The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-10-21
PETER POND.
An Interesting Story Of Mrs.
Stones Queer Protege.

way eyihR Her ana JDe GcJJle greedlly.
I'm Peter-Peter Pond, he said, in
tone of abashed announcement.
Mrs. Stone examined him rapidly.
peter Pond?" she questioned.
"Well, where'd you drop from?" Her
voice implied doubt and her manner a
suspicion. She was habitually grudg-
sng of her good opinion, yielding it in
driblets, as a miser delivers up his
store.
"Ye don't look such a Gerry bad boy"
she continued, with concession, plung-
ing her sharp little eyes into him and
then withdrawing them suddenly as If
to examine the wound she had made.
Tho We may be-" she added with
another stab.
The boy Strengthened himself on both
feet.
II don't reckon Tn much wuss'n
most kids o my age" he answered, an
expression of resentment crossing his
face in shallow ripple. 81 kR0w I've
seen wuss 'uns o my age" he added
Mrs. Stone transfxed him with
basilisk eye.
Has yer chances fer seein' bad 'uns
been so very extensive?" she inquired,
sarcastically. "Cause if they h'aint,
We might be mistook, n if they have,
amt sure ye'd be safe party to have
aroun'."
The boys resentment increased.
"lf We don't want me, l kin try
somers else" he said.
II amt said don't want ye-la, how
I've do fly off fer shaver! In fact, I'm
fest tryin' to see if / do want We. A
boy orter be able to STAN tryin', /
reckon"
''oh, yes, I'm able to stan tryin',"
said Peter, with certain grimness.
Mrs. Stone jabbed her eyes into him
again.
Ever tend baby?" she inquired.
"Oh, yes"
Like it?"
"Purty we'll"
"Not overly well, eh?"
well, 'nough so't none O. 'em ever
KILLED the'rselfs while was lookin'
arter EN-" said Peter.
TEND many?"
dead coolies o 'em!'
Mrs. Stones hard features relaxed.
She liked his straightforward. half-de
FAINT tone. 1t gave her more confidence
than IL he had been ELUSIVE and pro-
testing. Then she drew down her chin
and snapped her eyes at him once more.
we sec that child?" she demanded,
pointing dramatically toward sprawl
ing baby on the floor.
Peter nodded.
well, that's my Adelia. Lemme see
how We kin hold 'er"
The boy took the child upon his knee
with deft assurance.
I've raised lots O. EN-" he said, not
referring to this particular act. More
10 'em n We could shake stick at, he
added, smiling down at Adelia, who
gurgled and crowed and made desultory
dabs at his nose.
I Mrs. Stones eyes lost something of
their sharpness.
big family?" she inquired, in a
friendly tone, while she lifted the lid
lcf the kettle, whose contents were
again boiling over on the stove.
"Yessem; n I'm the Oldest. That
stuff smells good in there Corn beef,
laint it?'
YES" replied Mrs. Stone, absently.
l''We're goin' to have billed dinner"
Then with a quick glance of compre-
hension: Good lands! We amt hun
CRY, hope?"
Peter exhaled long breath.
"rll show We if ven try me-" he an
swered, with an anticipatory sigh.
Mrs. Stone tried him at once. "Wen.
good land! The idea o havin' a starvin'
kid aroun'!" she said, as she sat down
with Adelia on her lap and watched
him. Have some more? Lai We take
1t in like We was an empty BARR
When he had eaten his fill, the baby
was transferred to his arms, and he
held her quite easily. Mrs. Stone
nodded approvingly. "Ye'n do" she
said. 'They's folks t nachelly tends
TO bosses, m they's folks t nachelly
tends to babies; N reckon ye're one
% EN-"
And with this ambiguous approval
Peter considered himself member of
the family
Peter had reached the ranch late on a
midsummer forenoon. He told Mrs
Stone he had slept out of doors the
night before.
We'll! N where'd We come FROM"
she inquired.
Eden City,
Folks live there.
"No."
We'll, how'd you happen to be there,
then?"
A change came over Peters face.
Il rode there on the cars"
Mrs. Stone was stabbing her eyes into
him from all sides now, while her hard
little knob of hair seemed to rise and
point with suspicion.
"Wen where'd We ride from, them
child o y0Vr age!" The words amount
ed to an accusation of awful things.
Peter drew himself up little and
settled Adelia firmly on his knee.
That's the very thing l don't want
TO tell he said.
Mrs. Stone glared. ''0h, We don't
want to tell!' she repeated.
Peter flushed. MOI don't want to
tell. N what's more, won't tell. N,
If we try to make me tell, Pm have
20 set down the baby n dig outr' He
v.arl.4 L.. 4