The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1893-03-24

butcher knife to play with, then hollered for
help, / don't know when | have had such q
fright before. Then Sister Molly boiled eggs
for breakfast, and when l broke one, there
was nothin' there but the she'll; and finally
the old lady got me to try to put iaudanum
and cotton In her hollow tooth, when the
Lord knows she hasn't had tooth In her
head for ten years.
"Well, Isuppose you are going to get even
with themy'
''rd give up all hopes, but II you will help
me I'll try 'em for luck. See here. Mr.-what
did you call yourself!"
"Higginson,- Chsrley Higginson."
| swell, Mr.. Higginson. You are travelling,
SEE, would your business admit OF your lay
Ing over day.
''My dear SIR" began, 81 never allow per-
sonal affairs to obstruct the pathway OF duty !;
and when meet fellow creature In such
evident Distress"
"Tbat's me-" he assented gleefully, II am
an object for public pity, If there ever was
one but II you will take hand In the game
we'll change all that. See here now, do you
think you could iii the position of the Lord
of the Manor, the patriarch of the flock, and
the head of a most interesting family group
for few hours, with credit to yourself and
| the good cause|
at would be lots of fun, II we could carry
1t out SUCCESSFULLY" said I, very much taken
with the originality of the scheme.
"Oh, there Is no danger OF failure" he re-
piled, reassuringly.
Billy Watson's to see their new baby, and
won't be home TIL late and the old lady IL too
near blind to ever find out the difference"
''But your sisters!"
| ooh, I'll put you on to way to pull the
wool over their eyes. It's a 90, ain't it!'
Don't say no! All we have to change Is our
coats and hats, tor see we both wear duck
/ l,, md bO0ts q ra Qhnrt Tho
style. Oh, Great Boston! I'll show them
girls who's the April fool
1.-THE next thing Is horse-swap,' said MIL
Ter, as he drew my broad.brimmed hat down
over bis ears 81 am only going couple OF
miles up the road, and won't ride your horse
hard. Now let me give YOU few pointers"
"The only danger of discovery Is from SIS
| ter Molly,' he added, finally. "She was
brought up by an aunt In East Texas. and re-
ceived no education, but she Is as sharp as q
steel trap, and you'll have TO keep your eyes
open when she is around. However, if you
follow my directions you will be all right.
: You see, am subject to fits of neuralgia. and
| awful bad attack"
Chow will manage IT,"
EASY enough. Take this red handkerchief
ANA tie 1t around YOUR jaw. There, that hides
hal of your face. Now ride back to the house
and tie your horse Just inside the gate, the
on the left of The hall, and drench your face
with Pain Killer, you will find the bottle on
the fire. board; and then flop over on the bed
and groan. II anybody speaks 10 you. hold
on to your jaw and growl. Don't cuss, but
use as simple language as would be permlssa.
BILE for a leader in the sunday school, and
deacon in the Mt. Pisgah church. If you
have to say anything of double strength, say
Great Bo ton! That's my own private prop
rety. and they are used to hearing it. And
now that you are thoroughly posted, here's
my band. Good-by, and good luck to YOU. l
will drop In al 10 O'Clock, and see how you
are getting along."end he rode off up the hill,
highly elated at the contemplated joke upon
his unsuspcous wife and sisters.
fulfilled his directions to the letter. Lead
Ing the big sorrei inside the gate, l threw
the bridle-rein over picket. and left him
where he could paw up a flower bed with bis
ore-foot. and demolish rose-oush with his
heels. felt no apprehension but that the
girls would attend to bis case as soon as thew
saw him. No one was visible about the house
as entered. but the clatter of earthenware
and the mnrmur of fem'nlne voices indicated
the locality of the kitchen. ] openedstbe
door on the left Of the ball; threw my hat In
one corner of the room, and my boots In the
middle OF the floor; got hold of the lIpiment
bottle and rubbed my jaw with It's odorous
contents; kicked over chairs. and stretched
myself on the he'd. There were two beds In
the room, and took the one nearest the fire.
place.
The clatter of the falling chair brought
small boy upon the scene. 1t Is wonderful
bow boys will naturally gravtate to a racket.
This particular kid YVES, perhaps four years
old. and small for his age, but he gIasped the
situation at once and proceeded to make COM |
ments thereon.
"Thats granny's bed - said be.
lay perfectly quiet. OF course the genuine
Dick Miller would have known whose bed II |
without nd ho ho1
1t convenient to repose thereon, would hardly |
have moved for forty Ceramics"
SIM goin' ter tell her. daddy continued !
the boy, menacinglv. then waited for some
time TO watch the effects of the threat. Find
Ing me obdurate he fed back to the Kitchen
for reinforcements, and heard bis shril
vo'cc announcing, that-"Dad's In The room
over granny's white counterp'in with his dir
ly, old breecbes!"
II expect your pa has got another one
bis bad spells.' heard the wesk voice Of thief
DID lady say. "Mebby one of you girls had
better go and see II be don't want some
,bing.' Light feet battered along the hall,
but paused at the door of my room, and 1
heard little scream Of dismay.
SOB, that great old horse! He IS Just ruin
ng everything IN the yard l don't see why
Dick didn't leave him OUTSIDE, or call some OF
Is to take him. Kste! / wish YOU would
,ome and see after Dick, Eve got 10 put old
Prince IN the stable.''
"Does your face hurt you ,brothery'inquired
! gentle, sympathetic voice at my bedside.
] would gladly have told her that the magic
II her presence had instantly relieved the ,
vain (; but remembered the course that had .
'een directed to pursue. and followed 1t.
SOB, no!" l gT0wled, "there's nothing
wrong with my face. Nothin' ut all! DON'T
ee how you ever came to think of such q
hing" .
"Bu., Dick, you have got your head tied !,
~, and can smell that Pain Killer: and you :
roan SOL Is there anything you want:T
no." just as short as l could speak. had
sught glimpse of her through my fingers r
nd saw she was red-headed and not very =
and | didn't care n she did get =
lad. She turned 10 leave the room when her =
yes rested on my feet. aud she stopped.
"Dickg she exclaimed. did you buy them
ocks at the storel'
cor course l bsught 'em at the store :.
reat Boston! where did you think bought n
m! What difference Is 1t TO you where l
Nv my socks.' .,
"Bnt. brotber,' she persisted, .'you have !,
OF more good home kni, socks already than =
on can wear out In two years. What Is the n
Sc of buying more?,
"Wben | want socks. / want EN-" 8.
rowled, land there's no use irwin II find -,
1ything In this place when n man wants II.
Z here there are four women to put things