The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-06-09

was the impudent reply Of the boy.
Mr.. Bowaer had just drawn fun
breath to blast him after the old Bow
serlan fashion when policeman came
along and took him by the collar and
threw him into anowdrift and called
after him:
That's the kind OF a hair mattress
you arc looking for. you old fake"
During the day he was asked at
icast twenty times II he had been In
swimming and left his good clothes
on the bank or II be had made a
change aud gone into the old clo'
business. and nothing but bis settled
determination 10 hang on TO himself
prevented half 4 dozen rows. At noon
he ate the sort OF luncheon he had
described 20 Mrs. Bowser. and when
he started for home at o o'clock he
was as hungry as wolf. He depart.
I'd from his rule and took street car.
but he had cause 10 wish he hadn't.
He was hanging TO q strap and wab-
bling about when he stepped on
woman's foot. and. though be at once
begged pardon. she faced him and
said:
II am constantly asked TO contrib
ute 20 charity and told how badly the
poor need money. and here 10 one Of
you spending bis cash TO ride In
street carr
Madam. | have got my old clothes
on" replied Mr.. Bowser Il have got
my old clothes on because have start.
cd out 10 live
We'll. you start out Of thlsl" ex-
claimed the conductor as he took his
arm and led him 10 the rear platform
and jammcd his back against the rail-
ing.
When Mr.. Bowscr reached his own
gate he was 80 mad that he waited a
moment 10 jump up and down and then
kick at q passing dog. but he had got
control of himself and worked up a
smile as he entered the house. Mrs.
Bowser met him as usual and said;
u have been thinking Of you all day
long. II IL very brave In you TO start
ou, TO live an entirely new life nt your
age, and you can depend upon me 10
encourage you In every possible way.
II spoke dlscouragingly last night !
am sorry for II, and II shan't happen
again, have got your simple dinner
ready for you"
40 she had. II was big potato
with It's jacket on, and II had been
baking ail the afternoon. Beside II
was goblet OF Ice cold water For
her own dinner Mrs. Bowser had fried
oysters. celery. asparagus. canned peas,
biscuit and honey and fragrant tea.
Ar Bowser looked over at IT, with a
smile on bis face, but In his heart he
said he would never forgive her II he
lived a thousand years longer The
smell of those fried oysters as they
were brought on TO the table lifted him
foot high. and the aroma OF the tea
and the sight Of tho clover honey made
him wrigglc around M II he had struck
tack. lie realized that II was a put
up job to hurt his feelings, and he stiff.
ened his heart and ate and drank with
such gusto that Mrs. Bowser was al
most deceived.
She naturally asked how he had got
through the day, and he naturally lied
like trooper when he said that he
hadn't enjoyed himself so well In twen-
~ years. He even went beyond that
and said he had made four or Ave con-
vcrts and that be was thinking Of going
out into the country to live in cave
and subsist on roots.
Mr.. Bowser fingered over his dinner
as long AZ he could and several times
expressed his pity for the rich and
their ignorance In overlooking their
stomachs. and he smiled In fatherly |
way at the cook as they left the table |
for the sitting room, When they were
seated Mrs. Bowser said:
"You are right about the theater.
II Ia no place for such simple people
as us, You were also right about bot
any and natural history. sent over |
to the drug store today for some roots /
and herbs. and we will now take up
botany. have also captured two cock.
reaches and house ny. and we will
put them under the microscope and
stick pins in their backs and learn all
we can about natural history"
Mr.. Bowser turned red In the face
and choked up. Never in all his life
before had he so wanted to jump up
and down and yell Woman" at her,
and never had he been so handicapped.
rs II your collar that's choking you,
dearT" sollcltously queried Mrs, Bow
ser. III was you wouldn't put one
on tomorrow morning when | got up
II is a useless piece Of dress, and the
day will yet come when the most fash
lonable man will consider an old stock
Ing tied around his neck plenty good
enough for all purposes"
uNhnuo ,,.,a = on inwhnpa ~ nm aaa lv.