Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-11-22

She stepped from the doorway as If
she We're shaking the dust of the shop
from her feet and left Mr.. Ogllvy gap
ing-there is no other word for it
over the counter.
For nearly minute he stood motion
less Then suddenly his jaws set, and.
raising his clinched fist above his head,
he smote the counter such blow that
the structure trembled, and lofty
tower of tins, which he had carefully
erected that morning, tottered near its
base md crashed in ruins on the outer
floor. Three large tins that had formed
the base remained, and, with grunt
of rage, he caught them up and hurled
them after the others just as Mrs. Wal
lace entered the shop.
"Whit kin O. gemm is this ye're play
in at?" she demanded, hating yard
away from the counter. "Is't lawn ten
mis- or manslaughterT'
Speeches. and perspiring with
shame, Mr.. Ogilvy bowed his head and
fumbled with his inkpot.
"Whit's ado, MANI" she went on Sc
verely. "If ye're jist practeecin' fur
the shows We sud shut yer shop afore
yc begin. I've nae ambeetion to get
kilt wi tin O. corned beef an never
even get taste O. t. That's no. the
wey to keep yer customers. Tits, man!
LUX whit ye're daein' WI the ink! Whit
Il mess!"
"Oh, mel" groaned the grocer, laying
down the pot and mopping up the
flood with wrapping paper. ooh, me-"
Minister Ogilvy," said Mrs. Wallace
firmly, "wull We be pleased to explain
whit a this CARRY OH means? Are We
clean daft or are We jist mo- weel?"
ooh, mel!
"Oh, me, yer granny's mulch! Whit
dye mean heavin' ABBOTT yer guild
corned beef as if it wis dirt, furbye
near cripplin' yer best customer, if mo-
KILN her fatally, fur life? Eh?'
| Mr.. Ogilvy at last pulled himself to-
tgether. "It-it was IA kim O. substi.
tute for sweerin', as 1t were," he said
feehly.
1
marked, with a snort.
cav, Mistress Wallace, ye-ye Gamma
conceive what I've come through" he
murmured, wiping his forehead with
his apron.
"Ye LUX as if We had come through Q
patent mangle."
THAT'S the wcy feel onywey," he
returned seriously. AN If l hadnG
had the presence o. mind, as it We're, tt
fling doom thae three tins O. cornet
beef, superior quality, wud haze
been compelled to express maser ii
shocliin' language. 1t was better tt
sacrifice ma corned beef nor m:
tongue
Tongue bein' dcarer nor cornet
beef" put in Mrs. Wallace.
II meant the tongue in ma mooth,
said the grocer, looking hurt. "It's /.
puir, stammerin' thing, but it'll neve
be devoted to sweerin' If can help it.
aye maun gang through lot O. tin
il ye're ta'en that wey frcquent-like,'
she observed, picking one from thu
floor. "Whit's the price o. this yin?'
"Seeven-pence-ha'pen
"But it's dashed. I'll gle We sax
pence. Yc wudna haze the face to sci
it to onybody like that"
INA. An l wudna like to sell it t.
yersel, Mistress Wallace, even at thu
maist drastic reduction" he replied.
"Och, I'm no heedin' ABBOTT the bash
es. ken hoo they cam there Here:
anither." She stopped and picked up {
second tin. "Pll TAX this yin tae''
"Na, ma. I've been afrrontit enough
the day wi'oot acceptin' yer CHARITY
Mistress Wallace"
"Haud yer tongue. I'm fur the beef
But We best come room an gether VI
yer tins. Some of them's no tina,
Dashed, an yell maybe be able to pass
them aft on some O. yer customers"
"Weel," said Mr.. Ogilvy as he came
round from behind the counter, "I'l
gle We the twa for ninepence, an II
no talk a farden mair."
81 doot ye're on the road to ruin
she observed and proceeded to hell
him to collect the tins and set then
together in an orderly pile.
"a man never losses his temper
wi'oot lossin' somethin' else" she re
marked sagely.
"rhat's an agonizin' fac'," he re
turned humbly. "1-I'm sair vexcd v
seen the deplorable eXhibeetion o. mi
angry passions, Mistress Wallace" h
added, bending over the floor "I'n
sayin' Pm sair veXed."
ooh, dinnn fash yersel'. Yer angr.
passions made nae odds to me. l wi
jist Thankful We didna strike me-
"If had struck you. Mistress Wal
lacc-if had struck you," he contin