Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-05-13

her husband " You'd better come back
| tell you" but the wind was the wrong
way, and carried her words into the potato
patch.
"Sir," said the gentleman to honest
Cults, " 1 have a very simple question to
ask you, but I shall have to ask you in
confidence, and I will give you FIVE dol.
lars if you will promise not to repeat my
words until to morrow"
"Vell, sir" said Cults, I shouldn't
like to answer any questions that would
make trouble among my neighbers. l
have my hands full, 1 can tell you, to
keep out of scrapes now, but I've done it:
and hain't an enemy in the world, as l
know.
"But, sir, you needn't reply to my
question unless you are perfectly willing"
said the stranger.
Ask your question" said Cults, "and
l will not repeat it,"
well. Mr.. Cuts, am laying fences
on the Brisley place, that l have just
bought and | was directed to inquire of
you where l could buy cedar posts. A
fellow in the store said Cults can tell you,
if his wife will let him, but she wont.
She'll insist on telling you herself, and
perhaps offer to drive you where ever you
20 to order them"
81 told them l 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 cord Of wood each
if Isuccccd in asking 20" this question
alone, and making sure your wife does not
know my business until after breakfast to-
morrow morning"
Cuts knew his wife's standing" too
we'll to feel very sensitive, and taking the
bill fromthe stranger, he smiling said:
"I'll % with you too look out cedar
posts and keep dark, for the jokes sake ;
but 1 don't know as she'll let me stay in
the house tonight; don't own it," re.
piled the good.naturcd Cults.
"Supposc you go to the place and see to
setting the posts. I VII send boy to
tell her you had to 50 off suddenly on a
little business, aud be back in the morn
ing said the stranger.
I'll do that" replied Cuts, for I
never quarrel with her, but let her have
her own way. l don't want to worry my
self about triAes."
"Good man." stranger, "there are no
triAes in this life. The smallest act is
important, and the easy good nature Of
yours will ruin your family. Baffle that
spirit to- day, and next Sunday take your
boys and go to the house of God, whatever
she says, and be a real man-at the head
of your own house and family"
"It's rather late to begin" said Cults
shaking his head in way that would have
have warned others from the trap in which
his feet was fast.
"You see the purse is hers" he added,
g and that has been crueer 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,
hut he wasn't sharp enough. Madam
Cults discovered the whereabouts of her
lord, tackled up and went after him.
All the way home and far into the night
she used her eloquence, both in pleadings
and threatenincs, to find out the mysteri-
Gus errand of that hateful town nabob who
had come into the country to separate
happy families.
But Cuts yielded himself up to a
dumb spirit" for the night. and no
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 deabreak she
began again. He then ventured to say,
d" AS soon as breakfast is over, I'll break
the news to you"
you'll never eat morsel in my house
I tell you," cried Xantippe. "till you tell
me what the man wanted Of you"
"Thcn you'll wait good while to hear
it," for have vowed I'd never tell it
until | had first eaten my breakfast" aud
with these words he went out.
Madam Cuts endured the torture as
long as possible, and got breakfast. She
called at the door, to no one in particular,
Come"
But Cuts didn't come. After awhile
she went out into the barn, and found him
seated on an upturned halfbushel meas
ure. calmly pecling and eating a raw tur-
UP
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
breakfast. When that was over, ma am
seated herself back in her chair, with her
face full of expectation, and said:
"Now begin. What did that ere man
want ?"
He wanted some cedar posts" replied
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 Cuts, " and from this hour l turn
over new leaf I'm henceforth head Of
my family. and unless this house is made