St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-11-30
OUR SURRENDER.
Written for the Globe.

way. we don't want any more women
around here. that's sure"
We had always lived in this old-fash-
toned, country home of ours ever since
we could remember. Father had law
office in Hickey, coming out every
night and going back in the morning.
We knew nothing of mothers love
for she had died before our first birth
day, Our ideas of womanhood, there
fore, were nearly confined within the
narrow boundaries of our eccentric
housekeeper. Mrs. Krum.
Phil and were twins: and, if the re-
ports of the neighborS be true, pretty
bad ones. Almost my first remembrance
of my life was assisting Phil to pour a
bottle of bluing out of secOnd-story
window, down the side of the house.
just after it had been painted snowy
white.
Father had told US of his intention to
bring a new mistress into our home
and, in spite of his assurances that she
would be all mother could be to us
we felt Indignant. Phil freed his mind
upon this subject, as you see in the
first paragraph of this story.
Il suppose he's fully made up his
mind to get married again." resumed
Phil. land l don't see how we can pre-
vent it."
"Neither do II was all said.
"Wonder if she likes boys?" continued
Phil, who seemed to be in rather med
itative mood for him. ''Supposing she
don't?'
1--WE might make her hate US so she'd
be glad to go away from here and leave
US alone" suggested.
II know just what We'll do!'' ex-
claimed Phil, Jumping off the fence.
"We'll scare her SO she'll go soon
enough. You know, she's probably
afraid of burglars; most women are.
Well, we can get that old rifle of
pas that hangs over the mantle
in the library. Then there's that
old stOop that he had fixed uD for the
vines to run along on. She'll probably
have the front room and that runs
right by her windows and ours. We can
CREEP, along some night when father
isn't here. fire the gun, run back into
our room and get in bed and be as inno-
cent as anybody"
Phil stopped more for the want of
breath than for his inability to enlarge
upon this interesting subject. He usu-
ally lead in such undertakings and, sad
to relate, L followed.
At last she came! We were rather
disappointed to find her kind ard pleas
ant. Her bright, sunny smile went to
our boyish hearts, but we would not
acknowledge it. One night she i'll
formed us that our father would not he
able to come home that night on ac-
count of some important business Ell
gagements which must necessarily de-
detain HMM Hickey. Phil Winked at
ME when she told us that. and | knew
that the hour of conquest had arrived.
We went to our room rather early and
pulled out the old musket from under
the bed. We had procured some DOW
der and proceeded at once to load it.
We were rather inexperienced in such
matters, and SD put in an extra large
amount of powder so as to be sure and
have the affair a grand success.
When our mother 1--WE have always
called her that since that night had
gone 10 her room we opened the win
dow and, as silently as possible, crept
along the frail, little porch until near
her windows.
"When 1 say three then fire." whis-
pered Phil.
''All right" said.
zone, two, threep
l pulled the trigger. There was a
loud report. and sensation as though
had been pounded on the head, and
the next | knew l was lying on the
ground amongst the broken fragments
of tile porch and the tangled mass OF
vines. Too much powder had made the
gun kick" thereby throwing me down
upon the porch and causing the frail
structure to give way.
| attempted to rise, but could not.
Very soon form was bending over me.
1t was mother. With the assistance of
Mrs. Krum she managed to get US into
the house and upon some couches. |
do not remember anything more until
saw the doctor bending over me exam
inlng my leg. 1t was badly broken.
Phil was bruised quite severely about
the head and his right arm broken.
In the morning we were moved to
mothers room, as it was the most pleas
ant one in the house, and had our
broken limbs set. She stood by during
it all, and tried in every possible way
to relieve us. Then began long days
Of weary waiting for our accustomed
health. Mrs, Krum made any amount
of jellies and tarts, while mother was
with us almost constantly.
She had been reading Jack Archer
TO us one afternoon, and finally laid the
book down, saying:
elf | had known that such an accident
would have happened L would never
have allowed you to carry out your plans
in regard to soaring me-"
"But you didn't know anything about
it." said Phil i'll establishment.
Eyes, did," she said. Mrs. Krum
was Just coming through the field from
a neighbours when you were arranging
all of your plans, there on the backyard
fence. She heard it all and told me. l
was going to forbid it, of course, but
then | thought it would be best TO let
YOU do as you wished to, and not be
scared in the least"
''Sorry to make you so much trouble"
gruffly replied Phil.
She soon left the room, and we were
left to ourselves. Il
Jack, don't you think that this has
gone about far enOugh?" suddenly
asked Phil.
Eyes, do,"I replied. .''and what's
more Pm going to tell her l am sorry
for what Eve DONE"
$50 am IL said the other rebel.
''rhere is no need to do that" said a
voice which we both knew, Il couldn't
help hearing you through the open
Then she bent down and kissed US.
A few weeks before we would have
felt as though we had been insulted.
but now-well, we didn't feel so very
bad about it.
She had won our hearts by her love
and kindness to US, and we did not hest
tate to make an unconditional surrender