The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-01-17
the stray wisps as the captain, with
Bos'n in his arms. came up.

well, ma am pulled Captain Cy-
'well, ma'am, must say that was
the sliekest pluckiest thing ever /
saw anyMheres. don't know what
would II declare don't know how
to thank you"
The lady looked at him a moment
before replying. Then she began to
laugh Jolly laugh that was pleasant
to hear.
Don't try. please" she said chok-
ingly. at wasn't anything. Oh, mer-
cy mel I'm all out of breath. You
see, had been warned about that
COW when | started to walk this after
noon. So when l saw her chasing
your poor little girl here 1 knew right
away what was the matter. 1t must
have been foolish enough to look at
I'm used to dogs and cats, but
haven't had many pet cows. told
her to go home and to scat and all
sorts of things. Wonder didn't tell
her to lie down! And the way 1
shook that ridiculous book at her
vas
She laughed again, and the captain
and Bosn Joined in the laugh, in spite
of the fright they both had expert
'enced.
THAT book was dry enough to
frighten almost anything" continued
the lady. ut was one 1 took from the
table before left the place where I'm
staying, and a duller collection Of ser
mons | never saw. Oh, dear-there!
Is my hat any more respectable now?"
"Yes'm. It's about on an even keel,
should say. But l must tell you,
ma'am, you done simply great and
Seems to me the people who own
that COW must be poor set to let her
make such nuisance of herself Did
your daughter run away from your"
"Well. you see, ma'am, she amt
really my daughter. Bos'n here-thats
my nickname for her, ma'am-she and
/ were out walkin' set down in the
pines, and | guess l must have dozed
off. Anyhow when woke up she
was gone, and the first thing | knew
Of this scrape was hearin' her hail.
The little woman's manner changed.
Her gray eyes flashed Indignantly.
"You dozed off," she repeated,
with little girl in your charge and
in the very next lot to that COW?
Didn't you know the creature chased
women and girls?"
"Why, yes; I'd heard Of it, but
at wasn't Uncle Cyrus fault" put
in POcsr min
went away by myself"
Beyond shifting her gaze to the child
the lady paid no attention to this re-
mark
"What do you think her mother II
say when she secs this dress?' she
asked
1t was Enaily's best gown, the
finest of the new "rig-out'' prepared
by Miss Taylor. The girl and Captain
Cy gazed ruefully at the rents and
pitch stains made by the vines and
pine trees.
well, you see," replied the abashed
captain, "the fact is, she amt got any
mother"
"Oh! l beg your pardon and hers,
too, poor dear. Well, if l were you l
shouldn't go to sleep next time took
her walking. Good afternoon"
She turned and calmly walked down
the path. At the bend she spoke
again.
81 should be gentle with her if l
were you," she said. Her nerves are
pretty well upset. Besides, if you'll
excuse my saying so. don't think she
is the one that needs scolding."
They thought she had gone, but she
turned once more to add a final sug-
gestion.
81 think that dress could be fixed"
she said. "if you took it to some one
who knew about such things
She disappeared amid the grave
yard shrubbery. Captain Cy and Bos'n
slowly followed her. From the pas
ture the red and white COW sent after
them a broken spirited moor
Bos'n was highly indignant. During
the homeward walk she sputtered like
a damp firecracker
"The idea of her talking so to you,
Uncle Cyrus" she exclaimed. ut
wasn't your fault at all.'
The captain smiled onesidedly.
Il don't know about that, shipmate,"
be said. Il wouldn't wonder if she
was more than half right But, say,
she was all business and no frills,
wasn't she? Ha, ha! How she did |
spunk up to that heifer! Who in the
dickens do you cal'late she lisp"
Such was the captains introduction
to Phoebe Dawes, the new teacher of
downstairs" at the village school,
who was to become a prominent fac
tor in Bayport life.
CHAPTER TX.
g~I OWN meeting was called for