The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-10-13

covered by the side of the path. Mr. Partlow
caught sight of the hollow log and made dart
for it while the lady and the boy were looking
at the toad and rapidly introduced himself
into the orifce, feet foremost.
1t was a pretty tight fit, and only an ALI
wise Providence knew what vermin or rep
lillian horrors it might contain; but he paused
not. and had but just gotten himself hidden
when the lady and the boy advanced straight
toward the log, the lad swinging the toad by
one leg.
1t was by no means comfortable In the log,
but Mr.. Partlow told himself that they would
soon pass by, and then he could emerge and
resume his discarded raiment. But instead OF
passing, the lady seated herself on the log al
most directly over the imprisoned mans wish
bono and began to read her book.
20, mamma! :" began Clarence.
Hush, dear; want to read"
It was a love story in all probability, Mr.
Partlow thought tale of true hearts and fond
hopes; hearts no truer and hopes no fondsr
than his own.
"Mamma," chirped the lad presently, "do
you like Mr.. Partow?"
eyes, dear" answered the lady mechanic
ally. so absorbed in her book that she did not
heed what he was saying.
Mr.. Partlow rested easier. After all, his
position was not so uncomfortable as il might
have been.
"But, do you lore him, mammal" persisted
the innocent child.
"Yes, dear"
Bless the lad Mr. Partlow felt as if the log
was bed of roses. The old red cow 5auntered
up from somewhere, and poked her head into
the little thicket where his raiment lay. Some
thing crawled over one of his bare feet. Prob
ably it was an ant. But he hardly noticed
either Bless the lad
No ,o,, rooIIv ,,or,raoV
eyes, dear"
The old red cow seemed to be eating some
thing in the thicket Fourteen ants ran over
Mr. Partlow's feet and began further inyestiga-
tions. Partlow was in q glow all over. o, if
he could only declare his passion nowl Well,
he could afford to wait, happy in the assurance
that had already been given him that his suit
would not be in vain. The red cow choked a
little on something, which seemed to be col
lar. An ant nipped the imprisoned mans knee
sharply.
"Well, that's funny" continued the young
ster "I DON'T anyhow"
All but the lad would learn to love him.
81 think he looks just like this old fat toad, ("
unused the boy.
"Pm going to be doctor when | grow up
Watch me kill this toad now"
The cow began on one leg of Partlows panta-
looms, and slowly masticated it. The ants were
galloping hither and thither and nipping Wig
orously. The imprisoned man squirmed.
'Old Partlow makes you tired, don't he,
Mammal"
"Yes dear"
"Hes a darned old chump, amt he
Mammal"
"Yes, dear"
Why, the-ths miserable little rascal, The
heartless coquet! O-but perhaps he had not
heard Alright.
The ants were getting in their work right
vigorously. The cow raised her head, and Mr..
Partlow could see where his pantaloons were
going 1t was then that he gnashed his teeth
The ants seemed to have been joined by 200
others, all of whom were rayenously hungry.
''The cook told me that there no fool on
top of earth like old fool" persisted the lit
tie scoundrel {" Is that so, Mammal"
"Yes dear"
"And Partlow's an old fool amt he,
Mammal"
"Yes, dear"
"Course he is. And the cooks fellow said
he was an old jiboose. That's SO, too, amt it.
Mammal"
"Yes dear"
"Ur-r-r-r-r-r!" Mr. Partlow groaned
One leg of his pants had gone into the in
terror and the red cow was slowly engulfng
the remainder. The ants were all red hot by
This time. What did the woman mean-Sbe
gentle? Why-why-
II hope You'll marry Mr. Larks, Mamma.
He's nice looking, and he gives me lots of
things He amt bit like old stick-in- the
mud Partlow. You like MIR. Larks, don't you,
Mammal"
"Yes, dear"
81 thought you did when I saw him kissing
you when you thought l wasn't around"
This was too much! Partlow groaned half
aloud.
II wonder what that noise was" chirped
Clarence. "I'll bet there is something in this
log"
The toad was dead by this time, and the lit
tie lad thrust the parasol into q knothole in
the log and began to prod
1--WE struck something!" he whooped.
"Maybe it's BEAR"
1t is needless to point out the exact spot on
Mr. Partlows person where the iron-tipped
point of the parasOl touched him. It was Vul-
nerable at any rate. The poor man felt as if
on fire with the bites of the ants. The point
of the parasol was grinding into his flesh. He
could not restrain a lusty groan.
"Whoopee!" =" yelled the little demon, jab-
bing with all his might. "Pll fetch him,
whatever he is J"
The widow suddenly aroused from the ab
sorption in the book.
80, mercy! What is it. Clarence?"
81 don't know; but I'll fetch him, all the
same"
He picked up stone about the size of loaf
of bread, and began to hammer hard on the
handle of the parasol. The iron-shod point
seemed boring into the imprisoned mans very
yitals. The ants were faying him. 1t was
more than poor human nature could calmly
endure, and, with o wild cry of agony, he burst
out of the log and rau like roebuck.
The widow screamed and fell fainting on lit
tie Clarence, bearing him to the ground. The
old rod cow started back with wild snort,
swallowed the last of the pantaloons, choked,
coughed. ran about, staggered, and fell down.
Ten minutes later she had uttered her last
below.
The widow had swooned so suddenly that
she never knew what it was that had burst out
of the hollow log, and owing to the fact that his
mother had tainted on him. little Clarence did
not catch sight of the fleeing man.
Before they returned to the homestead Mr.
Partlow had brought htsuecor therefrom by shout
ing from the bushes and presently he was
clothed, had paid his bill aud was riding town.
ward in Skoogs market-wagon. And thus
abruptly ended the one romance of Lyman
Partlows life The only gleam OF consolation
that came to him was that ne was never called |
mon To Day for the old red COW.