Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-01-28

her. husband, " You'd better come back,
I tell you |" but the wind was the wrong
way, and carried her words into the potato
patch.
=" Sir. said the gentleman to honest
Cults, II have . very simple question to
ask you, but I shall have to ask you in
confidence. I will give you Eve dollars If
you will promise mo not to repeat my words
until Tomorrow" s!s sst
Well, sar;. replied Cults, /" I shouldn't
like to answer any questions that would
make trouble among my neighbors. I
have my hands full, I can tell you, to
keep out of scrapes now; but Two done it,
an hain't an enemy in the world, as I
Know"
"But, sir, you needn't reply to my
question unless you are perfectly wiling"
said the stranger.
"Ask your question" said Cuts, and I
will not repeat it."
"Well, Mr.. Cuts, I am laying fence on
the Brisley place, that have just bought,
aud was directed to inquire of you where
could buy cedar posts. A fellow in the
store said Cults can tell you, if his wife
will let him; but she won't. She'll in
sist on telling you herself, and perhaps
offer to drive you wherever you go to order
them.'"
II told them would see you and ask
you only; and the fellows bet on it. They
arc to give you ten dollars, and two or three
widows in town cord of wood each If
succeed in asking you this question alone,
and making sure your wife does not know
my business until after breakfast to. morrow
morning" ...
Cults knew his wife'ss "standing" too
we'll to feel very sensitive, and taking the
bill from the stranger, he smiled and said
"I'll 80 with You to look out cedar
posts and keep dark for the jokes sake
but | don't know as she'll let me stay in
the house tonight; don't own it," re-
piled the good -naturcd Cults.
"Suppose you go to the place and see to
setting the posts. l will send boy to tell
her you had to 90 off suddenly on little
business, and will be back in the morning."
said the stranger.
"l'll do that" replied Cults. "for I
never quarrel with her, but lot her have
her own way. I don't want to worry my.
self about trifles."
"Good man." said the stranger, " there
are no trifes in this life. The smallest
act is important, and that easy good nature
Of yours will ruin your family. Battle
that spirit to-day, and next Sunday take
your boys and 60 to the house of God,
whatever she says, and be real man-at
the head Of your own house and family"
"'1t's rather late to begin" said Cults
shaking his head in way that would have
warned others from the trap in which his
feet were fast.
"You see the purse is hers" he added,
and that has been crueller fctter than
her will to inc. But viii try to begin
anew, for her good will and the children's."
The boy was sent with the message, but
the boy wasn't sharp enough. Madam
Cuts discovered tho whereabouts of her
lord. tackled up and went after him. -
All the way home, and far into the night,
she used her eloquencc, both in pleadings
and thrcatenings, to find out the mysteri-
Gus errand of that hateful town nabob that
had come into the country to separate
happy families.
But Cults yielded himself up to
dumb spirit" for the night, aud no meas.
ures could induce him to talk on any sub.
ject, lest she should pry the mighty secret
out Of him. $685. -,
About midnight she wore herself out
and went to sleep; but at break of day she
began. He then ventured to say, !" As
soon as breakfast is over, I'll break the
news to you" e5u1 .s. ae.re ~
"You'll never cat a morsel in my house,
I can tell you," cried Xautippe, "till you
have told me what the man wanted Of
you p g,a .I..a1,4 -as
"Then you'll wait long time to hear
it," said Cuts, for I have vowed I'd
never tell it till had first eaten my break
fast" and with these words he went out.
Ma'am Cuts endured the torture as
long as possible, and then got breakfast.
She called to the door, to NO one in par
ticular. /" Come"
But Cuts didn't come. After while
she went out to the barn and found him
seated on an upturned half: bushel measure,
calmly peeling and eating raw turnip.
"It does seem as If this here man had
possessed you! Your breakfast is coolin' !;
do come,in." ae .t
1t was point gained. t ~el-ef \
Cults went in, as requested, and ate his
brcakfast When that was over, ma'am
settled herself back in her chair, with her
face full Of eager expectation. and said:
" Now begin. What did that arc man
want :" er 1oss7 3sa'
He wanted some cedar posts" replied
Cults, calmly, without looking up; (" and
that was ALL" lma [.
If on arrow had struck Madame QUITS,
she could not have manifested more sur
prise and shame.
"I am the laughing stock Of this town."
added Cults, I" and from this hour I turn
over new leaf. I'm henceforth head Of
my family. aud unless this house is made
mine shall 6nish Of q room in the barn
which il mine-and you will be welcome