The Republican journal., 1873-06-26
Garlic with dignity. .Me and Billy mad

Carhe with dignity. ME and Billy made
it, and We'll let you through if
But the statement of terms was cut
short. The horse at that moment espied
the tiuttering white sun-bonnet, and seiz-
ing so favorable an opportunity to be
frightened, sprang suddenly to one side,
flung his unsuspecting rider to the ground,
and sped away up the road again. Tom
rolled over and sat up in a bewildered
sort of way, got upon his feet slowly.
brushed the dust from his clothes, and
looked after his ratreating steed with
long whistle
"Well it isn't likely anything will stop
him now until he gets home, 50 | might
AS well stay and pull this thing down
What possessed you two Youngsters
and there Tom paused, laughed. and
grew more like his good-natured self
than lie had been for "A hours The de
tiant, indignant, disappointed expression
Of those little dirty faces was irresistible
Garlic protested stoutlv when the strong
hand began TO demolish her work; but
Tom persuaded and explained, and the
final promise of a ride in the cart, when
he rolled il back up the lane, effected a
satisfactory capiulation.
The ''toll-gate" disposed of, Toms next
move was 10 follow his horse. and he
speedily discovered that the wise animal
had stot taken the trouble to go home, but
had stopped near by, al a place where
he had frequently been allowed to make
himself quite at home. He had been
recognized at once; and saGdled, bridled,
but riderless, awakened suspicious of evil
The trio OF women had gathered about
him in the yard, Aunt Polly with hands
dripping from the suds, Aunt Becky
leaning upon her crutch, and Maggie pale
and trembling. when Tom arrived upon
the scene. Since he was prevented from
making Il journey to tar-oH lands, and
leave long chapters for mlsundeistand
ings, suspense and adventures, he should
according to all precedent, have broken a
limb in falling from his horse, SO that he
could have been ed into the house,
and nave had Il gradual reconciliation
through slow, delicious c0nvaleScence-a
mixture OF roses and cream-toast. But
ne had boyish propensity for falling
right side up, and there was nothing at
all the matter except a rent in his coat.
Aunt Polly noticed the torn garment be-
fore his brief explanation was ended, and
in the kindness of her heart insisted that
it should come in for repairs. ''She was
washing, to be sure, and Becky was no
great hand with any needle but knitting
needles, but Maggie could do it slick as
You please" The owner assented with
alacrity. at did look rather bad to wear
through the vilaee-it it wouldn't be too
much trouble to Just put d stitch in It,"
He watched the color come back into
the face bent 50 steadily over that piece
of darnng; watched the white fingers
busy with their task, and remarked signit-
cantly;
''What a talent You have for making
things right again"
"After other people have made them
crooked added Maggie promptly.
II don't think those threads will show
thai they were ever separately
Maggie vouchsafed no reply to that
and he looked on in silence Il few minutes
longer.
''There the breach is nearly healed"
"Quite,'' she said, clipping her thread.
is it?" he asked SO suddenly that she
looked up, and then his eyes would have
heart out OF hers.
50 that was the end Of lt-a long story
cut short in The most commonplace way.
fNli" Oily aoAoiultly ielt ttie WofIu al
large to take care of itself for several
successive wash-davs while she planned
Maggie's outfit. Tom never went to
Arizona at all, but kept his place in the
village store, and goes home to coy
little nest at night, where Maggie meets
him at the door and receives double en-
traneeiee, because he says he shall owe
that 70 Al toll gates his life through. Aud
Maggie thinks, with 4 throb OF thankful
ness, how well it is that u tenderer hand
than our own wiltul ones guides our des-
tinies. Yes, they are simple souls and
better satisfied with their humdrum happi-
ness than with the most poetic misery;
but, alas, for their biographer and the
ruined volume!