The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1879-03-15


uncle but yourn, I'd go In and pummel
the breath out Of him. Pve min.er do
it now."
ooh, dear!" sobbed Ber thilda, "what
is the matter?"
"He's writ me letter that was lest
chock full of insults from fust to last"
said Mr.. Hoskins. "Said | writ cause |
was afraid to ask him for you; said every
one knew that / killed Abigail Ara
minty with overwork, and starved her to
death, and sent her over TO her mas to
be buried. Now Abigail Araminty died
with the consumption, that was in her
family, and / spent lots in doctors stuff;
and, if she was buried from her mas,
that was the old lady's wish. And Ara
minty she would go there to die. And
did all mortal man could, and | hired
help, and I wasn't nowise hard on Abb
gail Aramintv; and your uncle he's a
liar, and if he'll come out here, Pll
wiring his neck. I've as much as | kin
do to keep from saying words a man
hadn't orter say after he's jined church.
[ never was 50 mad IN my life Pm
bursting with RACER and he says Pm a
thief and he's no doubt Pll steal you if
| can; and so | will. It's Jest this,
BerthiIda-you come along with me a0qO,
and get Parson Speer to marry US, or
there's an end of it. It's all UP between
US. You choose betwixt old Flint and
me, and eff you choose him, why I amt
under no obligations to you no longer,
and I'll make a Jelly Of him in three
shakes of a sleeps tail"
At these words Berthilda trembled
more than ever. The fountains that
were in her head overlooked, and ran
out of her eyes adown her cheeks"
ooh, oh, ohW she sobhed, "was ever
poor woman in such trouble? Oh, OH"
Choose!" cried Hos kins; "and
darned if l amt so mad ] don't keer
much which way you choose. I'd rather
like to be at liberty to go for old Flint
and mash him, by jingo, had"
"Why don't | die?" sobbed Ber-
thilda. "But, oh, Silas, can't leave
Uncle Flint like that. 1t wouldn't be
decent"
"Then here goes" said Silas Hoskins,
taking off his cuffs.
At this moment a long, lath-like figure
strobe past them, and began to hammer
at the door.
The servant opened it, and Peter Per-
kins' voice inquired for Mr.. Flint.
Mr.. Flint at once appeared in the
entry.
DWELL, what do you want here?" was
his salutation.
"Wall, Mr.. Flint" said Peter Per-
kins, "seein' you was SO 'bigin' and
neighborly about that gray mare, /
kinder reckoned I'd jest step in and lead
] l. 70 srrh+ I
hay tomorrow, and there's rain a
comm up along the end of the week, or
l amt no prophet.
$50 do you mean to steal herr" said
old Flint. GIVE seen impudence be-
fore, but this caps ALL"
Kinder guess you've forgot who I
am" said Peter Perkins. Don't you
remember writin' to me this mornin'?
Pm Mr.. Peter Perkins, Mr.. Flint"
81 know you well enough" said Flint.
"D'ye think Pm in my dotage? You're
the man that killed my brown horse last
summer, and asked for my gray mare to
do the same by this. And [ told you
what [ thought Of you in my note. You
must have been drinking, Mr.. Perkins
You must be drunk, sir, to ask me for
my gray mare after what [ wrote you
| this morning."
Drinking? Inever touch anything
but tea. Pm a son of Temperance, STRIP
shouted Mr.. Perkins, so that his voice
reached the ears Of the unhappy couple
at the gate. 81 drunk"
"Then if you'er sober you can't read"
said Mr. Flint.
"You wrote me a note telling me to
come over, and saying there was nothing
in the way ofmy having the gray mare, "
said Mr.. Perkins.
"That's untrue, sir" said Mr.. Flint.
"You're lying, sir" said Mr.. Per
kins. Hanged if I'll stand it," And
now Miss Berthilda saw her uncle men
aced by bony fist, and flew up the path,
Hoskins after her.
"You abominable rascal" cried Mr..
Flint!
"Tell me Pm drunk and liar, sir, +"
cried Perkins to Hoskins. asked him,
neighbor-like, to lend me his grey mare,
and he wrote he would, and now calls
me all the names he can lay his tongue
to-"
~ don't doubt it, sir" said Mr.. Hos
kins. Hes insulted me, sir; told me |
worked my poor, late Abigail Araminty
to death, and starved her, and was a
thief, and afeard of him. Writ that to
me, sir! Hang himn'
"That's false!" said old Flint.
Now | am liar, am I?'' cried Hos
kins.
You are both insane!" cried Flint.
" You never writ that to me?' cried
Hoskins
'No doubtits true, butt didn't" cried
Flint
"He is crazy" said Hoskins.
"YOu are couple of lunatics. I'll
be protected against you. Herel Help
Some one go for a constablel"
"A lunaticl" said Mr.. Perkins.
"Why, there's the letter you writ me.
If you were a younger man I'd not stop
to argy; but you're old enough to be my
father"
"That's another lie," said Flint,
"You're fifty years old"
Well, that's the letter you writ me-
anyway" said Perkins, holding out q
crumpled sheet of paper.
Flint took it in his hand, glanced at it,
and said, alt isn't" but his face al
tered.
Contradicts anything" said Perkins
81 suppose you deny you wrote me that,
said Hoskins, offering another letter tt
the old man.
Yes, do" he said, but this time he
grinned.
"Perhaps a secret enemy" murmured
Berthilda.
Uncle Flint looked at her; her nose
was red with weeping.
Your q good GIRL Bertnilda. if Won