Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1895-10-18
THE PRICE OF PEACE.
BY MRS. HENRY L. PRATT.

couple more unlike than what Mr.. and
Mis- Minis was.
Mr.. Minis was one Of these shut-up
to-himself men, and he'd glum round
for days over some little matter that 8
word would "a set right If he'd only
been plain hearted.
Mis- Minis was all the other way
talk 1t out and done with It; little
hasty and imprudent maybe, but she
is well-meaning, Mis- Minis is, and as
good woman to neighbor with as
want to see.
l hev thought whether or no being
OF different persuasions didn't work tc
keep 'em apart. See, she was brought
up an orthodox. and he favored the
Methodists. She Joined with him and
laid out to do her part amongst EN-,
but she never was to home with the
Methodists.
Then, another thing, she hated a
dog, and Mr.. Minis must always have a
great clumsy hulk, good for nothing
but to bark and eat and lie around un.
der foot, while Mis- Minis, she marn't
have even a kitten. though she set
everything by cat. And so it went.
One day / stepped in to borrow Mis-
Minis cutting board, and just as got
to the door ! heard her say: "You amt
going to turn Charley in amongst nv
flowers, be YEP"
He didn't condescend any reply-not
as could hear.
Now, Mr.. Minis" says she, 'he's
stepped on my pansy-bed and broke off
dahlia already. Amt there any
other place on this whole farm where
you can put him? | don't want him
here" says she.
Mr.. Minis countenance didn't change
more than "a wooden Indian.
II do" says he. There's good bat
ing Of grass to be fed down, and cal
culate to leave Charley here for spell /"
says he. And he budged off as stiff as
though he'd swallowed ramrod.
Mis- Minis didn't say word more.
but she gave that old dog push that
sent him out Of doors with a yelp; and
didn't blame her mite, nuther.
l brought the cutting board back as
they was a-settin' down to dinner, and
Mis- Minis asked me to draw up to the
table. She had an excellent dinner
Mis- Minis is an elegant cook-but not
one identical word did he speak, only
to ask If I'd have another potato.
She seemed clipper enough, but see
shadow pass over her countenance
when the old horse sneezed right un-
der the window where her piney bed
was and the dog, that had got back
under the table by that time, yopped
out as though somebody had accident
ally trod On his tail.
Mr. Minis was great hand for rails
Ing colts, but she was terrible scary
creature; and l expect riding after
half-broken colts has given her a fit
OF the newralogy many's the time.
He was dreadful set in his way
same as the general run of men air
and it was like fighting the east wind
to try to move him out of it. Them
two used to remind me OF a pair of
napajawed scissors that you can't cut
with. Some might have put the heft
OF the blame on to her; and / s'pose
she did nag him some, and flash out
when she'd better have KEEP still.
l run in one day to borrow sleeve
pattern, when l heard Mr.. Minis
speaking out kind O. gruff, and halt
ed, for | didn't wish to intrude. Q
never wear squeaky shoes myself. /
didn't find out what went before, but
the first heard was this:
II can't please you," says he. ut
beat me If he'd ever tried) "You
don't like my hired men, you amt sat
listed with my breed of cows, the color
of the corn barn oon't suit We, and I'm
thinking you'll be happier if we divide
and separate. You've always thought
more OF your brother Asa than you do
of me, and you can be free to go to
him, SO you'll be well fixed"
why, Mr.. Nims!' heard her kind
o gasp out, and surmised by the
sound that she let fall a teacup. |
| looked to hear her burst out in her
quick way, and I'll warrant We he
supposed she'd flare up, and that would
be the end ont But she seemed dunn
founded. BY m by she said, quite quiet:
I'm sure Asa would be pleased to
have me there. He misses Sarah Jane,
and SO do the children. There has to
be somebody at the head to make
things so. But what would you do,
Elisha?"
had TO smile, for she scarcely ever
called him Elisha.
II can look out for myself" saws he.
and stalked off to the barn.
went right in, and said guessed l
could tell what was in his mind. He
was calculating to make home for his
mother, and get along they two to-
gether Old lady Minis never was any
too particular, and now she had the
palsy. So l could see Mis-
Minis set right to thinking how things
would go to wrack and ruin under such
no management She is an awful nice
housekeeper herself, and set great
store Gy her things. She made an ar
rant up chamber pretty soon, and was
gone quite spell. When she came
down her eyes were some red, but she
stuffed it out and went on as matter
of-fact as the cows coming home.
I've got to fax around" says she,
and get Elisha's new shirt done; and
there's the pickle-vinegar needs scald-
ing, and the brine, too. And was
laying out to paS up few moie
ounces Elisha IN very partial ~
ounce sauce
The next day went over to offer my
help, and she seemed glad to have me
there. ! guess she felt she must let
out q Gtsls to Uyaebody. and che
knows I'm no hand to run and tell.