Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-03-10

THE MATTER2"
won't allow such disrespectful language
to go unpunished! And there isn't a
word of truth in it!'
Peter started for the stair door, sniff
ing hungrily as he passed the loaded
table. you can come down and eat
your supper when you're ready to say
you're sorry for telling such story"
his mother called relentngly.
Peters room was directly over the
parlor. When there was talking down
below he could hear it distinctly. 1t
was warm weather now, and the stove
had been taken down, so that he could
see as well as hear. When the door
bell rang he lay fiat on his stomach
and watched his mother usher the Rev.
Mr. Phillet into the parlor. Il shall
have to ask you to excuse me-" she
said, ''while whip some cream for the
peaches"
Peters mouth watered. Peaches and
whipped creamt He didn't know they
were to have that No wonder the min
lister looked pleased. He watched him
seat himself in the easiest chair in the
room; 1t was directly under the stove
pipe hole. An idea came into Peters
little, closely cropped head-he would
fish the tidy from the back of the min
ister's chair! Tiptoeing over to the
dresser, he took pin from the cushion
and bent it into hook; then he rum
mayed in his pockets and brought out
a glass stopper, horse chestnut, half
a dozen brownies" the stump Of
lead pencil, four corks, a "iucky" stone
and Il piece of twine. The twine was
what he wanted He fastened one end
of it to the bent pin and lay down to
fish at his leisure. The hook swung To
and fro over the head of the unsuspect-
ing Mr.. Phillet. He was young man,
with ''tine head OF hair" and the
hook lifted a lock Of it in passing. He
put up his hand and ''shooed" at an
imaginary fly. Peter giggled so that
he missed the tidy, but that wasn't all.
The minister heard him and looked up.
He smiled, and Peter thought he must
always remember to brush his teeth,
they were so white,
"Ceme down and see me-" he said
just like an everyday man.
Cant" Peter said.
"Why not?' the minister asked, get
ting up from his chair. Have ta catch
fish for supperT' he said laughingly,
with a glance at the hook and line.
Peter blushed through his freckles.
NO sir" he said. MA says l can't
come down till 1 say I'm sorry"
''Sorry for what, PeterT
iiSorry told such story bout you"
.:About me? the minister said
"Yes, sir. I-I-said you was fond of
lhicken."
Mr.. Phillet laughed heartily. THAT
isn't story" he said. 81 am"
"That amt ALL" Peter confessed. 81
said you ate all the chicken you could
hold"
Mr.. Phillet blushed guilty.. 'Im
afraid | am something OF pig when
there's chicken before me. Was that
all you said, Peter?"
"No, sir. l said''-
"Yes?' the minister prompted him
gently. ''You said'e
Il said Feu came mere to see Aunt
ee' .4e blurted out.
The Rev. Mr.. Phillet sat down again
in his chair and gasped. did your
Aunt Bertha hear you say thatT he
asked feebly.
mo, sir. Don't you worry, sir. she
want anywhere around"
Mr. Phillet was silent SO long that
Peter grew uneasy. He cleared his
throat in hopes that the minister would
look up but he didn't. He sat still, so
very still that Peter imagined all man
ner of dreadful things-probably he
was dead or having a fit! That was
1.-THE was having a fit! They threw
water on folks when they had fits.
Billy Barnes had said so. Peter was
thinking seriously of getting his pitch
er and treating Mr.. Phillet to shower
bath when the doorknob turned, and
his Aunt Bertha came into the room
To his delight the minister rose from
his chair
"Why, Mr. Phillet," she said, what
is the matter? Your face is SO flushed.
Have you a fever"
NO" Peter called down. 81 guess
1t was fit"
Aunt Bertha looked up. ''What does
the child meanW she said, turning to
the minister.
Don't talk to them" Peter shouted.
''They have to be kept quiet. I'll tell
you. | said he ate all the chicken he
could hold, and he says it's so. and
said he came here to see you. and he
SAWS IFS a story He didn't lest say sO
but he thinks so, and it give him a fit,
guess"
Bertha's face was az red as the min
ister's. "Of course Mr.. Phillet doesn't
come here to see me, Peter" she said
severely. Aunt Bertha had never spo-