The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-08-13
MIND YOUR OWN
BUSINESS
By CARL SARGENT cHAcE
--~
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.


II there's one thing I'D ruthpr do
tnan all other things It's mindin my
own business II there's one thing nv
Mandy d ruther do It's TO mind some.
body else's business. allus fole her
tnat the principal troubles We III into
IN this world is pokin our noses into
other peoples affairs.
When Rogers and bis wife come to
occupy the form adjoining ourn tole
Mandy TO let EN- allone Mebbe she
could a done II II Il hadn't bin thet
Ne could hear en- quarrelin' clean
across the 6elds quarter Of mile
away Thar started Mandy. She was
continually a-listenln' and a.watchIn'
and a-spyin' to see If she couldn't lind
out somepn.
II was about the middle OF summer
when Mandy's mother that lived IN
the admin county TUX sick. She KEEP
a-sendin' for Mandy. but Mandy
wouldn't 20 without me got in the
airiy crops and WAS gittn' ready fur
TIE later ones. Then one day letter
come sayin' Mandys mother was
a-dyin'. That settled II; Mandy he'd
to so. and he'd 10 go with her.
One mornin' airly put the gray
mare In the buggy to drive Mandy
over to say goodhy to her mother.
We hadn't slep more'n half the night
from hearin' the quarrelin goin on
between the Rogerses. Jist as we got
on to the road Mandy who couldn't
keep her eyes OF our nelghbors house,
saw Rogers go outen his house carryin'
the limp ngure OF a woman in bis
arms.
Law sakesr says Mandy. "He's
killed her"
''suppos!n' be has" says l. "'Tnint
none Of our business" And. whippln
up the gray mare druy along in q
hurry se's Mandy couldn't see any moro
OF II.
WAL. Mandy's mother was con
sarned long time dyin'. Mandy
wouldn't stay there without me. she
wouldn't come home with me and she
wouldn't LET me come home without
her. Consequence was we was gone
long while. After Mandy's mother
died. KNOWN the crops was sufterin'.
got home as soon as possible. AS we
was a driyln' along Mandy says, says
she, wonder ef they've discovered the
murder" and says. says l. Jest you
keep your mouth shet."
| was mighty busy after that and
didn't think about nothin but gittin'
IN my corn, but Mandy she went
snoopin round to and out what was
known about the murder All she
could find out was that Mrs. Rogers
he'd gone away. She asked where Mrs.
Rogers he'd gone. but no one knowed
anything bout It.
Feartn she'd git us into trouble.
tried to stop her questionin. but it
wasn't no use. She jest falked and
talked till the wimmen suspicioned
somethin'. then they turned IN and did
. lot OF questionin' on their side.
stopped her jest In time to prevent
her tellin' the whole story; but. eonsid-
erin she'd talked so much and nobody
knowed where Mrs. Rogers he'd gone,
people began to suspect thar was
somethin' In It.
First thing I knowed Rogers was ar
rested for murderin his wife. He
couldn't tell where she was. COS ne
Enid he didn't know. They waren't
Twin happy together. and after bigger
quarrel n any they'd had before she'd
left him. But everybody knowed that,
and Mandy ID me knowed good deal
more. Somehow the idee he'd got
abroad that he'd murdered her after
one O. their fights. and the authorities
was determined to find out about u.
When the case was ready for trial
sure enough a constable left a paper
at the house, summonin' me and Man
dy as witnesses.
"There you be-" | says to her III
you'd "a kep,yer tongue In yer head you
wouldn't "a been pestered to tell ABOUT
somepn as don't consarn you.
aTm perfectly willin'." she answered
ITO tel what | know--it's my duty
That's what you want to shirk, Elisha;
sou don't appear to reckon you've sot
any responsibility In the goy'ment 2
ger country"
"a man." says I. "as can't govern
bis wife's tongue isn't ct TO bother MS
head about his share Of governin NIL
lions Of men. women and children
This shet her up fur few minutes.
The day Of the trial come on. Ihar
wasnt no real evidence agin Rogers
enlv circumstances pfntin' TO soinep p
was put on the stand and questioned.
hnt didn't hey to say nothin about
seem Rogers carryin OUT 9 body Jist
,bout dawn. I'd tole MANDY too, not
q foil If il she wasn't asked. But.
helm sworn to tell the bull truth ana
nothin' but the truth, she Out with Y
The huh court spectators and At was
eIecteraed. Rogers started up 70 shy
somep'n. but he was ordered 70 Keep
uuiet. Funny. isn't it. they won't 'el
he person most interested say Whas
III knows. WAL. the proseeNfin az
tornev was a-thuuderln arin tle muir
Ter when the court was eleeSefnea
aG.in.