The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-11-29


eyes and use the powder puff. The
depot was reached fifteen minutes
ahead IF time, and Mr.. Bowser at once
began worrying.
''WoIhn't It be awful if the train
had run off the track and smashed poor
old mother up" he remarked after
walking about.
Only two months before when she
had paid her last visit. he had said to
her:
Il don't say that hoped your train
would meet with Il smashup and that
you would be found in fragments, but
| often wonder why Providence spares
some people as long as it does
In the next ten minutes he made five
inquiries regarding the train and was
immensely relieved each time TO hear
that it was still on the rails and bowl
ing along. 1t finally arrived with every
car on the track and the moth2p-in-Iaw
on the front platform of one of the
coaches with her satchel and umbrella.
She caught sight of Mr.. and Mrs. Bow
ser and went white in an instant. She
expected to hear that the house had
burned down at least, and she couldn't
say word when she was gently lifted
down, and voice spoke in her ear:
Mother. dear, we are glad to see
you. and hope you have come to STAY
a whole year"
AstOnished by Reception.
She had been hustled into the car
riage before she recovered from the
shock. Then she came to her normal
feelings and said:
Samuel Bowser. if this is a trick on
me, warn you that you had better
look ont for Yourself"
Mrs. Bowser gave her the wink that
Mr.. BOwser had been made nil over in
the last three hours. while he replied:
There is 10 trick about it. mother.
| didn't want you to make three or
four transfers and arrive at the house
on the street cars"
but always have"
Yes but what has passed has
passed"
Il can't say as I approve of your
spending So or 81 on Il carriage to give
me q ride | presume Sarah needs
gloves stockings and handkcrchiefs."
Nothing is too good for you. mother.
dear, and Sarah can have all the shop
ping money she wants"
Mrs. Bowser winked again and wink
ed more vigorously AMI shook hey head
at the same time. and the old lady set
lied back in her seat ana wondered if
the house Of Bowspr hal h,cu struck
by lightning and what WAS pushing
the electric street ears along so rapid
~. When the house was reached she
hustled right upstairs 10 take her
things off and learn all about it. She
sat with her mouth open and her eyes
bulging out and heard the news, and
when she had taken it all in she pv-
claimed:
Sarah, it hain't natural. If Samuel
Bowscr keeps this thing UP for four or
five days he's Il dead man
But Why"
Feared Bowser Would Die.
Because its agin his nature. His
nature is to kick AMI bluff and blow
and find fault about the gas bills, and
when he becomes Il rabbit all at once
you look out for awful results | knew
a man just like him once, ana when he
suddenly became good and humble and
loving and stopped his kicking he went
out to the barn and hanged himself
Have you seen any signs that Samuel
is struck on another woman and may
he going to elope with herr"
Mercy, no.
Has lie been talking in his sleep
lately, as if his conscience troubled
him."
Il am sure he hasn't"
He may have a murder on his mind
or he may he going insane I'm going
downstairs now to see if can rouse
him up
When she descended Mr.. BOwser sat
in the rocking chair. with the cat on
his knee and smile on his face. He
looked up, with the light Of love in his
eyes, but the mother-n-law greeted
him with
Look here, Samuel, if you have
turned to drink you will have me to
settle with"
But haven't"
do you feel any peculiar feeling in
your head"
NO, dear"
We'll, you sit right here till | have
had something to eat, and then | shall
have more to say to you"
She puzzled over the matter and
asked Mrs BOwser many questions as
she ate, and when they went upstairs
again Mr.. Bowser was asleep in his
chair. The women bent over him. with
anxious looks, and as he murmured
shes fair good mother the moth
er-in-law whispered to her daughter:
"Sarah. I'm shaking in my boots
He'll either be dead and with the an
gels by morning or he'll get up in tlfc
middle of the night and chop us into
minccmeat with the ak"
NJ. QUAD.
tod IN Ns,E-