The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-11-21

Ames' when he made his brief call that
morning.
''Ef [ hain't brung long the durndest
pair of passengers you ever seer' he said
"Where' the missus p
Tom pointed to the buckboard, and went
through some sign language, which Neddy,
by raising of eye brows and sagacious mods,
professed to comprehend He jumped
down, and opened the stage door.
"See 'em? There in thet basket he
cried, proudly.
Tom looked. "Lor-dee he exclaim-
ed "Its twinsesr
''Twinses it is!' agreed Neddy.
"Where did you git emp
''They're Fritzy's, him thet was kilt
last summer She's fretted fur him ever
sence they was borned month ago, an
last Monday she up an died. or Mis-
Mason she's been raisin' EN- sence then,
but she's got STAYED up with rheumatic,
an all the boys over there's got to git out
to finish up the beef roundup tomorrow, so
said L d take EN- in to the county house.
1t ddn' t seem thet we could do no better
by EN-, pore little kids. | come extry,
SOS not to take long any other passengers
who might be smokin or eatin tobacco to
worry EN-,
''Wall, l never see anything on earth
equal to EN- declared Tom, daintily
prodding first one fat cheek and then
another with his finger. ''Look! Will
you look at EN- grin! Wall, ef thet ain t
perfectly humanr' He glanced longingly
at his wife, but she still sat rigid as a
statue, with her back turned
''Wall," said Tom, "me an you Il pack
EN- in, Neddy, an give EN- feed. Gee!
they takes it outer them bottles, do they?'
'Warm-haIf water, said Neddy, Glib
with knowledge.
Neddy held the twins while Tom pre-
pared the milk When the bottles were
ready. Tom with sudden idea, winked at
Neddy, and beckoned him into the parlor
s'She can hear from the window" he
whispered.
Mrs. Cray in fact was stationed directly
outside the parlor window Tom softly
turned the Stats of the blind, 50 that she
could not see into the room. Then he took
one baby and one bottle, and seating him
self, proceeded under Neddy's directions to
administer the dinner.
"Open your mouf, little feller,' he said,
coaxingly.
Neddy leaned forward.
''it's girls he whispered.
IF anything could have increased Tom $
delight, it was that announcement.
II do decIare!'' he calculated. "Take
good suck O that, sissy. Coo-de- diddle!
Wall, ain t you the purity little whiteface !!
An ain they the prime feeders, thought
He nursed his charge with unaffected de-
light. GIFTS me" he said after few
minutes, ''how Mis- Mason ever let you
take EN- off her, even eff she had the rheu
matiz. Seems like anybody d want to hev
pair O twinses 'roun' specially gal
twnses.
s'Mis Mason ain much to do with, -
said Neddy, "an' her cow most dry. .
$50 they's goin onto the county! Pore
little crittersr' sympathized Tom. "Seems
like some good housekeepin' woman orter
like awful well to take two gal twinses to
raise, don't it ~
He peered cautiously through the Stats.
His wife had veered around the tiniest bit,
and he was convinced that she was listen
ing.
Coin onto the county, to be brung up
with chilbain footed tramps, an old folks
what can abide children, an all breeds
of herd taller stuff, - he went on. ''Seems
most as eff thet was nuf to tech the feelin' S
O. sand butte, let lone any one human
who's cot Il roof to his head, female or
male. Neddy, it tetches me kinder.
Seems like | can't let EN- 90 on to town
with you, to be put in the county-house.
Say, old man, I'd keep EN- myself, only
I'm goin' to bach it now There's heap
O. room on this ranch fur Children to play
bout. could run low bar fence 'roun'
the house to keep off the stock when they d
cit to crawlin'. You an me together
might bring EN- through, hey, Neddy
What do you say? You fetch me ou'
advice from town, bout teethin' an yallel
ianders.
"Or," he peered carefully again
.sthere Sim Adam widder wantin' work
She's somewhat slack bout sweepin', folk
say, but she top-hand at raisin Children
might git her to come keep house flu
me"
Tom saw his wife turn sharply towart
the window. Just out of her sight, h
grimaced joyfully, and slapped his leg ii
noisless, mirthful pantomime He Leaned
over to Neddy.
Cant you make yours bawl little ?
he whispered.
Neddy looked down at the pink bundle
on his arm.
"Wall, no" he answered, helplessly
Tom looked perplexed. But just ther
good fortune favored his scheme. Hi.