The Florida star., 1901-09-27


your
"Nothing-nothing tall" he replied.
with another laugh. II was Just think
ing how nice you are. Yes. Mrs. Bow
ser. you are a mighty nice woman.
Scuse me. will yon. while taste OF
that summer drink and see II it's all
rightY'
''Is anything wrong with your she
asked as she looked hard at him.
Nothing. my dear, 'cept that my
dyspepsia Is better. Yes. my dear. you
are a nice woman-mighty nice. Sos
the .cat-mighty nice cat"
He got up and went down for some
more OF the elixir. and when he return
ed at the end OF ten minutes his face
was flushed. his eyes sparkled, and he
sat down In a reckless way and chuc-
kled and said:
"Yesh. Mlshus BOwser. you are q
mighty p.ce woman. I'm glad | mar
ried you. am"
"You-you have been drinkingr' she
gasped as she sternly regarded him.
''Me been zhrinking! Ha. Ia, ha!
Why. Mishus Bowser. how funny you
talk! / just been zhrinking shOme of
zhat summer drink; chats all. My
mozzer used TO make zhrink like That.
you know. Poor mozzerp'
Look here. Mr.. BOwser. the man
who prepared that keg for you must
have put whisky or brandy in II. You
are as good as drunk. What a shame!
Let ME get you to bed at once"
Mr.. Bowser was getting tight accord
Ing to scale. He had begun with the
funny feeling" Her words took him
out OF that and into the next scale,
and. assuming look Of great dignity.
he demanded:
woman. be careful what you shay!
How dare you even hint zhat am In
tox-tOxicatedT
"But you must be-" she persisted.
"Never. woman-neYerl When you
shee Misher Bowser the worse for
zhrink, you will shee the end of the
world. Take back your vile impu-
pu-tation!'
at is probably only slight giddi-
ness" she said as she schemed to get
him up stairs.
'Zhat's all-just glddiness. I'm a
giddy old thing. you shee. No. won't
come 10 bed. / want TO sit up and shee
the old year out
Mrs. Bowser realized that she could
do nothing until he had changed his
mind. and she sat down TO wait. The
cat came In from the back yard and
took a long sQulnt at Mr. BOwSer. and
as she saw how things were she purred
a few bars OF the air OF Dads Got EN-
Again." and took up a position on the
lounge TO await further developments.
Mr.. BOwser's next scale was that OF
the sorrowful.
All at once it flashed upon him that
his mother was no more and with tears
running down his cheeks he walled
out:
"Mishus Bowser. how can you SIT
zhere like THAT when you know my
poor mOZZer is dead?'
She had no answer to make and.
breaking into sobs. he continued:
Poor. poor mOZZcr. was her only
shon. When think THAT she is dead
and gone
For five minutes Mr.. Bowser gave
way TO his grief. When he raised his
head. he had passed on 10 the next
step. and. drying his eyes. he flourished
his arm and uttered a laugh and ex-
claimed:
'Whoopee! Mishus BOwser. I'm GO
Ing 10 show you That can make the
best speech you ever heard"
For mercy's sake. be quiet, or the
cook Will hear you"' she cautioned.
What do we care for the cook? You
shay | can't make a speech. but / shay
can! shay can! l shay
"Yes. yes. | know"
IL can make a speech shame as Pat
rick Henry. You Just lemme git start
ed once. and I'll bring down the house
Mishus BOwser'-
Come. dear, it's time to go TO bed.'
she interrupted.
The words sent him along TO the last
stage. feeling Of ugly Ohsfinacy
came over him, and. pounding on the
table with his fist. he shouted:
'Mishus BOwScr. you can't fool me"'
'.No one is trying To fool you. dear"
''NO. shir. you can't do il! You want
10 get me up stairs and assassinate me.
but you can't do il, / know you.
I'm n