The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-10-04

servants do germ things up so. I'll clean
it in a iiffy, mister" and unheeding his
remonstrance, | rushed from the room
with the precious vessel. In minute
more the inmates of the Sitting ROOM
might have heard and evidently did heal
a crash, and when | re-entered, Mr.
Chester was standing looking wildly
toward the door and me. Wha-wha
what was it, girl?" he demanded.
"Oh, Miss Burdick!" | exclaimed
"Tm awful sorry. I've been and gone
and broke your red plate all to smash, .
"Good heavens." cried our guest
land where are the pieces2"
"Well, l thrswed the little one
down the sink, and the big ones out the
back door"
A stified groan was the only response
as he dropped into his chair.
"Be We sick, mister?" | asked, anx
iously. Here take a pickle; they'r
real hot an peppry. an good for gone
ness an sech." So saying, | brought Il
the respondent man some picked Gu
cumbers, their bright greenness contrast
!; ing charmingly with the cream-wart
dish, decorated with mauve flowers anC
green leaves, which held them. The
"goneness an sech" seemed better al
once as the patient seized the dish anC
looked eagerly at the mark {" Wedge
wood impressed clearly and sharply
and having the Comma marks" under
neath).
"What, is that stuck up, too? l want
to know. Lemme give it a wipe" and
attempted to take it.
ono, no, no" cried Mr.. Chester
frantically. You must not, you shall
not"
"Highty-tighty!" exclaimed Aunt
Charry, "what in airth is the matter? u
Stop, Miss-I mean Jane-don't work
him up, don't reouse him."
At that instant the roll of wheels was
heard, and a sudden thought Selling me-
| left the pickle dish, and went out OF
the room. | did not return for some
fifteen minutes, and when | went back
into the supper-rOom it was to find the
boarder sitting at the window, but with
an eye upon the table, as if he feared an
other accident, and meant to guard that
cream-ware dish.
"Well, if [ hain't had season." /
said, painting with fatigue. "Job Peck
ham, the peddler, he came rOun for rags
an bottles an things, an | told him you
said | might trade off the old crockery
for tin-ware, an | had to climb up to
the toppest shelf and git down all the old
stuff, an Pm all dust an dirt. But !
got two new dippers an some miXin'
pans an pie plates an a milk pail, an
got red O all them old bowls an the
pitchers with them horIid black picters
on EN-, an the blue plates an platters,
an the big posy jars that took up SC
much room" paused, for our guests
aspect was really alarming. He had
sprung to his feet, his face flushed, the
veins stood out upon his forehead, and
he looked almost apoplectic.
"Where is that peddler?' he thunder
ed, losing, in his horror and indignation,
his natural nervous diffidence "Quick,
girl, tell me this instant, where is that
peddlerw
was a little frightened, / must con,
fess, at the spirit | had invoked; but |
answered, little sulkily:
"He,s on the road to Wellfield, now,
and good ways on, too, for he said he
was late, and he went like a streak OF
lightning"
Out of the room, out of the hall, out
of the front door, hatless, with scanty
locks flying in the evening breeze, dash
ed our guest. In vain, repentant and
remorseful, | called to him to return.
He was rapidly out of sight and hearing.
| turned to Aunt Charry. For the first
time in all the years | had known her,
the dear old woman looked at me Sc
verely and with disapproval.
CHOW you've done it, Jane Forsythe,"
she said; "and you hadn't oughter.
Jokes is jokes; but he'sold enough to be
your par, and he'll run hisself into a
sweat and get his death of cold.''
"Fm sorry, Aunt Charry--oh, l am
sorry. Don't be angry. I'll make it all
right; I'll tell him the whole truth"
At that moment | spied DIR. Harris
driving by in a gig, and rushing to the
door, | called him. He drew up, startled
by my call and excited look.
Why, what's this, Janey? Anyone
sick?"
" No, no. But please take me in; do,
dear doctor, and drive down toward
! Wellfield." | sprang in even as spoke,
and as we drove rapidly down the road,
| made, as well as | was able, hurried
confession of my sins. The doctor
smiled grimly. "You ought to be scold-
ed. child" he said; "but-I went to
school with your mother, and played
hockey with her too many times to be
very hard on her daughter for taking
after her." | pressed closer to the good
doctors side, glad to be forgiven by
somebody, and we rode on. 1t was not
! long before we saw our wanderer. He
was surrounded by a group of children.
who stared wonderingly at his bare head
and red face as he questioned them
eagerly. ''Hain't seen no peddler."
Don't know no Job Peckham," they
were saying as we came up to the group.
| DIR. Harris looked in quick, surprised
manner at the weary man, and then,
springing from his seat, he cried, "Ches-
ter, is it possible? Where under the sun
did you drop FROM" The two men
shook hands heartily, while | shrank
abashed into the farthest corner of the
gig. After few words of greeting and
explanation, which showed me that the
two were old college friends, the doctor
suddenly remembered me and my sins.
Chester" he said, edo you remember
pretty Lydia Burton, whom you met
here one summer vacation more than
twenty years ago."
"lndeed ] dol The loveliest little wild
rose of a girl. What has become of her?'
She has been up to a good many
things since then, and, among other ope-
rations has raised and spoiled this
naughty girl here, Miss Janey Forsythe.
She has been very discourteous, she tells
me, to her mothers old friend; but |
am sure, tor that mothers sake, you will
forgive her" Mr.. Chester looked bewil-
dered, and FASTENED to speak.
Do forgive me, Mr.. Chester; ] was
only III fun. Aunt Charry told me
about the file and the glass, and what
YOU said about soft paste. and CaughleY