The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-10-26
THOSE BOOTS.

THOSE BOOTS.
"Wcll, Mr.. Siskin, shall we say ten
o'clock-ten punctually? You can pay
the deposit, and the horse will virtually
be yours"
"No," he answered, with a fierceness
that as nearly knocked me off my pins as
if skittle- ball had struck me. No,
not punctually. Punctuality and pedi-
grees | lave had enough of. Insist on its
being ten punctually and l am off my
bargain"
In those early auctioneering days did
not easily let a customer go. l should as
soon have thought of knocking Mr.. Sis
kin down as of opposing him; so, smiling
in spite of myself, said
About ten, then, shall we say?''
"Ay, now you speak. About ten it
shall be. But mark nc, sir
| could have marked him more literally
than would have suited Mr.. Siskin; for I
was most terribly hungry, and the man
was so like the ancient mariner when he
held the wedding guest-his eye glittering
like diamond with fierce excitement,
kindled by my innocent remark about
punctuality.
He was a man with a grievance-no
Ntouoe VI tildt, aAo L, pun uuAS1y "ICtSu,
with a dear wife-my Julia, punctual lit
tie puss-who would have dinner ready to
a tick (the spirit of punctuality, driven
out of Siskin, may have sought and found
congenial refuge in julia, must devour
his long, dry story instead of savory and
more substantial meal.
You have heard" he began, and as
he spoke, his long, claw-like finger insin-
uated itselt in my button hole" you have
heard,' ne said, cit is i'll waiting for
dead mems shoes? Mark me again when
l say that it is true. Other men might
say it, but know it.
Susan-that's my wife; happy to in
troduce you, but deaf as a post-Susan
and waited for old Lionel's cash for
years-there's no denying that-and reck-
oned his income to apenny.
The hope Of having that money was
our star, our anchor. Tough old party,
too-fearfully tough. He should have
been missionary; might have defed the
c;nnibals, who could never have got their
teeth in him.
But the punctuality of the man! Talk
of the Charles-the what is it? of Ger
many, and the watches, Lionel would
have beaten him into fits. His house was
all clocks, except where it broke out into
watches.
"Fearful house to visit-awful place to
stay at. Up by the clock; breakfast bv
the clock dinner by the clock Time d.
vided between looking out for punctual
servants and dismissing unpunctual ones.
What signal-m old Lionel would
have made, or a postman! But as pri-
vate gentleman he was bore. Did tell
you what relation Lionel Sands was to
me: Not likely. l have been half mad
dened too often, trying to trace the Siskin-
cum-Sands genealogical tree, to be in much
danger of attempting it again.
If, to shun the Scylla of punctuality,
you fell into the Charybdis of pedigree,
your dearest foe might pity you.
If we had not been as poor as Job, we
would have soon cut Mr.. Sands; but he
was rich and old, we poor and young,
SO we thought it wise to keep in with
our dear relation especially as he
had only nephew, and he abroad some
where.
What had happened we could not
even guess; but for some reason our last
letter remained unanswered for months,
and we dared not write out Of turn, when
telegram came asking me to meet the
old man in Brighton the day after next at
half-past three precisely, on particular
business.
But ysu are in hurry, I see," said
the old hypocrite, holding me as tightly as
ever.
was ravenous, but dared do nothing
but resign myself.
II will cut long story Short" he
said.
But he was not so truthful as some men
are. A friend of mine would have de-
scribed him as an cable bodied liar,"-
but he is fond of odd expressions.
=" Susan let the telegram drop from her
hands, as she said:
What can it be about? p
80 She was not deaf then.
Ills will, my DEAR l chuckled; he
wants to make his will in our favor, and
would like my advice. He has quarreled
with every other relation, except the wan
dering Jew of nephew and us, on the
score either Of punctuality or pedi gree
'Silas,' said my wife, it will never
do to go in such boots as those of yours.
twill be madness to go on such an err
rand down at heels, with one stocking
linked at the toe, and an underlay; it
would be simply ridiculous
81 will not detain you while describe
the drunken shoemaker that agreed
when he got sober enough to understand
that | wished to be a customer-to send
me pair of boots worthy of the occasion.
"'They shall be of the right Sort he
declared over and over again. OF the
right sort, at twelve, they should be at
my house punctually.
Now, if he had been a man of his
word, l might have been enabled to en-
dure the word punctual to-day; but he
was not. The train would leave at 1.15.
Twelve came, but no boots; half past,
yet still they came not, 1t would take q
quarter of an hour to reach the station;
and as said to Susan twenty times that
&c l wouldn't have missed that train
for the world -. -
Boots or no boots, off co. said ct
last. If the train stops long enough at
Lewes will buy pair there'-I was liv.
ing at Hastings. If not, tell Lionel
about the shoemaker disappointing me.
1t will be line for him, and put him in a
good humOr to begin WITH
Another minute should have started
with my old boots polished like glass; but
was stopped by the arrival of a dirty
child with the new pair ~ + (
:" put one on in twinkling-it fitted
admirably; then, giving the child my old
ones to take home to be repaired.
stopped to put the other on, saying gaily !:
60 Now, then, on you 60, and off 90 I. !,
Oh, colfusion! By all that is per.
verse--hows stupidll Why, how,s this :
Why, it's not the fellow one, but a mile
too SMALL - ~s.y sr-r7z.s -.
Il dragged at it till the loops cracked
again, and the perspiration ran off nv
face like rain.
so Run after that young imp of girl p
shouted. Get my old boots back.
stupid! Why do you stand therer I
wouldn't miss this tain for the worlds. :
49, Why did you send the old ones till
you had tried the new?" retofted Susan,
sharply. Think .y0 are tiestapids's B
"She was right. But when went
hopping off after the child, she was soft
ened in moment, and darted to the door.
Whether the understanding tears blinded
her, Or how it happened, know not; but