River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-04-11


up. and, between them, the watch drop
PED on the floor. While stopping over to
pick It up. Miller let Ivanhoe drop. so
that he bumped his nose against The
arm OF the seat. Ivanhoe lifted ND his
voice and wept, and Polycarp gave
equally violent expressions TO his emo
ton.
Nilller felt certain they were hungrey.
but there was not morsel of food on the
train, excepting gingernuts that the news
boy had for sale, and he knew they would
set the babies stomachs afire. Beside.
they had no teeth. Miller had a notion
recklessly TO cram them full of the fine
cut tobacco he had in his pocket, and to
steel his heart 10 the consequences.
But just then the train stopped Pat
ting the babies on the seat, he rushed
out and bought two slices of peach pie.
the only Wand for sale and then he
rushed back with it. Polycrap was on
the floor, head downward, and Ivanhoe
had swallowed three inches of shawl
strap. He Strengthened them out and
stuffed them with pie until their eyes
bulged out. 1t was effective for while,
but pretty soon they began to cry with
the stomach-ache, and in few moments
both of them were sick.
Miller began to feel that death would
be welcome relief from all this woe.
He began 20 wish he had remained single
But there was nothing 10 do but TO
stand it.
When night came, Miller put the
babies, grim with dust and cinders, and
smeary with pie, into the berth with him.
They cried all night, and the atmosphere
OF the car was heavy with improper adj
jectives hurled at Miller and the twins
by the sleepless and excited passengers.
In the morning as they glided into Pitts
burgh, Miller found that Polycarp had
gotten turned around, and had been lying
on top OF Ivanhoe, kicking his heels in
Ivanhoe's face during most of the night.
When he shouldered the twins ano
walked out into the depot, he felt as if he
looked like tramp. He didn't dare TO
90 to hotel lest he should miss Mrs.
Miller, who would be certain TO come on
the next train, so he sat down in the room
to wait for her. A crowd began TO gather
around him. and to watch him with Curl
osity; and policeman, who was about to
collar him and run him out. was restrained
only by a rehearsal of his sad story.
Mr.. Miller waited there eight hours
feeling certain that the twins would be
dead by the time their mother arrived.
He was utterly miserable, and he knew
she would be near.y frantic.
A train entered the depot. A moment
later in walked Mrs. Miller, bright, chip
per and smiling She said:
"Why, John, what's the natter Amt
you weil!'
''Ain't l well?'
'.The babies, too, they look awfully.
What on earth have you been doing to
them9"
doing to theml replied John, getting
angry.
why you haven't taken bit of care
of them, / declare" said Mrs. Miller, be-
ginning to cry. "I'll never trust you with
the dear little darlings again"
Miller rose. He planted Polycarp
firmly in one seat. He soused Ivanhoe
down in the other Turning to Mrs. Mil
Ter with tragic air, he waved his hand
and said
There, madam, are your little darlings
your internal little darlings Take care
of them yourself!'
Then he pulled his hat over his eyes
ami walked grandly out, resolved tocom
init suicide on the spot. But he didn't
he returned in half al hour and took the
family to hotel; but he has registered 8
vow never to travel again without nurse
-Mar Adeler. In ". Y. lVeetlu