The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-12-27

80 l'N'A'N.Nt AA'Ao'ttLAN3 bhg vi vas ilOJ
silenced.
An, then yo give away calf last
That calf, ye know, was half sick,
an the feed he'd eat was with MORN
he'd be in the spring So / didn't lose
nothin' on him" again interposed Abb
SALON.
Pollys teeth came together with
vicious snap. "See here now, Ab, don't
ye stop me again. Y're al avs a dom
somethin' of that sort. You let Bill
Taylor have seed oats last spring; YOU
let old man Matthews have seed pota-
toes an | don't know who We didn't
help. P'rhaps We think they'll build
monument over ye when y'r dead.
Twon't be nothin' moren a slab stuck
up in the poorhouse buryin' ground"
Absalom was somewhat vanquished.
For few moments he held his peace,
then he .venturcd to utter few eXtenu-
ating words.
Taylor gin me bill O. sale of his
boss, an Matthews let me have SECURITY
on his sheep, an they both paid me a
good int'rest."
"S'pos'n the hoss'n sheep'd a died"
shifted Polly, where d y're s'cuity a benz
/ tell We, Absalom Strong, y're on the
road to the poorhouse, " and the irate
mistress of the house turned away, APP
pag a d,sgglstsd at NJ the IaGlssQf thEiftt.
displayed by her partner.
at don't seem as though I'm so
ter bic careless of money an tender
hearted" unused Absalom-"t though
when l foreclosed an turned Jake
Smith off'n his place l couldn't sleep for
some time. I'd a right to; the law was
on my side; but had money enough,
though Polly was determined. Lucky
| did it, though, cause the property riz
to more'n twice what twas with before
50 that | sold it an made most a thou
sand dollars clean profit.
AbSalOm muttercd these words over
to himself, and somehow they caused a
pang to shoot through his not altogether
callous heart. Before his eyes rose a
vision of pale-faced weary man,
harassed by creditors, burdened with a
sick family, seemingly a mere football
of fate, and then he stroVe to quiet his
uneasy conscience again.
"S'posen the land had fallen of an
hadn't riz wouldn't a lost! Didn't [
have to take my chances?' but the
specter would not down,
He went into the kitchen where Polly
was preparing for Christmas, which
time-honored holiday was only couple
of days distant: She put the roling-pin
away and busted the flour from her
hands. How did that contract read
about haulin' the BARK" she asked
'Well, returned Absalom dropping
into a chair and covering down as
though the subject were very painful
one, Il wuz to have it all hauled by the
middle of January"
WANT there a forfeit?" shaxply
quered the wife.
Eyes, there wuz," he returned, some
what reluctantly. Il wuz to pay 5000
eff it wa mt delivered by that time. But
don't b'lieye Mr.. Case II make me pay
it."
He shifted uneasily in his chair and
she went on about her work. She turned
to him again in few moments.
you didn't lose nothin' on that
Smith place, anyway" she said, as
though She did not consider him as alto
gether deficient in shrewdness. Twas
mighty lucky thing for you that the
RAILROAD was put through; it jest helped
you out"
He made no answer. He felt himself
to be the weaker vessel, and he arose
and went out to attend to some chores.
The next day it cleared off, and Christ
mas came as fair and smiling as could
be desired, though the ground lacked
that ileecy covering without which the
holiday seemed unnatural in the Pine
Tree State.
! Early in the forenoon a black-robed
figure came up to the door of Absalom
Strong's domicile; a tremulous knock
sounded upon the panel, and the man
of the house ushered in the Widow
n ason.
She was a rather fragile appearing
woman to be left as the sole support of
a family, and Absalom dreaded to have
her break the silence, for he had q pre-
monition that she was about to ask a
favor, and he had certain aversion to
letting a dollar slip from his grasp unless
he had proof positive that it would re-
turn and bring something substantial
with it.
She threw back her veil while Mr..
Strong chewed his shaggy whiskers and
waited. AT length she spoke:
Il know this is not an altogether
proper day to come on a business err
rand; but heard that you had a COW
that you wished to sell-one that would
give milk all winter. My COW was in
jured so that she died"
$50 heered," returned Absalom,
drumming on the window. pane with
his fingers; II did have one that [
thought some of sellin'; but think I'll
keep her; she's the best creeter for milk
[ ever see
81 am sorry; had hoped that you
would let me have one, and give me
time to pay for it. My oldest boy will
work away from home this winter if
the weather gets cold enough and snow
comes. Then you couldn't really let me
have her?" There was a pleading
earnestness in the woman's voice that
moved the man more than he would have
deemed possible.
Il would like to Accommodate ye,"
he began, and then Polly stalked into
the room.
"Absalom Strong she said, grimly,
don't We 90 an make fool of y'rself
agin. It's flynn into the face of Provi-
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