The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1905-11-03

plNt mlnuleS luleT some one on lne
car threw a peanut and hit Mr.. Bow.
ser in the nose. Mrs. Bowser got ready
to jump of, but he only laughed at It,
Then a fat woman with two bundles
jammed past him and muttered that
his big feet took up too much room,
but he raised his hat and smiled at
her. 1t seemed TO Mrs Bowser that
something happened every Ave minutes
fer the next two hours-something that
under ordinary circumstances would
have instantly aroused Mr.. Bowser's
ire and brought on n row-but every.
thing rolled of his shoulders like wa
ter from a ducks back, and when they
finally reached home again he had not
lost his temper once Indeed, he had
laughed at things that had provoked
other passengers.
1t was in the dusk OF evening that
they reached their own gate. A sur
prise awaited them. On the steps sat a
human form. 1t had a bonnet on. 1t
sat bolt upright. A satchel rested near
its feet 1t held a folded umbrella in
one hand.
Its mother! It's motherg' exclaim-
ed Mrs. Bowser as she FASTENED for.
ward.
Mr.. Bowser followed at slower
pace, and he did not reach the top step
until mother and daughter had en-
braced. Then he took the mother-in.
law In his arms and gave her a hug.
She was paralyzed for a moment Then
she struggled away and Indignantly
exclaimed:
"Lemuel Bowser, do you want me to
break this umbrella over your headT
"Why, mother, | was just greeting
you" he explained.
HE is so pleased to see your added
Mrs Bowser.
"Eh? Eh9 don't understand this
at all. After have had something to
eat I'll look into matters"
When mother and daughter were
alone the mother said:
Now, Sarah, tell me all about 1t and
keep nothing back"
"All about what, motherT'
"Where you were when l got here"
"We'd been to take a ride on the
open car"
L
the country and murder you. 1 thought
something of the kind would be going
on, and that's the reason | came. How
did you escape"
why, mother, you shouldn't talk
that way. Mr. Bowser is one Of the
best husbands In the world"
Sarah Bowser, don't you let him
fool you. He's laying low. He's got a
trick up his sleeve. l know Lemuel
from head to heel, and warn you not
to be deceived, Where is he nowT
"In the library, l guess"
"Well, | want about fifteen minutes
talk with him. You keep away. If
he's up to tricks I'll pull the mask of
his face purity sudden"
"Well, mother, did you have n pleas
ant journeyf" asked Mr.. Bowser as she
came downstairs.
"Humphr' she replied as she sat
down and folded her hands and stared
at him.
"Your visit is unexpected but wei
come nevertheless. / hope you will
stay month this time"
"Lemuel Bowser," she said In solemn
tones, don't try to deceive me, for
you can't do itF'
Mother, I'm not trying to deceive
you"
do you pretend that you love
Sarah?"
81 don't have to pretend"
"And that you are glad to see mef"
"Of course I'm glad"
"And that you've got over buying
hair dye. baldheaded cures, spring ton
les, fire escapes, new milk cows, biey-
Giles. burglar alarms, Lsghorn chickens
and all thatT
81 shall buy nothing more Of the
kind"
The mother-in-law slowly rose up and
left the room, and when again alone
with the daughter she said:
"Sarah, / can't make him out
can't say whether he means TO reform
or murder us both In our beds. I'll see
him again in about an hour"
An hour later she descended TO the
library to see II Mr.. Bowser was in the
same mind still. She found him asleep
in his chair with a smile on his face
and the family cat lying on his knees.
swell, I'll be snummedw she whis
pered to herself as she continued to re
gard. him. "Eemuel Bowser has either
become a pirate or an angel, and
don't know which 1t Isl"
NJ. QUAD.