Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1922-03-31
By the Back
Door
By JANE OSBORN

g. 1922. by Mcclure Newsnanar snna,.'.'
Inc old Fulton house was so con-
structed that it took some expertness
10 know which of the two entrances
on the ground floor really was the
front door. The house stood some
300 feet from the road in a clearino
Ia grove of trees. The river ran
SUI feet beyond, and in order to face
the river the house had been built,
IUO years ago, with it's kitchen side
toward the road But there were
low verandas on each side of the
house, and the Fultons had long since
accustomed themselves to have new
callers drive up to the kitchen side
OF the house and rap the small iron
knocker on the door of the kitchen
side, while peddlers and new grocery
boys sometimes knocked on the large
Drass knockers on the door that opened
into the broad front hail.
Bob Rogers studied the situation
with some care, then, picked out what
really was the back door, and knocked
Justify.
Matilda, who was at the time sam
ping bunch Of cookies that old black
Jenny had just taken from the
oven, opened the door and surveyed
the young man with close scrutiny.
1t was just little disconcerting. For
Matilda was the prettiest little au-
burn-haired girl Bob had ever seen.
She had the coloring that auburn
haired people ought always to have,
but usually don't, clear rose complex
ion with just an impertinent freckle
here and there, and eyes that seemed
to have been painted with the same
brush as the hair.
81 thought this was the back door,"
said Bob Rogers. q"
eyes," said Matilda, quickly clos
ing the door behind him. "You had
better hang your hat and coat here in
the kitchen hall. You-"A
II was just going to say"
81 know. My aunt told me. She
had to go away. You'll find a pail
under the kitchen sink and you can
draw the water from the outside
faucet-just beside the kitchen Chin
ney on the north side.
Thanks awfully. l was afraid you
didn't understand" Bob Rogers
wanted to say more, but the auburn
hurried into the kitchen to confer with
Jenny about plans for luncheon.
For some reason or other she
watched the young man from the
kitchen window. She noticed that he
had not left off his heavy coat as she
expected him to.
'For PHYS sakes, Jenny" she eX-
claimed as she watched. "What is
he doing with that water? I didn't
tell him to clean the porches, because
I thought that is what they always
did. / guess he thinks we want him to
sprinkle the driveway"
Jenny made some rather incoherent
mutterings anent the folly of having
white trash do such work. and without
putting down the spoon with which
she was stirring cake she shambled
out of the kitchen and then, holding
up her ample skirts, went in pursuit
of Bob Rogers.
"What you mean by going way out
wild dat pail?" demanded Jenny, when
she had caught up with Bob. Miss
Matilda, she say you come back wild
1t. You march yourself right in thar
and ask her whatal she want you to
do"
Bob Rogers did as he was told,
smiling a little and not feeling par
ticularly resentful at old Jenny, be-
cause as he was walking slowly out
with the pail of water he had been
racking his brain to find an excuse
to do just what Jenny had ordered him
to do.
81 guess / didn't explain" Matilda
began, and Bob tried to remark that
he guessed he didn't either, but
Matilda's nimble tongue got the best
of his. 81 want you to wash the
porches. There is a mop somewhere
on the landing
Mop the porches," gasped Bob.
"Oh, well, if you'd rather scrub
them, all right" said Matilda Jenny,
where's the scrub brush! Ihen she
turned those coppery eyes on Bob and
he lost his tongue
"What is your name?" she asked
.They always send some one differ
ent."
Bob Rogers" was the answer. But
you haven't given me chance to ex-
plain"
Don't apologize" laughed Matilda
EST didn't tell you what to do, so how
were YOU supposed to know? Are you
DSuan?"
~ mann" asked Bob.
Hsan," she corrected. They
freshmen, but | guess
anyway junior" She
iate him in case he
ut being called