The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1886-08-05


every able-bodied tramp and stout
pedGler.woman who comes along"
doesn't he make allowances for
it in the housekeeping money! said
Ella.
"Not hel Just look here!'' Mrs.
Smart opened the drawer of the
kitchen table. "This IS where keep
the house money, which he gives me
every weekend he came here twice
this morning to get quarter for a
lame beggar, and to HINT up ten pen
MES for that same outrageous paper
of pins!"
And she cast a doleful glance at
the article that still lay on the dress
er.
"rhis is piracy" said Ella, judici-
ally.
cts highway robbery" declared
Mrs. Smart. eAnd there comes the
butcller-cart, and 1 haven't money
enough left from my weeks allow
ance to buy single steak, and here
1t is only Wednesday.
"Can't you buy OH credit?''
"Nevcr'" said Mrs. Smart with
spirit. "It's thing that 1 never
have done, and that 1 never will do. -
Elias brown eyes sparkeled, as
she shook her head vehemently at
the butcher, who was checking the
old horses at the door.
Nothing to-day" said she. "Go
on!'
Mrs. Smart dashed away tear.
"Give me some of that shelled
corn, Ella" SAID she. 81 suppose
can catch a chicken for dinner.
"DO nothing of the sort, my DEAR"
said Ella Dale.
.Why, have picked up dinner, to
be sure!' answered Ella. "Just
leave me to manage it,
"But I'm AFRAID the deacon will
not like it,"
"Well, and il lie doesn't? You
don't like the peddler business, do
you9' retorted Ella Dale.
AT one o'clock the table was all
spread with LUCE central platters
carefully shielded with tie covers
which were ordinarily brought out
on state occasions, and Mrs. Smart
and Ella were peeping out of the
window and wondering what kept
the deacon SO late.
There he comes now!" said Mrs.
Smart. STOOD gracious me! and
there is Willis Mildmay with him |!
We never counted on him bringing
company to dinner, Ella
"What signifies company" said
Ella, stoutly maintaining her COM
posture, although her pretty face had
turned pink all over, like June roses.
Willis Mildmay won't care when he
comprehends all. Willis is a sensible
man." ..a
"Come in, Mr.. Smart--come in Mr..
MiIdmay,' SAID Mrs. Smart. you're
bali an hour late, Ebenezer, Ella and
| could not imagine what had be-
come or you.''
81 hope am not intruding!' said
Mr.. Mildmay, looking at Ella Dale as
If a glance at her rosy face was al
the dinner he wanted.
"0h, not in the leastr' said Mrs.
smart. 1--WE have but plain dinner
to-day but it is MI that my house
keeping allowances would admit
mo apologies, my DEAR said Dea-
con Smart-''no apologies. Hunger
is the best sauce as We all know
And therenpOn they all seated
themselves, and the deacon whisked
off the big platter covers with a coun.
tenance of expectation.
"HelIo!" said the deacon.
There upon the center plate, lay
the Is pale green papers of pins. AT
the right and left, on small platters,
were arranged the cards of porcela in
buttons and the rolls of tape. while
the bottles Of machine oil and pack
ages of stove-blacking were arrang.
ed like a child's blOck-honse on a
side table, beneath white napkin,
by way of dessert.
Ella Dale burst ont laughing. Mrs.
Smart Joined in. Willis Mildmay,
spurred on by this infectious sound,
laughed too, although he had not the
least idea what lie was laughing at.
The deacon stared as if he had sud-
denly become all eyes.
'Suliana,' said he, what is the
meaning of this?"
cit means, EbeneZer.' his wife re-
sponded, "that you have spent my
housekeeping money for cheap ped.
dler's wares, and that Ella and de-
termined to serve them up to you
for dinner! And what you don't
eat, We are going to burn; and
henceforward, whatever is bought
has got to be of good quality, or /
won't have it in the house! Because
have come to the conclusion that
charity is one thing and justice an
other. And il you give me money
for housekeeping, it isn't fair for
you to spend it in buying articles
which no one can usel''
"Certainly it ism IT, said Ella Dale,
coming yaliantly to the rescue.
The deacon's under jaw dropped
he had half mind to be angry, but
he thought better of it, and broke
into slow chuckle.
"Mildmay,' he said, turning to the
young man, "be warned in time
You see what tricks these women
folks will be up tot
But Mr.. Mildmay, who had some
how got hold of Elias hand under
the folds of the tableclotll, did mol
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