Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1869-05-18
FREDERIC's WIFE.

pautry, with pie on one hand and knife in
The other. She was bending little, her whole
mind apparently filled with the work OF trim
ming the dough from the edge Of the pie. But
really she was working by the barest kind of
mechanical instinct, and it might as well have
been a cabbage as pic she was pairing SO deX-
terously, for all the thought she was giving the
work
The sun shining through the hop-vines at the
little wooden barred window, Pickering on her |
hair and making CLEAN Of light and shadow on |
the wall before her. The white day-lilies in the
Bit ofgarjen bed by the door, sent in a breath |
of fragrance and merry cricket piped to his
fellows under the hearth stone.
The day and place made quiet picture Of
cheerful peace, if only it had been filed by
heart at rest. But to Eliza Orange the sky
above and the September landscape it shone up
on were covered yithsa thin veil Of green. To
her the sun was clouled and the sweet flowers
were scented with the odor Of decay. Even the
bomely sights of home about her-tle egg beaten
the skinner, the -four scoop hanging on their
nails-flled her with loathing and despair
81 cannot bear it cannot bear it shall
die. Oh no, l shan't die cont die and must
endure what cannot bear" she moaned, deep
in her heat.
There was distant whirng whir Of her
mothers spinning wheel, far away in the garnet,
she water dripped with q ceasless flow in the tub
under the shed, the hemlQck sticks in the stove
craclaled and sruttered in disgust 81 their fate
and somewhere, somebody called out TO oxen
that dragged creaking cart.
BY and by door opened an shut, and there
was sound offoctsteps conf a. across the un.
Eliza Riss turned, will, sudden impulse to shut
the door upon herself and lantf,Ines.s anu f tnen
fhna all 2piS isl, fesjNG might help her to escape cape
for awhile from her thoughts.
Attic same time girls voice called.
"Zsy where are you"
"IIere ~
"Where are you at"
Here in the pantry" replied Eliza, turning
a little 70 put spice box upon shelf, that Bhe
might hide the marks Of tears on her face
A young girl in wood colored calico dress and
q pink sun-bOnnet came in and seated herself on
high sugar tub
son, Milly is ityou I am glad YOU have
come. Take an apple, will you2 There are
some real nice porters On the shelf behind YOU, v
said Gay, in a quick animated voice, still keep
ing her back toward the new conner.
Milly took an apple and began eating it, not
speaking at first, but looking with great search
ing eyes at the dropping figure before her.
If Milly Bergen had not been born in the quiet
est, most stagnant spot in the world, aud wo.
man besidos, she would inevitably have become
adssertige officer; for not so much as mouse
could scamper behind the wanscot but she knew
by ready intuition what It was scamperine
after.
-hllu INV SIG sAluy uleClly.
"What Is it, Gay Anything about Frederic
Tell me.n
Gay replied by the downfall Of tear upon thu
pie she still held, and sudden shaking Of he
who!e frame that she quieted as suddenly, and
with al evident effort to steady her vsice, sh,
replied
"Freierlc and are through, MIlly."
"What dolyou mean ?" gaspeL Milly, throw
i1g down her apple and stretching open hel
eyes still wider.
DIT is true, replied Eliza, in calm despair. az
shan never see him again. If he were going BY
the window should not look cut, aud he woult
more.n
LAY Orange, don't believe it Iell mt
all about ii, quick cried out Miny, 10 ready
sympathy.
~. was only last night replied Zay, mourn
!lliy "plt u seems year-it seems life time
Frederic came in as be always does to and from
Dorset. He hadn't been home for more than
month, and hadn't seen him in all that time
III seemed like great while; but Milly, it wa
lot IKE always. Now I am going to see hin
never again 7 sobbed poor Gay, breaking dow
for moment.
Then swallowing very hard, she went OIL
again.
We seemed natural euoush-iust as he al
ways dlu TIL finally, he lay down on the sof
ami put his head into my lap, and then he sale
ne didn't know how looked at our acauaiat
aAce' and he thought we ought to have an un
uerstanding And 50 said had ever though
osfrisndship for him. We had been school
mates and should always prize him as a frlen,
= almost like frother. You know Milly
could not have him think was diving for him
and 4 he bad not looked upon us as lovers
would not have him suppose had. You know
sm very proud" said Eliza with CLEAN q
consolation.
"You are very much of fool that Is wba
you srel" retorted Milly, picking up her sppl
and biting it ferociously. Il ueyer heard Of
young man putting his head on girls Ian &,
the purpose of telling her ha didn't love her" II
Elizabeth TN'e
''lie said he didn't know how 1 had unde
stood Our acquaintance, and Of course, | WOW
not have him think understood more than i
meant. talked long time, and dan,t tbin
ever talked better IN my life. | oiotad ~,
Enarson and from Topper aud talked easy /
possible, and could thiuk of everything Ia o.
iustas wanted 10 say II, but felt as thoug
my heart was breaking, Afterwards brougl
InSt ne" elene dress OF mine TO show him, ~!
Is have always showed linn NV thlnrs "a i
needo't notice anything different; and he Ioosa
at 1t aud then he looked Up 50 reproachfnllv an
Wilb 50 much meaning, and said ticbanuatb'
and nothing more Oh, Mily, loved lin i
His hair, his hand, and everything, and | sha
never, never see him again. Never never p
Al This miserable thought Eliza sunk on a ba
ket 81 apples all IN bunch and oer1n 10 ~,
wnlie her friend looked oDAnd piled her.
Presently Milly spoke.
"Don't feel so Zayi have a p,asa,,i,,o,
that you will sac Fred again. And I am ma
fectly sure 10 Is a true presentiment. Fred l6y.
you, know that, for have seen YOU to,e,ter
much to doubt 1t, and fine loves YOU Of conr,
ne Is not going 10 let this be the last. You ,sno
zay, have seen good deal Of such things
one time and another There was Sarah l.,
com and Maud Vershra--l knew an aboiit 49,
love affairs; and both my married sisters ma,
accountants OF re. Aud know men do n