Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-08-06

~ . ~AhSt w A. niNA- - lSeAft " ASH
Anse"
When Nina came out OF the church.
she had start that must surely have
given her nervo~s shock bad she
been Of less hardy fiber. for there was
Peter waiting as usual.
"An' why didn't you wait for me.
Mrs. Scbmitt?n he asked.
1T was good morning to walk"
said Minna most quietly.
lie helped her into the cart. and then
he said slowly after they were started,
"It was very hot day yesterday"
And he switched the lines to chase
the flies or the backs of the horses.
"a very not day"
But Minna was silent. After little
Peter went on: 1--WE went over a turri-
BILE lot Of country yesterday. the Judge
an l. I'm thankful we had a right
good supper over at Harnecks. so,
bein' tired an restin' me a minute, /
fell asleep. It's too bad you MIXED
the cows an did that work"
"Oh, that didn't make much differ
ence." said Minna. But there seemed
to be something that did. so after
bit Peter went on again:
"The judge is turrible man to drink
an treat all roun' when he goes lee
tioneerin'. He gimme a couple o. bot
ties to treat the boys for him, but |
met old Anse In the road this mornin',
an he told me one of the children was
sick an he didn't feel very well him
self, an so gave him the rest"
Peter had the fiattering sense that
be was clearing himself without ad-
hitting the suspicion. which is really
a very delicate thing to do. So he was
the more surprised TO see Minna Jump
around In her seat and fairly scream at
him:
You did what?"
Gave 1t to old Anse for the child"
"Oh." she moaned. ''for the sick
child Itll kill it,"
"But it was good stuff" said Peter
blandly. ''The judge paid dollar a
bottle for the bit of a bottle"
But it's bad; know it's bad. Hur.
ry up and tell Anse it's bad" Peter
only stared at her and almost held the
horses at standstill. Hurry up" she
said and ratified the whip In its socket.
At this ominous and unaccustomed
sound the horses plunged forward so
suddenly that Peter had to pull them
to their launches to keep them out of
the ditch.
"I'll not drive step, I'll tell you" he
said, until | know what for" for Pc
ter could not stand bothering the
horses when he was driving. Then
Minna began to cry. and Peter as well
as the horses was bothered.
But. Mrs. Schmitt." he said. "sure,
an you're always such a sensible wo-
man
whats the use to be sensible wo-
man when a mans so foolish? It's all
your fault" And Minna cried more.
"Well, then. If 1t is I'll be drivin'
on" said Peter. "An' you'll be tellin'
me how it is that It's my fault" Then
he lifted the reins. but he did not start
the horses. Minna looked over the
fields. while the tears rolled down her
cheeks. Then she stole glance at Pc
ter's face. calm and masculinely unre.
lenting. There came a trot behind her.
McGolrick's mules were coming up the
road behind them, and she and Peter
standing still like thatl So she began
hurriedly:
II was afraid you'd get Hike the
Judge, too, so we thought If you got
good and sick you'd never do it again.
and we put some ipecac in it. a whole
ounce
'In what" asked the hyperinnocent
Peter.
I'm the bottles OF whisky" Gulped
Minna.
Peter whlstled, and the horses few.
"Ipecac's bitter, isn't lt?' But Minna
did not notice, she was crying so hard.
Guess better tell Anse that it's cheap
'lectioneerin' whisky an the missus
will send him somethin' better" Min
ma smiled so gratefully that Peter fell
to wondering what he could do next to
please her. When he came out of
Anse's, he was chuckling. THE baby's
all right, but Anse is havin' time"
Whereupon Minna giggled Historically.
To make sure Minna herself took the
basket and the port wine which Mrs.
Merriam sent. When she came back,
she walked rather slowly up the drive
way, trying to decide whether she
should stop and tell Peter. When she
came 10 the stable door, Peter was
pitching straw for bedding. He did
not seem to be getting much on his
fork. and presently he looked up as If
seeing her there were the most unex-
pected happening. lie pulled his hat
down and came toward her. Leaning
against the doorpost. he regarded the
prongs of his pitchfork intently. About
that time Minna found her basket han
die very interesting. and she began to
rub her forefnger thoughtfully up and
down its strands.
THE baby's all right, Peter" she
said after awhile. Peter looked at her
meditatively as IL somehow she We're
saying something else.
Mrs. Schmltt." he said then. 1--WE