The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1918-11-28

vi
Syndicate.1
The, bathroom screen was lost
strange thing to lose, toe! Il it had
been = door key. 4 pair OF gloves, or
evenea hat, one would not have Won
dered-but a screen, q window screen
1t vas q mystery.
Mrs. Weed had looked for 1t '.just
everywhere" but could not find It.
All the other screens were fitted in
the windows; this was needed. Flies
yer beginning to come. What was to
be done?
Father, you must know where that
screen is /; you put It away" Mrs. Weed
said to her husband. ~Those that hide
surely ought to be able to find"
II don't know where 1t is. mother ;
rye looked for 1t everywhere. I don't
know a thing about it. I don't remem-
Der putting 1t away"
These two good people had the old
fashioned habit Of calling each other
father" and mother in a real honey,
loving way.
"Well, you put 1t away. I'm sure Of
that, and you ought to know where It
H." asserted his gentle wife. with un-
usual decision. She was generally
quiet, but now she was decidedly ruff
fed. II haven't touched it." she went
on; "'tisn't likely anyone has stolen
it; there are plenty Of things they'd
take sooner than that"
That's 81 !" asserted her husband.
with a troubled look; "but really I
can't think what can have become OF
It. It can't have walked off; but I
don't believe it's In the house, and
I've looked down cellar-I wish I knew
what I did with It,"
It worried him much to have his
wife even insinuate that he was in the
wrong. Surely he had done his best
to find the screen. If it had disap-
peared it was not his fault, and he
didn't see how he vas to blame for
It, If 1t wasn't his doing.
"You must have put it somewhere
yourself, mother" he suggested, try
ing to clear himself and to ward OH
ner O~lSpledSure.
II didn't, father! You know I
didn't. I haven't touched it; I guess
I know! You have hidden it some
where, that's all there is about 1t.
and I'd just like to have you find it.
The flies are coming in, and I can't
stand flies. They'll be all over the
house before you know It,"
These two worthy people had lived
together as man and wife for more
than forty years, and had never been
known to quarrel. Yet now they were
just on the verge. of a storm-and all
for the sake Of a window screen! So
little a thing 1t takes sometimes to
break up the harmony and peace of
home life, and to separate even the
dearest and truest friends. $50 great
a matter a little fire kindleth !'
Mrs. Weed hustled about, rather sui
lenly, for she wanted her husband to
displeased with him, finished her work,
dressed and started for downtown. She
closed the bathroom window. however,
before she went out. IF you can't
find the screen, you've got to have the
window down, and smother" she at
frmed, in a decided voice.
Mr.. Weed was left alone, standing
in the middle Of the kitchen floor.
His face wrinkled. TITS strange where
that screen could have gone to-" he
VnrrkforoI NT hofn RI hor,n n,othnr Gu
put out about tit must be some
where, that's certain. I guess I'll just
give another look about, though I
'spose 'twon't do any good"
MI. Weed spent an hour in his
search, going from attic to cellar, but
all with n avail. II knew it." he said
to himself tits no USE"
At last, quite wearied with his fruit
less toll, painting and dazed, he stood
still in the front hall, scratched his
head, and tried to think, for he hated
to give it up, after all.
Suddenly Mr.. Weed gave a jump.
by lingo! What's that?' he cried.
His eye had caught the sight Of
something behind the glass. Only a
small portion of it could be seen ON
either side Of the glass and through
the hligree work. He hastily pulled
it out; and there was the lost screen I
'Ha, ha !" he laughed, there that
screen has been all the time! We
weren't very smart not to see 1t right
before our faces! / am going to put
1t in the window and see what moth
erll say when she comes home"
OF course. Mrs. Weed discovered the
screen the first thing. Where did you
find 1t, father?' she asked.
why, mother, what do you Think
Twas right before our faces and eyes
all the time; IL it had been a bear
'twould have bitten us-'twas right in
the front hall. behind the hat-tree-
and-come to think of it, ] put it there
myself when / brought the scr4ens
down from the attic-I never thought
OF 1t. So twas all my fault, mother.
I'm the one who hid it, and I'll take
all the blame,n he laughed.
E So 49, - - u FL 80