Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-12-06

plain, If l do it will be right here
What did it mean? And he had
twice interrupted her! Mrs. Smith was
not vanquished, but she was so con-
fused that a truce seemed the best
thing she could think of.
do as you like" she said shortly,
walking away and slamming the door
behind her.
Moses took her at her word. An
hour later she found that, after finish
ing the churning. he had carried the
churn and contents to the place where
she usually worked the butter. She
was still undecided what to think of
her husbands daring. However.
things seemed otherwise much as
ever, for it was not until they were
seated Mt the dinner table that Moses
again asserted himself.
"Why don't you take it, then?' push
ing the plate toward him. The plate
held two crusts.
Moses shook his head.
"That's too dry. You know my teeth
air poor. You can feed that to the
chickens, and I'll take some Of the
new you baked today"
Moses thereupon rose and walked
to the pantry. Here on a table lay
half q dozen loaves, fresh from the
oven. He took up brown crusted
one and knife.
"Moses Smith. Air you crazy? Don't
you hear me? l say, you needn't cut
that loaf of bread. This breads good
enough"
1t was too late. Already the sharp
knife had severed two slices from the
loaf.
"What do you mean?" the woman
shrieked. "What do you mean, Moses
Smith,
"Now see here, Sary Ann, I'll tell
you what l mean. l mean to have
some new bread. that's ALL" and back
to the table he strobe, bread in hand.
Mrs. Smith did not return to the
table. Her HUSBAND saw little of her
the remainder of the day. She retired
early, and when Moses came up to bed
she was asleep, apparently.
The next morning Mrs. Smith had re-
gained the use of her tongue and ignor-
ing Moses declaration of independ-
ence. scolded heartily about every
thing else. Moses bore it in silence,
retreatng to the barn rs soon as pos
sible.
1t was Saturday. On the afternoon
of that day the Smiths usually drove
to Ovid three miles distant. with
farm produce. This particular afternoon
Mrs. Smith arrayed herself in her best
cashmere and Sunday bonnet.
I'm going to the missionary meeting
at Sister Swin's," she announced. as
Moses. lifted the jar Of butter into the
back of the buggy. Here is n basket
of cottage cheese. You can drive round
on Maple street and sell it out. Be sure
you go to the back doors, and they'll
give you five cents for two balls.
There's just 60 balls-a dollar and
half's worth. | want the money to
make out 10 dollars I'm going to lend
Widow Green. She'll pay me 30 cents
for the use of 1t three months. Now
don't step on my dress" as he clumsily
took his place at her side.
Fifty cents for three months"
Moses slapped the fat horse with the
lines. "Thatll be two dollars for
year. Two dollars for ten dollars. Let
me see-why. Sary Ann, that's 20 per
cent"
what if it is?"
There was a brief pause, then Moses
began again.
"But, Sary Ann. Widder Green is
awful poor. Why don't you lend her
the money for noihin'? It's to finish
payin' for her sewin' machine. and
there's only you and me, and we've
got two thousand dollars ahead, sides
the farm"
"If you can't talk sense. do keep
still. Lend it for nothin'. indeed. BE
sure you understand bout the cheese"
'See here. Sary Ann. l shan't peddle
out your cheese for any such purpose.
You can do it. or I'll take it to the
store. But don't do such work while
the money fur you to grind down the
poor with, that's ALL"
Moses deposited his wife at Mrs.
Swln's gate and drove off, making no
reply to the command she hurriedly
whispered as she saw her hostess at
the door. Surely he would not fail her
this time. He would do the errand.
for Moses disliked waste. She was
sure that 1t would be all right. not
withstandlng his queer freaks of yes
terday So she dismissed the subject
from her mind. and three hours later
found him waiting for her In the APP
pointed place. She elambercd to her
seat and they started home In silence.
"Have Il good meetin'?" he ventured
at last
"Yes. we did" was her testy reply.
They We're within half mile of
home when Moses dropped II handful