Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-13
one <tnews tt,at Srst flleds xbtsaft Ira

one tnew that srsr illsa x1btgaf&t 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 l spent lots in doctors stuff;
and, sif she was, buried from her mas,
that was the old lady's wish. And Ara
minty she would go there to die. And l
did all mortal man could, and l hired
help, and wasn't nowise hard on Abb
gail Araminty; and your uncle he's a
liar, and if he'll come out here, I'll
wiring his neck. I've az much as I kin
do to keep from saying words man
hadn't orter say after he's jined church.
l never was so mad in my life. Pm
bursting with RACER and he says Pm a
thief and he's no doubt I'll steal you if
I can; and so I will. It's jest this,
Berthilda-you come along with me moa0,
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 amt
under no obligations to you no longer,
and I'll make a jelly of him in three
shakes of 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"
"Oh, oh, ohr she sobbed, twas ever
poor woman in such trouble? Oh, oh!'
"Choosev cried Hoskins; "and
darned if I amt so mad don't keer
much which way you choose. I'd rather
like to be st liberty to go for old Flint
and mash him, by lingo, I had"
"Why don't l dep sobbed Ber-
thilda. "But, oh, Silas, I can't leave
Uncle Flint like that. 1t wouldn't be
decent"
"Then here goes" said Silas Hoskins,
taking of his cuffs.
At this moment long, lath-like figure
strobe past them, and began to hammer
at the door.
the servant opened it, and Peter Per-
k;ns' voice inquired for MIR. Flint.
Mr.. Flint at once appeared in the
entry.
"Well, what do you want here?" was
his salutation.
"Wall. Mr.. Flint" said Peter Per-
kins, "seein' you was SO 'bligin' and
neighborly ABOUT that gray mare, |
kinder reckoned I'd jest stepin and lead
her over tonight. You see l git in my
hay tomorrow, and there's a 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. ave seen impudence be-
fore, but this caps all"
"Kinder guess you've forgot who l
am" said Peter Perkins. "Don't you
remember writin' to me this mornin' :?
I'm MIR. Peter Perkins, Mr.. Flint"
II know you we'll 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 I told you
what l 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? I never touch anything
but tea. I'm 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 MIR. Flint.
"You wrote me note telling me to
come over, and saying there was nothing
in the way Of my having the gray mare, !"
said Mr.. Perkins.
"That's untrue, STRIP 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 few up the path,
Hoskins after her.
"You abominable rascal" cried Mr..
Flint!
"Tell me I'm drunk and liar, sir"
cried Perkins to Hoskins. "Asked him,
neighbof-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-"
II don't doubt it, sir" said Mr.. Hos
kins. "He's insulted me, sir; told me l
worked my poor, late abb gail Araminty
to death, and starved her, and was q
thief, and afeard of him. Writ that to
me, sir! Hang himw
"That's false!" said old Flint.
Now l am liar, am I?'' cried Hos
kins.
"You are both insanep cried Flint.
You never writ that to me?" cried
Hoskins.
mo doubtits true, butt didn't" cried
Flint.
"He is crazy" said Hoskins.
"You are couple Of lunatics. I'll
be protected against you. Here! Help!
Some one 60 for constable!"
A lunatic!" said Mr.. Perkins,
:" Why, there's the letter you writ me-
If you were younger man I'd not stoK
! 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
II suppose you deny you wrote me that,
said Hoskins, offering another letter t
, the old man.
eyes, I d." he said, but this time he
grinned.
"Perhaps secret enemy" murmuret
Berthilda:
"Uncle Flint looked at her; her nos'
was red with weeping.
"Your a good girl, Berthilda, if yor
are an ugly one" said Uncle Flint
-" For your sake III explain matters.
wrote both those letters, but sent then
to the wrong men. That's yours, Hos
kins; Perkins, that yours; and l mean
every word of it."
And he handed the letters to thei
proper owners.
"I'll see if this amt a case of libel,
said Perkins, as he walked off.
But Hoskins advanced and held GU
his large hand.
"Let by.gones be by-genes," he said
"May I have Berthilda, Mr.. Flint?"
"You can ask her." said Flint.
And though Berthilda only said, 'FOh
DEAR" and cried again, Hoskins was con
tented, and the wedding came off in du