The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-01-21

from behind, painting for breath. But
the vendor was still a man of resource.
He had now got fairly out of town.
He spied a vacant marshy plot close by
the road. Into it he flew, and set his
goods before him in the manner OF a
stockade. until only his head appeared
above the top thereof.
The vendors conduct fairly took
away the breath Of the townspeople.
How strangely he looked peering over
his adjectives.
s'Gentlemen. he said, Il am a peace
| able man. In what have I offeuded?'
There was a confused tlrrmur; and
| then one man stood forth to act as
| spokesman for the rest. He was an
erect gentleman and prim also, al
though at present somewhat rutfied by
his late eXertions.
"You have made a jabbering goose OF
my daughter" said the gentleman.
AND of mine"
And of mine." shouted voices from
the crowd-and the vendor was Obliged
to dodge down behind his stOckade to
avoid the adjectives that descended
upon him.
The gentleman waited for him to ap-
pear.
And a gibbering maniac OF my son."
he continued.
Here the -uproar was SO great that
the prim gentleman seized a broom
and waved the townspeople into order.
The vendor, leaning his head upon
his hand, observed the enemy with his
bright eyes
.sHow much will you take?' said the
vendor, finally.
"Take his head" said one voice.
take his money" said another.
Take his pack" said a third
Ills tongue" said a fourth, and all
the townspeople spoke at once.
The prim gentleman lost his temper
lie laid about HIM with his broom. But
for every blow he gave he got n in
return.
The vendor saw his chance. He
seized the whole stockade with both
his hands and hurled it at the enemy.
For d moment the sky was darkened.
Catch him! Catch him. cried the
townspeople. But their voices became
muffi d and they were bent to the very
earth: they were bewildered and
blinded by the shower of adjeetives.
1t was some time before the prim
gentleman, passing his hand across his
forehead, stumbled to an upright posi-
ton.
Where am I at? Where am l at??"
he said. family.
At his feet all manSe Of broken OBJ
jects, false and trres fair, fantastic,
sharp, blunt, curved. straight, short
and long, lay glittering in the morning
sunlight. Around his neck he found a
twisted chain. Observation-Disclosures
acknowledgement" said the chain;
there's the sweetest ham for break
fast"
The prim gentleman turned stifliy in
the direction of home, whittier indeed
the chain seemed 10 lead him. Once
only lie paused on the road.
Did we catch him." he questioned
of a neighbor.
Did WEI" said the ncighbor.
did we.:' cried another and another
and still another. as the question
passed on down the line of the return
ing citizens.
Not one could answer. but Il gay and
mocking laugh rang through the air.
The whole company looked up and
then down. and to this side and to that
side. and even backward. Nothing
was to be seen.
at is the wind blowing from the
west" said the prim gentleman. why.
breakfast hour is at hand" and so say.
ing he FASTENED home.
As to the adjective vendor. whittier
he went, and how, twas never known.
We know the wind was blowing from
the west, AMI we know that whether
by land or by water, whether OF foot
or wing, the vendor was a shifty man.
Margaret Newcomb. in Springfield
Mass Republican.