Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-10-15
OFF HIS BARGAIN.
Whack! whack! whack!
"What is that?" asked Mr.. Budd.


"What is that?" asked Mr.. Budd.
Mr.. Budd, an American gentleman on a
visit to England, was sletching on the
banks Of pretty stream III remote quar-
ter of England, He was not an artist, but
an amateur who painted little, sung a
little, played little, and did everything a
little. Putting his book and pencils down,
he yielded to his curiosity, and mounting
on pile of loose stones, peeped over
board fence that separated the garden Of q
ricliety cottage from the road.
Il say" Mr.. Budd began, aghast.
A man was heatinga woman!
The woman was taking the blows quietly
enough. The tears were coursing down
her cheeks, but she uttered no cry.
81 say" cried MIR. Budd. "You stop that,
will you. or I'll -1ll-Ill call somebody"
"Io hold your tongue. 20 meddlin'
Yankee, yo!" roared the man; 'sand don't
interfere between mon and woife!'
Whacl! whack! whack! ''I'l gle 20
enough while I'm ABBOTT it, Whack!
Mr.. Budd was not a ''mighty man, strong
in the arm," but he had pluck, and he had
o revolver i'll his pocket. The next minute
he was on the inside of the fence. The
man made at him like furious bull. Mr..
Budd produced his revolver. The man
quailed.
care you goin' to murther Ole" he asked
''I'm not sure" said Mr.. Budd. 'Stop
beating that woman"
"Oi've a roight to bate her. Hets my
woife," said the man.
nonsense! Has he hurt you much, poor
soul?"
"Not more than common, F" the woman re-
piled, phlegmatically.
"Ana she niver deserved it no more, said
the man. "But look 70 here, master,
sencc yo'ye Token notion to the lass, I'll
sell my roight to her for sovereign. 70
gle me sovereign, an I'll gle her oop, l
wull."
you'll not beat her any more, eh?"
"Noa, will noat," replied the man, in an
offended tone. I'm not one O. thin as
goes back from bargin; no ane con say
that Of Oh"
"Ah! very we'll, then" said MIR. Budd,
crisply, "yery we'll. Here's the sovereign;
and here, poor soul, is a crown piece fo1
you. Good bye. Now, remember, I've
bought you off,"
And Mr.. Budd went over the fence again,
picked up his sketching- box and materials,
put his book in his pocket, and as it was
growing rather late, hurried away home
ward.
Such lovely walk, and he had Just done
good deed. The man seemed to have a
certain sense of honor, and he had prom
Used never to beat his wife again. Mr..
Budd walked on gaily, wondering little
what queer, crunching sound that was he
heard, and turning after while to see if he
could make out what it was. When he
turned, he understood at once that it was q
footstep. Close behind him trudged wo-
man i'll the heaviest pair of shoes mortal
woman ever wore. For the rest, she wore
q short peticoat a big shawl, ragged of
the edges, and fiat-crowned hat, with a
pipe stuck in its band. On her arm she
carried bundle tied up in square of
blue checkered linen.
AS he looked about, she nodded, ami
cably. and said:
"Thank 20 koindly, MASTER"
"Ah!" said Mr.. Budd, nodding in return.
@sYoure the poor woman t"
"I'm the wummun 70 Dyed off from hel
mon.' replied the pedestrian.
ayes. yes" said Mr.. Budd, "and you
think heu keep his promise and not beat
your"
Hes got no call to bate me moo, +" re
piled the woman. II don't belong to he nc
more"
81 suppose you've made up your mind tc
go to your friends. I'd leave that man, il
were you. I'd not live with him, 1 think >
ooh! I'll not bide with him no more, ;
said the woman, Indignantly. "pm q
wummun as does my dooty, and is pious
'ioilse: and 20 have paid a survin for 1, and
I'd let no other mon bate L, or order ]
ABBOTT. only 20. A Christien wummun
an-nono of yor loight flying uns."
'My good soul, I don't want to beat you,
said Mr.. Budd, as he turned into green
lane and went straight to the farmhouse
Sat which he had taken board. Straight
she followed. At the door he turned
holding it open.
To his surprise she passed in and seated
herself on great settee, with her bundle
on her knee.
sICs nice bideing," she said, looking