The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-02-20

to realize what smart vile he'd lost.
"He'd clutter the kitchen with his
greasy. harness, aud camp down on@ths.
lounge in his boots-that's what he'd
do--the minute I was off," snapped
Mrs. Hinktie-- III -
"He co1ldn't manage without you,
to save hislife, " declared Miss Niddlins,
confidently. SHED go down on his
knees 70 Yo1 to get you back.
Mrs. Hinklezsecmed hatteFed by the
idea. f7 5Ul
"Apretty figure he'd cut, " laughed
she, g fat as he is, and looking, you
might say, as if he'd been blowed up in
his Clothes"
"EmI sarejI don't see .iii6R you can
smile, situated as you are, said Miss
,Niddlins, showing symptoms of fresh
cold
''His folks have tried my. soul ont of
me, cried Mr.. Hinkle, hastily resum-
ing her wrath "and what's, maddened
the most has been to see Reuben take it
SO cool. That man hasn't any more
nerves than tub of lard ! L wouldn't
value jumping of the meeting house
if I thought it would give him start.
''Poor woman !" said Miss yNiddlips,
displaying the red silk handkerchief
that might properly be called her badge
of mourning. It's your duty to your
self to go where you can take seme
peace of your 4ifela SA-k A4y
81 don't feel clear, " said Mrs. Hinkle,
as she settledthe coffee for dinner, and
| thus ended their first conference.
But as Miss Niddlins spent the week,
iustifying Mr.. Hinkle's apprehensions,
she and Airs. sHink1e had ample appor-
tunities for renewing the discussion of
the lattor's, grievances, till, from not
feeling 'feiear, p Mrs Hinkle, by the
time her guest departed, came to feel,
as she compressed ,-.all l-iIsas nlnddle,'s =
4 Even he. ex-eyed husband noticed
something amiss with her. g.
''I wonder whether or not sage tea
wouldn't be kind ofquietmg TO IlaKiny, p
he reflected one morning as he logged
along to the village after turnip seed.
81 hain't seen her so fractions since she
had the neurology in her face. If she
wasn't poor sick creature don't know
but Z should get put out with -herLI
I really don't ;" and Mr.. Hinkle lower
! ed his voice to an awe-struck whisper
as he gave. utterance to this treasoneus
thought if ba s~ssl
''His folks" lived IN sick headache
cOlored house at the -Four corners, and
his sister Phebe was hanging out clothes
in the backyard as he drove up.
''Got any sage to spare ?" cried Mr..
Hiukle, whoaing. Dobbin. 3, G,sW.
'fMercy on ps?2 was Miss Phebe's
answer .., ,-,..
l. ''2'Tisn't one of her doihgs, " said Mr..
Hinkle, slowly punching the wheel with
his whip lash '' but she's IN terrible
nervous way, and Iathink maybe she
needs something sootlnngs 'sWhat's
good for her nerves ?i' sk tAf I'll
81 dent know, without it's a sound
scolding, replied Miss Phebe, with
her mouth full of clothes-pins.
"Now, sister, you're hard on Laviny, -
said Mr.. Hinkle, in an injured tone.
lt'She amt tough, like what you be.
''Her temper Is tough enough but
I'm suited if you are, poor soul and
Miss Phebe hunted for both sage and
valerian, though inwardly persuaded
that all the popPies in the world
couldn' rsoothe Laviny =wlIe1r ~slIe.-enee
got "set out. 11{.rf@iriHbE 4
Meanwhile Mrs Hmkle had been
doing n furious forenoon's work, and,
ready to drop from exhaustion, was Just
hanging up the mop after scrubbing the
kitchen floor, when. dear, blundering
old Reuben scTffed across the threshold
with his torn paper bags, scattering
dried leavesalike an autumn wind. and
leaving muddy noccasins tracks at every
step. Before those clumsy footprints
Mrs. Hinkle's feeble forbearance fed.
The herbs her husband had trusted
might prove 1. narcotic acted upon 'her
as a powerful irritant. tm iEhi ~
Reuben Hinkle r said She, bracing
her aching back, against. the, pump,
''how much longer do you think = Tm
going to wash floors for you, to litter ? y
"There, there !JfnoW don'tr fret, p
pleaded Reuben 'ns.PI sweep it mp.
You doputter round more n you're able,
that's a fact You know I'm ready a
wiling to hirslagrl alsydeys2 sslt
ga girl smouching my paint cried
Mrs. HinkIe, in ;wrath r 80 Pat down
the broom, Reuben you've made tracks
enough Your folks shall never have
that handle, that ] spend your money
on hired help" aa 1rat9
j You're rather hard on EN-, Iraviny, 2
said Mr.. Hinkle they mean well by
You. Here's Phebe now been and sent
you something stilIing. Il told hel
4 what izz your nerves had been in
lately. laQra4TIQ
$50 you've been running me down to
your folks p cried Mrs. Hinkle
glariug at her husband. After all I've
stood from YOU Reuben it's too much
Mr.. Hinl1le was a mild man-mild a:
milk but even the sweetest of mill
will sometimes turn sour in a thunder
storm, and oft-recurring nlatrinonia
tempests had had their effects upon him
"Tve always 1natle excuses for you
Laviny, and tried nay best to liv,
peaeeablesY said lac, slowly ''but
believe 'tain't in the power Of morta
man to get along with you. "
Then, m state of great an1,lzenheA
at himself, he went out to untackle Dob
bin and sow the stJirnip seed. Listen
ng in vain for the dinner horn, h
returned to the house half an heur pas
noon to find fhe fire out his unlpel.
mud-prints dried upon the floor, an,
his wife absent. ? ~,
, ''Gone off in huff to her siste
Trips, I guess, said he. patieptl,
setting out the Sunday remnant of beans
Z Z" I'd have hitched up if I'd have know
! she wanted to go. She wouldn't speal
to me, I s'pose, cause I'd riled her.