Atondido Stories
The farmer tried not to tell but the burgomaster questioned
him until he found out that Manka was at the bottom of it. This
made him very angry. He went into the house and called his
wife.
"Manka," he said, "do you forget what I told you would hap-
pen if you went interfering in any of my cases? Home you go
this very day. I don't care to hear any excuses. The matter is
settled. You may take with you the one thing you like best in my
house for I won't have people saying that I treated you shabbi-
ly."
Manka made no outcry.
"Very well, my dear husband, I shall do as you say: I shall go
home to my father's cottage and take with me the one thing I like
best in your house. But don't make me go until after supper. We
have been very happy together and I should like to eat one last
meal with you. Let us have no more words but be kind to each
other as we've always been and then part as friends."
The burgomaster agreed to this and Manka prepared a fine
supper of all the dishes of which her husband was particularly
fond. The burgomaster opened his choicest wine and pledged
Manka's health. Then he set to, and the supper was so good that
he ate and ate and ate. And the more he ate, the more he drank
until at last he grew drowsy and fell sound asleep in his chair.
Then without awakening him Manka had him carried out to the
wagon that was waiting to take her home to her father.
The next morning when the burgomaster opened his eyes, he
found himself lying in the shepherd's cottage.
"What does this mean?" he roared out.
"Nothing, dear husband, nothing!" Manka said. "You know
you told me I might take with me the one thing I liked best in
your house, so of course I took you! That's all."
378