Oxford Democrat., 1902-12-30

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! It'll kill It."
"But It was good stuff" said Peter
blandly. 1.-THE judge paid a 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 baG." Peter
only stared mt her and almost held the
horses ut standstill. Hurry up" she
said and ratified the whip in its socket.
At this ominous and uHaccustomed
sound the horses plunged forward so
suddenly that Peter had to pull them
to their launches to keep them out Of
the ditch.
"I'H 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
M!nna began to cry. and Peter as well
Us ILe uOTStS Was DOiutiCh'
"But, Mrs. Schmitt." he said. "sure.
an' you're always such sensible wo
man
"What's the use to be sensible wo.
man when q mans SO foolish? It's all
your fault" And Minna cried more.
"Well. then. II it is I'll be drivin'
on" said Peter. AN you'll be tellin'
me how 1t is that it's my fault Then
he lifted the rcins. but he did not start
the horses. Minna looked over the
fields, while the tears rolled down her
cheeks Then she stole glance ut Pc
ter's face, calm and masculine!y unre-
lenting. There came trot behind her.
McGolrick's mules were coming up the
road behind them. and she ard Peter
standing still like that! So she began
hurriedly:
81 was afraid you'd get like the
judge. too. SO we thought If you got
good and sick you'd never do 1t again.
and we put some ipecac in it. whole
ounce
"In what?" asked the hyperinnocent
Peter.
"In the bottles Of whisky" gulped
Minna.
Peter whistled, ard the horses few.
"Ipecae's bitter. isn't it, But MiAna
did not notice. she was crying so harc
"Guess | better tell Anse that it's cheap
'iectioneerin' whisky an the missus
IL, NJ n
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. Whom she came back,
she walked rather slowly up the drive
way. irving to decide whether she
should stop and tell Peter. When she
came to 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. He 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 10
rub her forefinger thoughtfully up and
down its strands.
"The baby's all right. Peter she
said after awhile. Petcr looked at her
meditativsly as II somehow she were
saying something else.
Mrs SchmItt." he said then. I've
been thinkln' about how worried yon
got about them bottles. It's kind a
nice TO think people care enough u
worry about you. Now. I've been
thinkin' there might be- nicer things =
take than ipccac. an sometimes It's
the nice things that are the best f'T
man. don't you think soT'
Peter stopped and dug his pitchfork
into the ground. Minna's literal Ger
man mind had become unwary.
what would you take. then. Peter
We'll. now. Mlnna. II 'twere left 10
me I'd take you"
In spite ~ Mrs. Merriam. who point
| ed out precedent and evidence 70 prove
that Minna had strangely inverted h'r
opinion. M.nna agreed with Peter Just
10 save him. 20 he sure.
The Long and short of IT,
"He may win the race"