Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-11-08

CHAPTER VIII.
FR1ENps AND AN ENEMY.

slightly altered his position on the sec
ton of log which served him for a
seat when Mrs. Wallace, who for the |
last half hour had been marching up
and down the path with her nieces
baby in her arms, sat down on the low
chair that had been brought from the
parlor for her convenience and care
fully adjusted the infants garments
and placed her umbrella in proper po-
sitlon. Then, the child showing signs
of waking up, Mrs. Wallace began to
Groom softly and pcrsuasively, If not al
together tunefully, the ancient, brief
and simple ditty-
Shoe shaggy over the glen.
Mammy's pet an daddy's hen
which she repeated until it had the de.
sired effect.
LIST sleepin'?" inquired Angus, tax
ing out his pipe and, having cautiously
removed the plug of newspaper, peer
ing regretfully ut the remnant of to-
bacco left in the bowl.
AYE. she's sleepin', the daurlin',"
Mrs. Wallace replied tenderly, looking
down on her charge and gently remov
ing the edge of the shawl from the tiny
mouth.
Il was thinkin' ye wud shin haze the
wean suffocatit il We didna watch cot"
the old man remarked. feeling III his
waistcoat pocket for n match. It's
mercy it doesna need as mucllle brcith
as maser."
Man, we wudna need us muckie
broth IL We KEEP yer mootl shut" re-
torted Mrs. Wallace, adding, .'Ye waste
the biggest hauf O. yer breith ON yer
stupit sayin's."
Angus did not answer till he had lit
his pipe.
"Weel, Mistress he said slowly, its
mo- for me to instruct ye"-
"'Decd, ye're RIGHT therev'
But l doot it's no gettin' suffeecient
fresh air to gar it grow NICE
''Pll fresh air yet"
"Never mind me. can fresh air
maser, thenk We kindly. I'm shalr We
wud be veXed If it growed up nippit
an peely-wally."
"Peely-wally" exclaimed Mrs. Wal
lace Indignantly. "An' her the stl,r-
diest lass that ever Oh, We aud foot.
yC We WduhSlCtl hcl
81 dInna. 1t was yersel, mistress.
Yer Vice is sharper nor mines"
"Haud yer tonsue!" she muttered
and set about soothing the little one
with grooming and cnresses, while An
gus grinned behind his pipe, at first in
an Irritating, but presently in moro
sympathetic manner
Unfortunately Mrs. Wallace's next
remark was not conciliatory one.
"Ye MIGHT think shame o. yersel, An
gus, comm here an disturbin' the
wean. To hear We speakin, onybodS
wud think We wis sellin' herrin'.'
fla, ha" laughed Angus, softly but
sarcastically. Il was jist thinlin' the
moo, mistress, that If We kent anithel
sang We MIGHT try singin' room the
doors when the simmer veesitors IL
here. Eh?"
Mrs. Wallace smiled in way tina
made the old man feel he had missed
getting the last word.
"D'ye mo- think l wud dae better wi
hurdy gurdy," she said slowly, "see
in I've monkey there a'ready?"
Angus grinned feebly and sucked q
his pipe as If for inspiration.
Mrs. Wallace emitted low chuck
of triumph and bcamed down ON til
sleeping child as much as to say, "W
had him there, ma dearie!"
Angus writhed on his seat in his dc
sire to pay her back and pulled merry
DUSTY.
Another low chuckle came from Mr..
Wallace and the old man writhe
again.
Eye think ye're awful SMART" sal
Angus at last with biting irony in hi
tone.
ma, ma" she returned modestly.
jist try to suit the comp'ny I'm il
There isna ony great need fur smair
ness the moo, We KEN"
we're aye thinkin' O It," he retortet
indicating the baby with the stem c
his pipe.
"That's somethin' worth thinl,In' o.,
she rejoined. "But We ken weel cnoug
she's lassie, an We medina be ny
referrin' to her rs it."
"Weel, We see, mistress. I'm ay
thinlsin' o. the pccty O. 1t bcin Il lassi
that l canna"-
can Wits wrang wi i'll mean liz
-bein' lassie!" Mrs. Wallace ficrccl
demanded.
Jaw, it's list peety it wasna Ia,
die. If 1t had been laddie it micl
grow Until mana dacent man Xix
its fayther."
"If she grows Until dacent wun
man like her mither she'll dae fine!"
"Ifw
"Whit dye mean, Angus"
"Jist what say"
"D'ye mean she'll mo- grow up?"
"Och, she'll grow up, if She doesl
get suifocitit"
''Tal. When want yer advice,
ask yc fur it,
Il hope yell no. come nskin' VIII,
it's over late" lie retorted. "Iooevt
there's aye II chance o yer niece brin
in up the wean in spite O ye. v
maun hope for the best"
What Mrs. Wallace was going to |
ply-and it was doubtless sonethil
exceedingly crushing was prevent
by new arrival.
Here's Ogilvy comn'," said Angt
looking round the corner of the C.
tage. "N'hat'li lie lie wantin?'
'.Ye best ask him." said Mrs. w
lace shortly.
He's lukin' unco spruce I'll his Sa
bath claes. never seen Kim dress
ON hnuf holiday aforc. l suppose
best tel him TO come room here"
"Ye best tell him David and Jess {;
ava to kilmabeg, am they'll no
lamc till tea time" said Mrs. Walla
AYE. But I'll tell him ye're Ii,
yersel. I'll get him for a witness Il
we're sufiocatin' the wean. mistress.
With Il grin on his face Angus Il
died away to meet the grocer, who W
coming slowly up the path toward I
porch. Mr.. ogilvy's eyes We're mode
ly turned groundward, and any Q
following him WOlll have seen that