vestry down here to bid you welcome
to Durford; and Mickey suggested the
village band and some hot air bal
l,ons. and that the boys Of the parish
should pull the carriage up to the
rouse after they'd presented you With
a magnificent bouquet; but / thought
you'd just like to slip in unnoticed
and get acquainted with your parish.
toner's one at time. It'd be simply
awful to have whole bunch of 'em
thrown at your head at once; and as
for the whole vestry-well, never
mind"
They got into the democrat" and
started out at smart trot, but when
they came to the road which turned
toward Thunder Cliff, Mrs Burke
drove straight across the green.
"Why, where are you going Mrs.
Burke?" Maxwell exclaimed.
"Well, I thought that maybe Mrs.
Betty would like to get sight Of the
town before we went home'
When they came to the rectory and
turned into the yard, the wonderful
Transformation dawned on Maxwell.
"My gracious, what a change! It's
perfectly marvellous" he exclaimed.
:'Why Mrs. Burke, l believe you've
brought us here to live!"
Right you are my friend This is
where you belong"
well, you certainly do beat the
| Dutch. Who is responsible for all this
i'd like to know? But Of course it's
you"
"Well, had hand in it, but so did
the whole parish. Now walk right in
and make yourselves at home"
Mrs. Burke enjoyed to the full Max.
wells surprise and delight. as he and
Mrs. Betty explored the house like a
couple of very enthusiastic children.
When they got into the china closet
and Mrs. Betty found silver teabal'
she exclaimed raptuously:
"Look here, Donald! Did you ever
see the like of this? Here is regular
| tea-ball. We will have tea every af-
Iernoon at four, and Mrs. Burke will
be our guest. How perfectly delight.
iul"
This remark seemed to please Hep
sey nightly, as she exclaimed:
"Oh, my, no! Do you want to spoil
my nervous system? We are not given
much TO tea-balls in Durford. We con
slider ourselves lucky II we get plain
old-fashioned pot. Now you get fixed
up," she directed, while get supper
ready, and Pll stay just this time. II
you'll let me and then il you can stand
1t, perhaps you'll ask me again."
Soon they sat down to q little table