Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-11-24

"Now, Nabby, demonstrated the squire,
"you don't want divorce. | know you
better than that. You are not the woman
to give Josiah up, and let him go to the
bad. without struggle. You feel little
vexed with him now, and don't blame
YOU. 1t is hard very hard. But you know
You took him for better or worse. DO
you think, yourself, it is quite right 10
break your contract because it proves the
worse for you-because you are the strong
one and he the weak one of the twoF mat
don't strike me as good Bible doctrine,
Nabby We that are strong ought to bear
the infirmities of the weak, and not to
please ourselves, you know"
..Well, l dunno" said Nabby, twisting
the corner of her shawl obviously. 81
hadn't thought ont in that light, | must
say. It's so aggravatin' to have such a
man for husband. Besides, | dunno's
he d come back now if wanted him to-"
Hasn't he been back at all ?"
"Why, yes, he did come once fora pair
of pamaloons. But | didn't take no notice
of him."
Now, Nabby, you may depend upon
it, it wasn't the pantaloons he was after
He wanted to see if you wouldn't lelent.
If he comes again, be little pleasant to
him, and I'll warrant he will stay. Give
him another chance, Nabby Josiah isn't
the worst fellow in the world by any
means. He has his redeeming traits after
all. / believe he will do better, if you
will try to help him. You know Josiah is
one that bears good deal of encourage
ment, Nabby."
swell, squire, I'll think it over Any
how, I'm obliged to you. You talk SO
sorter comfortin' to body. You're your
mothers own son; just the same good
heart Would you be able to eat some OF
my cheese, squire ?"
TRY me, and see, Nabby,' said the
squire, smilingly, not impervious to Nab
by's compliments. Nabby made her exit
just as Mrs. Hosley rushed in, full of
wifely indignation that the squire had
been allowed to see "client."
Nabby's home was over at 1.-The Corn
ers," three miles from the village. She
walked rapidly with the steady, strong
gait becoming the self-reliant woman that
she was. Yet even her unimaginative
nature was not proof against the depress-
ing influence of the chilly, raw November
evening The wind whistled through the
bare branches. which creaked and groaned
mournfully, and waved wildly up and
down in the dim light overhead. The
wind seemed to cherish a special spite
against Nabby. 1t blew her bonnet of
and her hair into her eyes, struggled
madly with her for her shawl, took her
breath away, and firmly resisted her
every step. Finally, it began to send
spiteful dashes of cold rain-drops in her
face-rain that seemed almost to freeze
her as it fell.
''Josiah used to come after me with an
umbrella when was caught out in the
rain," thought Nabby. 'He was always
real kind and good to me, after all.
dunno's he ever gave me cross word in
life. even when he'd been drinkin'."
Here the driving, sleety rain poured
down upon Nabby with renewed fierce
ness, hustling her madly around in fiend-
ish glee.
IAN awful night to be homeless, Nab
by" something seemed to say.
II don't care" said Nabby, to herself,
beginning to feel cross again, and gener-
ally i'll used as she grew wetter and cold
er.. ut serves him right. He's made his
bed, and he can lie in it,
At ''the Corners the light streaming
cheerfully out into the night from other
homes made Nabby's little house look
particularly gloomy and uniaviting. Nab
by fumbled under the mat for the door
key, fnmbled with stiffened fingers for the
key-hole, and, finally succeeded in I'M
locking the door, felt her way through the
little entry.
CONCLUDED TOMORROW