The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-10-20

ing, his mother came to his door, look
ing quite distressed.
"John," she said, Maggie McCreery
and her children are in the kitchen, and
Peter has come home drunk again"
els he very bad?" said John, who
knew his neighbor of old.
eyes. Oh. John, he has given her
terrible black eye! She and the children
Just fled for their lives, and they're cry
ing and wailing so that 1 could hardly
get their story out of them
well, what can we do?"
"Why, somebody has got to so down,
You know, John. He was as wild as a
mailman. They left him crashing the
dishes upon the floor and putting the
ed-clothes and furniture into the fire.
Maggie is afraid he'll set the house atire,
and he's in fair way to do it, you know,
and burn himself upin it,"
"The best thing he could do. NUT
tered John.
"You mustn't say so, you know dear.
1 hate to have you go down there, but
it's dreadful to think of the poor, raving
creature just left to himself
Where are the others?" said John.
"Why, Bess and Mark have gone to the
Fair in Barton. There's only Buell. at
home, and he's hardly oil 4 enough to go
down there alone"
"No." said John, throwing off his coat.
IT suppose I've got to go with him. Tell
him to get a rope. Well have to tie the
wretch, and then send for the sheriff.
cts dreadful you should have to go,
dear" said his mother, pityingly, land
Just when you were all ready for meet
ing. The girls will he waiting for you,
too. But you'll feel sorry enough for
Maggie. poor thing, when you see her.
And there's no time to be lost. You can
hear Peter cursing and throwing things
clear up to our kitchen door"
As John and Buell. were ready to start,
Maggie said:
'Shure, sur, if We see NE COW in the
road, would ye phase drive her back for
ninst We? Peter left the gate open when
he come in, and l was that distracted l
didn't see the craytur till she was gone.
The byes will be havin' her in the pound
in giffy, and sorra clint is Peter after
lawn me to get her out again"
John did not see the COW. She was
like the rest of the McCreery's, unex-
pected in her movements. But Jennie
and I saw her, grazing along the road
side, with her head turned the other way
from home. [ had a presentiment OF
mischief, the moment l caught sight OF
her. l half-stopped. saying:
There's Peter McCreery's COW! How
could they let her get out? Now, If the
boys put her in the pound they never
can raise fifty cents to get her out. I've
a great mind to drive her back little
ways, Jennie, just to get her headed to-
ward home"
But Jennie was too impatient. "Please
don't stop, Phoebe" she said. Its not
your place to do it, and we're so late al
ready"
1t was so late that all the pews on the
girls side of the choir gallery were
filed, except the two farthest back. By
going to the head of one of these l could
be among the altos, and Jennie, by 60
ing to the head of the other, could be
among the sopranos, while at the same
time we could sit together. 1 was glad
to be near her that night, and l knew
she was glad to have me, she was SO
nervous. ] hoped the singing would
quiet her, and so it did for little while.
but she could not get quite out Of her
futter. Proud as she was, she could
not help casting glance, now and then,
toward the door, and occasionally she
would give a little sigh. She was I'M
easy every minute till he came.
And oh, dear! she was good deal
more uneasy afterward. For-will you
believe it?-who should walk in that
door beside John but Jessie Sears!
She did look pretty that night. There
was no denying her good looks even
when you d lost every bit of faith in her.
Tonight she wore a new pink muslin
dress; thin, feecy, white shawl was
round her shoulders, and one point of it
was laid over the brown puts on her
head, bat not far enough to hide the
pretty pink rose she had stuck between
them. She was all smiles and bright
ness. We usually sat near the front. but
Jessie spied where we were tonight the
moment she came in. John, however,
did no. see us. He pushed toward the
front row, and Jessie, OF course, followed
him. She did not mind it that every eye
was upon her. She was as composed
and complacent as possible.
Somebody moved up to make room
for her, and John found place across
the aisle. Before she was fairly seated
she had contrived to drop her handker-
chief, and John was obliged to stoop and
nick IL mn for her, / saw his face then.