The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-08-08

| and there a dead leaf futtered In front
OF her. The sun was soft and warm,
and the CLEAN Of the trees deep and
dark In the gltterlng moisture, and yet
It all kept her thinking that winter
thlrty.he. AS she passed n little
! house on the road where old Anse, the
choreman, lived with about a dozen
grandchildren. she heard chlld's fret
full cry. "Must be it's sick. I'll have
to ask Anse."
When Mlnna came out Of the church
she had "A start that must surely have
given her nervous shock had she
been Of less hardy fibre. for there was
Peter waiting as usual.
AN why didn't you walt for me,
Mrs. Schmlttl" he asked.
'It was a good morning TO walk"
said Minna most quietly
He helped her into the cart, and then
he said slowly, after they were started:
1T was very hot day yesterday"
and he switched the lines to chase the
flies off the backs OF the horses-"a
very hot day"
But Mlnna was silent. After little
Peter went on: I'VE went over tur.
rible lot of country yesterday, the
Judge and |. I'm thankful we had n
right good supper over TO Harneck's. so
beln' tired an restln' me minute. l
fell asleep. It's too bad you mllked the
cows and did that work"
I..EA a
ence" said MInna. But there seemed
TO be something that did, so after q
bit Peter went on again.
"The Judge is turrble man to
drink and treat all roun' when he goes
'lectioneerlng. He gimme n couple o
bottles to treat the boys for him, but |
met old Anse in the road this mornin'
an' he told me one OF the children was
slck an he didn't feel very well him
self, an 80 gave him the rest"
Peter had the flattering sense that he
was clearing himself without admit
ting the suspicion, which Is really a
very delicate thing to do. SO he was
the more surprised to see Mlnna jump
around In her seat and fairly scream
at him:
"You did whatT
"Gaye 1t to old Anse for the child"
"Oh." she moaned, "for the sick
child. Itll kill IT,"
"But II was good stuff" said Peter
blandly. "The Judge paid dollar n
bottle for the bit of bottle"
But it's bad; know It's bad. Hurry
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 omnous and unaccus.
toned sound. the horse plunged for
ward so suddenly that Peter had 10
pull them To their launches to keep
them out Of the ditch.
I'm not drive n step, I'll tell ye," he
said. until know what for" for
Peter could not stand botherlng the
horses when he was driving. Then
Mnna 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
, woman"
, whats the use to be a sensible
: woman when n mans so foolish? It's
, all your fault" And Minna cried
, more.
. "Well. then. if IL is. I'll be driving
| on" said Peter. "An' you'll be tellin
= me how II Is that it's my fault" Ther
|, he lifted the rcns, but he did not STAR
r the horses Minna looked over tn,
q field while the tears rolled down hei
checks. Then she stole n glance n
). Peters face, calm and masculinely un
relenting There came a trot benin,
:. her. McGolrlck's mules were coming
o up the road behind them, and she anC
Q Peter standing still like that! SO sh,
r. began hurriedly:
r II was afraid you'd get like tn
=. Judge. too. so we thought IL you Ill,
K get good and sick you'd never do |
n again, and we put some ipecac In It,
whole ounce"
n I'm whatT asked the hyper-innc
4 cent Peter.
9. I'm the bottles of whisky" gulpe
II Minna.
Peter whlstled and the horses dev
- "Ipecac's bitter. isn't IT," But MINI
did not notice. She was crying S
~ hard. Guess better tell Anse tina
it's cheap lectioneering, whisky an
o. the Missus will send him somethii
ne better" Minna smiled so grateful
is that Peter fell to wondering what /
rs could do next to please her. When !
,d came out OF Anse's he was chucklln
rk The baby's all right. But Anse
i'm havin' n timer Whereupon MINI
"a giggled Historically.
i'm To make sure. Minna herself took u
tx. basket and the port wine which Mr.
Merriam sent When she came baC
he she walked rather slowly up the driv
It. way. trying TO decide whether 81
ng should stop and tell Peter. When 81
I'm came TO the stable door Peter w
he pitching straw for bedding. lie q
re not seem to be getting much on b
'or fork. and presently he looked up
MS II seeing her there was the most une
mp pected happening He pulled his b
un down and came toward her. Leanil
Ter against the doorpost he regarded {
'prongs Of his pltchfork intently. Abo