The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1871-02-04

/ know.
"But, sir, you needn't reply to my
question unless you are perfectly will
ing" said the stranger.
"Ask your question" said Cults, "and
| will not repeat it. .
"Well, Mr.. Cults, I am laying fence
on the Brisley place, that I have just
bought and | was directed to inquire of
you where could buy cedar posts. A
fellow in the store said: Cults can tell
you, if his wife viii let him, but she
won't. She'll insist on telling you
herself, and perhaps offer to drive you
where ever you go to order them.'"
81 told them would see you and ask
you only, and the fellows bet on it. They
are to give you ten dollars, and to two or
three widows in town a cord of wood
each if succeed in asking you this
question alone, and making sure your
wife does not know my business until af-
ter breakfast Tomorrow morning
Cuts knew his wife's standing" too
well toefeel very sensitive, and taking the
bill from the stranger, he smiling said +:
'pll go with you to look out cedar
posts and keep dark, for the jokes sake
but l don't know as she'll let me stay in
the house tonight; I don't own it," re-
Piled the good natured Cults.
Suppose you go to the place and see
to tell her you had to go off suddenly, on
a little business, and be back in the
morning." said the stranger.
sPl do that" replied Cults, esfor |
never quarrel with her, but let her have
Io
myself about trifes.'
"Good man" said the stranger, ssthere
are no trifes in this life. The smallest
act is important, and the easy good ma
ture of yours will ruin your family
Battle that spirit to. day, and next Sun
day take your boys and go to the house
OF God, whatever she says, and be real
man-at the head of your own house and
family"
''It's rather late to begin," said Cults
shaking his head in a way that would
have warned others from the trap in
which his feet were fast
"You see tho purse is hers" he added
"aud that has been a crueler fetter than
her will to me. But will try to begin
anew, for her good and the children's.
The boy was sent with the message
but he wasn't sharp enough. Madam
Cults discovered the whereabouts of he1
lord, tackled up and went after him.
All the way home and far into the
night, she used her eloquence, both in
pleadings and threate nings, to fad out
the mysterious errand of that hateful
town nabob who had come into the coun,
try to separate happy families.
But Cults yielded himself up to a
''dumb spirit for the night, and nc
measures could induce him to talk on any
subject, lest she should pry the mighty
secret out of him.
About midnight she wore herself out
and went TO sleep but at daybreak she
began again. lie then ventured to say
AS soon as breakfast is over, I'll break
the news to you"
"1ou,ll never eat a morsel in my
house, can tell you,'' cried Xantippe
till you tell me what the man wanted OF
YOU"
''Then yon'll wait good while to hear
il, said Cults, ''for / have vowed I'd
never tell it until [ had first eaten my
breakfast" and with these words he went
out.
Madam Cults endured the torture as
long as possible, and then got breakfast.
She called at the door, to no one in par
ticular, "Come."
But Cuts didn't come. After awhile
she went out to the barn, and found him
seated on an upturned halfbushel meas
ure, calmly peeling and eating raw
turnip.
at does seem as if this ere man had
possessed YOU Your breakfast is coolin'
do come in."
Here was point gained.
Cults went in as directed, and ate his
breakfa When that was over, ma am
seated herself back in her chair, with her
face full of expectation. ard said
''Now begin. What did that ere man
want ?"
"Hc wanted some cedar posts" re-
piled Cults, calmly, without looking up
''and that was all
If an arrow had struck Madam Cults
she could not have manifested more sur
prise and shame.
81 am the laughing-stock of this
town." added Cults, "and from this hour
I turn over new leaf. I'm henceforth
head of my family, and upless this house
is made mine, I shall finish off room in
the barn-which is mine-and you will
be welcome to share it with me. If not, 1
will live there with my boys, and you
will find me civil neighbor."
Ma'am Cults power was broken. Since
then the farm has been called "John
Cults place. and he's the head of the
house.
A Detectives Story.