The free press., 1895-12-12

and smart bonnet on her head, she
very closely resembed Matilda, who
! had put on one of Mrs. Mundy's cal
leo house dresses and stood near her
to bid her good bye.
Now, have II good time Priscilla, "
she said, as she gave the poor woman
a farewell kiss. "I'll keep things
moving at home.
| When the coach rolled away and
was lost from view in a cloud of dust
Miss Matilda Bebee entered the
| house and resumed her interrupted
work.
By o'clock the clothes were hang
ing on the line, the kitchen had been
cleared up, and the other rooms swept
and the beds made.
Now she hustled about preparing
supper, and was mixing up dough for
cake when small boy knocked
timidly at the kitchen door.
"Well?" was Matilda's inquiry, as
she opened the door.
"Please. Mis- Mundy," began the
urchin, "ma sent me over to ask you
if Willie an the girls could stop at
our house to-night?"
"Yes, they can stay" was the an
swer; and the boy, with muttered
"Thankee, mom!" bobbed his head
and ran away.
"Now I'll have him all to myeaf,
said Matilda aloud. and her sharp
eyes twinkled malicio;sly. "And I'll
be bound he'll learra lesson this day
that he won'' soon forget--tho
brute!"
She had super on the table when
the sounds ofwheels were heard, and
peeping through the window, she saw
red wagon with yellow wheels,
drawn by bony horse just turning
the corne of the house.
A manand boy were on the seat.
The bo, was driving and the man
reeled backward and forward when
ever tie wheel of the vehicle ran
agains an obstruction.
Dunk, as usual" was Matilda's
comment, as the wagon halted before
the Kitchen door.
TIE man alighted and walked I'M
steatily towards the house. The boy
drove the horse on to the barn.
The face of the man, who was no
other than Mundy, was red and
flushed, and he kicked open the door
and staggered into the room.
Matilda looked up quickly and her
eyes flashed. He caught the CLEAN
and strobe towards her.
Don't ye look at me that way" he
cried, balancing on his heels. "Give
re my supper"
when supper's ready You can have
it, answered Matilda, quietly, al
though her lips twitched convulsively
and her hands were clasped nervously
"And when you come into the house
Won leedn't kick down the DOORS
T4ey we're made for to be opened"
"What?" gasped the man.
"You heard what / said, answered
Matilda. 'i'm tired of your bullying
bnd want you to stop it, or it'll be
worse for you,"
Tom Mundy stared at the woman he
supposed his wife in mute astonish-
.aat She had never talked to him
like this before, and he did not know
what to make of it.
"I'll do what l please in my own
heuse!" he cried, hotly.
II reckon you won't if you go
showing me any more ol your TAN
trums.
II won't, hey?" he cried, and rails
ing his foot, he kicked the table spite
fully. "We'll see who's master here.
The blow was powerful one, and
the table, with its load of china fell
to the floor with crash.
Miss Matilda Bebee sprang towards
the vandal, and her gray eyes flashed
fire.
"We will see who is master here" !"
she cried.
And before the astonished man
could comprehend the meaning OF her
sudden onslaught, she seized him
around the waist, pinioning his arms
close to his sides, lifted him from the
floor and bore him, kicking and strug-
Cling, through the open door.