The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-12-03
FOOTBAuMMCH-R MULvSRUERS NNERQHAEBAlKS,

"When you speak a trife louder than
usual, like that, [ have no difficulty in
understanding what you say"
made an excuse to get away as soon
rs possible. l couldn't have kept my
face straight much longer. busted my
self about getting dinner but l could
hear every word of the conversation in
the kitchen. Elizabeth asked him all
about his farm, and his family, and
seemed to be getting very much inter-
ested in him. She kept him repeating
his remarks until fancied he was get
ting hoarse.
'I've always fancied would like iv-
ing on farm" said Elizabeth DO
you think the children would take kind
ly toto a stepmother, Mr.. Peters?"
They'd have to if l got married
again." was his reply. 81 reckon there
wouldn't be any trouble about that"
mo, don't like cats" said Elizabeth.
I'D prefer a dog. Do you keep dog,
Mr.. Peters?"
81 didn't say anything about cats" he
responded. "You didn't ketch my re-
mark"
81 think just as you do about that"
responded Elizabeth. 81 don't like to
hear them bark. We seem to have quite
q similarity of tastes, don't we. Mr.
Peters?"
Presently dinner was ready, and they
came out together and sat down to the
meal had told Elizabeth that would
wait on them. I knew I could never
undergo the ordeal of sitting at table
with them.
81 suppose you have lots of strawber-
ries and fresh cream and everything
like that on the farm" said Elizabeth,
her face fairly beaming with interest.
"How delightful it must bel"
81 like it." said Mr.. Peters. There's
good deal of hard work about it,
though. One has to git up afore sunrise.
and that makes long day of it in sum-
mer."
eyes," answered Elizabeth. 81 like
summer. It's strange what a similarity
of tastes we have, isn't it? hope you
like moonlight walks and boating, Mr..
Peters? I do-so much!"
"Wall, 7 can't jest say as do" re-
sponded Mr.. Peters. "Bein' out at night,
specially on the water, don't agree with
me. 1t makes me roomatick."
Romantic? There it is again!" cried
Elizabeth in delight. TIN so glad you
are, for I'm the most romantic girl you
ever saw"
81 didn't say romantic" corrected Mr..
Peters in tone that made the dishes
dance. 81 said roomatick."
All that afternoon my wicked sister
kept that poor man shouting at her. BY
degrees he got hoarser and hoarser.
Just before tea was ready he came into
the kitchen where was at work.
"I'm all beat out" he said. "My
throat feels rougher'n a crater. It's
harder work to carry on a conversation
with her than it is to drive oxen. It's
q dretful pity she can't have somethin'
done for her ears. She's smart, an good
lookin', an she seems to take a great
lilen' to me-"
"Maybe you'd get used to it and
wouldn't mind it after a little" I said.
consolingly.
81 don't know-T'm afraid not" he
said. "It's considerable of risk to run.
Do you s'pose she'd be willin' to go n
see some ear doctor n see # he couldn't
do somethin'? I wouldn't like to make
any agreement of any kind unless there
was some chance of her hearin' better'n
she does now"
"You'd better talk with her about it."
suggested.
81 can't" said Mr.. Peters. I'm jest
used up. ! guess she gets worse to'ards
night, for it's harder work to make her
understand now than it was at noon. !
did think O. stayin' over till tomorrow,
but guess I'll be goin' You can talk
with her if you'd jest as soon, an if she
is willin' to have her ears doctered, an
it does any good, I'll come down agin. ]
don't see why your aunt didn't tell me
about it. But mebbe she was afraid
your sister d lose the chance if she let
on aforehand. It's dretful pity! l
can't help takin' to her, butt wouldn't
feel like runnin' the risk"
"T've enjoyed,yo visit SO much, dear
Mr.. Peters," said Elizabeth at parting
Come again, won't you, now?-and
soon."
"That depends" shouted the poor
man. "Your sister'll tell you what I've
been sayin' to her when I'm gone"
"Oh, yes, yes! l shall think of you
when you're gone" said Elizabeth.
"You'll write, won't your"
81 can't promise, said Mr.. Peters. 1T
was allus dretful hard work for me to
write" he said to me, "but dunno but
it'd be eastern talxin' to her. Don't for
git to tell her what l said about SEEM
an ear doctor, will you? An if she
does, an he helps her, let me know. !
wouldn't mind standin' part O. the ex-
pense, if it did any good. sh'd think