Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-09-21
THIRMONT FREDERICK COUNTY, MD THURSDAY SEPTEMBER

tiful brocade! 1t must have fallen out
Of the upstairs window"
"Let him chew" said Mrs. Lamdin
with grim stoicism. The machine
whirred on.
"But. ma, he's ruined your beautiful
broc;lde!" Jessica shrieked.'
LET him ruin it, The machine
whirred on.
Jessica turned away to report to Lou
that INA has certainly gone queer"
On her way In search of Louisa she
Ell, uunte cred Johnnie. With tragic
face he extended toward her crum-
pied black object. which she stared ut
unrecOgnizingiy. "Well and What is it?'
zone of mas wedding Shoes" John
ME gasped. :>M
"lIer beautiful patent leather oxford
ties!'
Johnnie srinned nervously. ""Tain't
mut h Of a beautiful patent leather OK
ford tie now. III have to kill that dog
Bengy before | can teach him any
thing. found him out in the back
yard playing with it. and when l ran
after him to get 1t he played like he
does when | throw sticks for him to
bring out of the water and pitched 1t
right into the pond. fished 1t out and
put, II under the kitchen stove to dry.
aiming not to let ma know. and that's
the way 1t done. Take 1t In and show
It to ma. you say? Id heap rather
take beating"
But he took Jessica's advice valiant
ly. Mrs. Lamdln was still at the ma
chine when he made his trembling an
nouncement: "Mummie. something ter
ribles happened to your wedding
shoes. Bengy stole one Of them and
flung 1t into the pond"
"Let him fling"
"But l tished it out and put 1t un-
der the stove to dry. aud it got all
shwiveled up"
"Let it shrivel." The machine whir-
red on.
Jessica and Johnnie retreated with
frightened faces. "Ma had certainly
gone queer"
They told their tale of woe to Louisa.
snow there's nothing left but her hat
aud gloves. And she did look so cute
that night. Let's take care Of the
gloves at least" Together the three.
loving and sorrowful. mounted the
stairs to their mothers bedroom. Il
know where she put them," Johnnie
triumphed. II gave her my empty
Christmas candy box. and she put 'em
in it the day after the wedding"
"Candy box? Mice as bad as they
are in this hOuse?" With u jerk Lou
isa pulled out the top drawer Of the
bureau. The wreck of a pasteboard
box confronted her. With trembling
| fingers she drew out a thumbless right
hand glove and left with mutilated
wrist.
Now. who's going 20 tell her?' Jes-
| sica mOaned.
81 am" said Louisa, taking the
wrecked gloves with her in evidence.
| TO her statement, Ma. the mice have
nibbled your wedding gloves into
holes; knew the mice were taking
this house," Mrs. Lamdin gave a
glance at the gloves. LET them nib
ble." The machine whirred on.
"Now there's nothing left but your
hat" Jessica moaned.
The machine stopped whlrring. Mrs.
Lamdin's face cleared up. Nothing
left but the hat. Johnnie. go bring my
wedding hat here"
The strange command was obeyed.
Ma had gone queer, and it wouldn't be
safe to cross her. When 1t was In her
hands Mrs. Lambdin held her big
shears suspended over it.
"My children. listen to me. and II
you live to be hundred years old don't
forget what am saying to you now"
Swish! The bunch Of violets lay scat
tered on the floor. "FOr once In my
life I sailed under false colors. 1t