The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-08-14

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! fiat ~ 1t was fat indeed, thought Potter.
and he coaxed
| But, my dear; don't you see I've bought
! the tickets and secured your berth and tele-
! graphed your friends to meet you. Ill pack
IN live minutes and while you put on your
travelling suit Then he tore away his
wIlted collar and seized the nearest article
and chucked it in the yawning Saratoga.
| "Oh, dear" cxclaims Mrs. Potter ex-
citedly diving for it, what fool you are !;
| want to wear that -
Then Potter went for whole bundle at a
| clip.
GOOD gracious! James" b" cries Mrs. Pot
ter, dropping the soap in the ice-water, and
again flying to the rescue, you'll ruin my
bonnets-iust look there ~
"Now, Mary, look here" says Potter,
drawing himself up threateningly, Il know
how to pack trunk and I'm going to pack
this. You put your clothes on"
And Potter can pack trunk; he can.
He plunged at the articles, and folded and
rolled and twisted everything into the small
est possible compass and tucked them away
in corners and most unlikely places, separat
ing what should be preserved in pairs and
pairing others in the most unconventional
and astonishing manner, and now and then,
when Mrs. Potter's back was turned, he'd
jump in and tread 'cn down. The prime
object, he said, was to get everything you
could in the bottom. He pretended not to
notice Mrs. Potter, but he could distinctly
hear her breathe when she noticed him.
Slippers, towels, and striped hose and night
wrappers and dresses and skirts and hand
kerchiefs and cOrset~ and thingumyiigs were
alike things to him. Potter rested on
the consciousness thar he wouldn't be there
when they were taken out At the end of a
surprisingly few inmates Mr. Potter let
down the lid, sat on it, and said
There"
Mrs. Potter said Eyes. here!" too, with
infinitely more meaning. Then she hustled
him out to do somcs Shopping, and ne brought
home, among various articles embraced in
his commission, a parasol in which he had
invested five dollar note Mrs Potter
looked upon it with disgust. She said it
was last years style and wasn't worth fifty
cents, and offered two to one that he bought
it Of a woman. Potter sighed:
Twas ever thus since childhood's hour,
hen charming woman he d essay,
They always get him in their power,
And 90 and cheat him right away.
Then he family suggested that perhaps it
would not be disagreeable if Mrs Potter
should go and get one herself When she
returned the baggage had gone and it was
just twenty-five minutes to train time. She
was very sure she had left good many
things, but unaccountabIy resented the as
surance Of Potter that he thought not
that he had thrown in everything that was
loose.
Mrs. Potter was mad, TOO, because Potter
wouldn't get a carriage. 1t was laundering,
and she hoped it would rain pitchfork~ and
omnibuSscs. She was so unusually cheerful
at this idea that rUttcr was in some doubt
as to what use could be made of more than
one omnibus-beSidcs they lived within
three squares Of the depot, he said, and if it
raincd they could take a strcet-car lie
could tell the ncighborS afterwards, he went
on Sarcasticaily, that she had gone away.
But Mrs Potter only sobbed. and Potter
came down, as he always did, and assured
her that she was the dearest little wife he
ever had-which was quite true-and he
was sorry-which left things still more in
definite. And then it did commence to rain
for certain. o, how it came down not
merely cats and dogs, but regular mules and
army wagons. The cutters oycrhowed and
the streets were rivers. They had no time
to wait. Arm in arm they padded through,
Mrs Potter reminding Mr.. Potter that she
told him 50, and he might have procured a
carriage. Potter led out lively with the um-
brella and said nothing. but his lips moved
perhaps in silent prayer. The Ninth
street car carried them to the market-house
and stopped Right ahead the water spurted
ND from the cnokcd sewer aud formed an
impossible lake.
The driver swOrc. Potter, we grieve to
sav it.-swore also. But he jumped out
before the water reached them, and started
back for the avenue cars. BY running, and
dragging Mrs Potter, and swinging a car
pet bag, and yelling murder, the car was
finally overtaken There were but two
squares to go bat there were only four min
utcs TO 20 in. 1t was an even chance. Just
as they got off the platform Potter heard
the first bell ring for starting. They fairly
ran. There was great crowd near by, and
loud cries rent the air from some unusual
excitement.
'.You can't go through there, sir, - said a
policeman. scizing Pottcr's arm. There was
a perfect lake running from the avenue be-
yond the depot extending over the sidewalks
to a considerable depth. 1t really seemed
to shut off all hope. 1t was the sewer.
"Ellcnthundcr !" observed Mr.. Potter,
savagely.
"uack, sir take you and lady right to
the door-no other way, sir-here, sir, jump
n-make the train, sir" said dozen
drivers in the same breath, lashing their
teams through the shallow water.
MAKE that train or | II kill you .''-cried
Potter. rising to the emergency,-and in