The Republican journal., 1873-04-24
Hinkle, whoaing Dobbin.

MERCY on us Is LaVlny gong TO make
cheese in mud-time ?" was Miss Phebe's
answer.
"'Tisn't none of her doings,n said Mr..
Hinkle, slowly, Furnishing the wheel with
his whip-lash; ''but she's in q terrible
nervous way, and l think maybe she needs
something soothing. What's good for her
nerves"
II don't know, without it's u 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. "She
amt tough, like what you be-"
''Her temper is tough enough; but I'm
suited if you are, poor souln' and Miss
Phebe hunted for both sage and valerian,
though inwardly persuaded that all pop
pies in the world couldn't soothe Laviny
when she once got "set OUT
Meanwhile Mrs. Hinkle had been doing
a furious afternoons work, and ready to
drop from exhaustion, was Just hanging
up the mop after scrubbing the kitchen
floor, when dear laundering old Reuben
scutfled across the threshold with his torn
paper bags, scattering dried leaves like
an Autumn wind. and leaving muddy
moccasins tracks AT every step. Before
those clumsy footprints Mrs. Hinkle's feel
ing forbearance fled. The herbs her hus-
band trusted might prove a narcotic acted
upon her as powerful irritant.
''Reuben Hinkle !" said she, bracng her
aching back against the pump, chow much
longer do you think Pm going to wash
floors for you to litter ?"
"There, there now don't fret" pleaded
Reuben. ''rll sweep it up. You do puter
round more'n you're able, that's a fact
You know I'm ready and willing to hire q
girl any day"
IA girl smouching my paint'' cried
Mrs. Hinkle, in wrath. "Put down the
broom, Reuben, you've made tracks
enough. Your folks shall never have that
handle, that | spend your money on hired
help"
"You're rather hard on 'em, Laviny,"
sand Mr.. Hinkle; ''they mean well by YOU
Here's Phebe, now, been and sent you
something stilling told her what lizz
your nerves had been in lately"
$50 you've been running me down to
your folks ~ cried Mrs. IIinkle, elaring at
her husband After all I've stood from
you, Reuben. it's too much ~
Mr.. Hinkle was Il mild man-mild Us
milk; but even the sweetest milk will
sometimes turn sour in a thunder storm,
and oft-recurring matrimonial tempests
had had their effect upon him.
'I've always made excuses for YOU
Laviny, and tried my best to live peace
able" said he, slowly, "but believe
'taint IN the power of mortal man to get
along with you.h
Then, in y state Of great amazcment at
himself. he went out to untackle Dobbin
and SOW the turnip seed. Listening in
vain tor the dinner horn, he returned to
the house half an hour past noon to find
the fire out. his unlucky mud prints dried
upon the floor, and his wife absent
Gone oft N huff to her sister Tripp's
[ guess" said he, patiently setting out the
Sunday beans '''d have hitched up if
I'd have knowed she wanted to 90. She
wouldn't speak to me, s'pose because Fd
riied her hadn't oughter done it, that's
a fact"
Having relieved his mind by this last
confession, Mr.. IIinkle ate his dinner with
an excellent appetite, and in due time his
supper also his wife not having appeared.
81 expect she calculates for me to 90
for her, and I'd better be or said he, as he
strained the milk with extreme care and
deliberation, and by this means let slow
stream trckle down the outside of the
pail upon the spotcss pantry floor. ''Why,
If there amt Ezra Tripp now ~ and rs he
spoke, in at the west door came his wite's
brother-inlaw. with unwilling feet. as
though goaded on by the spears OF the
setting sun behind him.
'Ia7iny amt sick, | hope ?" said Mr.
Hinkle anNinuSlV
mo, 'tisn't that" replied Mr.. Tripp,
twisting his toretinger under his collar, as
if his cravat choked him 'tisn't that
but
F'She's getting most ont OF patience
waiting for me, suppose" suggested the
unsuspecting Reuben. Gwen, I'd oughter
gone atore, only the off OK broke through
the fence and
"Laviny says she won't come back"
interrupted Mr.. Tripp, desperately; 'for
she's lived with You as long as she can
stand ~
Mr.. Hinkle hopped down like a starch
less dicky.
Il might have knowed she couldn't bear
what | do" groaned he '.rhi5 morning.
when she was blowing of me, I spoke
hash to her; don't see how came to-
Dut, Err, YOU uOn | tnl1k, now, she
won't never come round an
Mr.. Tripp muttered something about
his sister-in-law being ''pretty resolute,n
and turned away.
81 wish you'd carry over Lavny's cough
medicine" said Mr. Hinkle, rousing him
self. "Lord to think of her hacking in
the night, and me not hearing her And
Ezra, I'd take it kindly of you if you'd
step in in the morning, and tell me how
she rested"
Mr.. Tripp consigned the bottle to his
coat pocket, while Rueben, returning to
the kitchen. which already wore Il mascu-
line air, tilted his chair against the wall,
and listened to the dirges of the frogs, or
gave expression to his feelings by singing,
''As on some lonely buildings top,
The sparrow tells her moan,
Far from the tents of JOY and hope,
| sit and grieve alone "
"a dreadful poor hand l should be to
sit alone" commented he, as he shutfled
about to fasten the windows. "Laviny is
a master-woman for making things lively.
Somehow | can't bear to lock her out -
and it is a fact worthy of note that the faith
full Reuben, for the first time in his mar
ried life. went to bed leaving the porch
door unbolted.
If he had cherished vague hope that
his wife might steal home in the early
morning, he certainly saw no traces of her
ruling presence on rising. Instead the
abomination of desolation reigned.
'Seems as if | was just framework,
with nothing inside" said fhe poor man,
moving about the chaotic kitchen in u
hushed manner like q person at funeral;
'the pith is all knocked out of me.''
But notwithstanding this alarming in
ternal condition by dint of burning three
fingers he succeeded in making a lumpy
hasty pudding for breakfast, and also u
cup of coffee, which, by reason of the
large amount of fish-skin that settled it,
bore an unpleasant resemblance to chow
der. AS he was sitting at this frugal re-
past his sister Phebe founced in.
"Has Laviny left you, Reuben? 1t can't
be-"
Mr.. Hinkle nodded his head solemnlv,
his mouth being not available just then as
an organ of speech.
"The worst is her own," stormed Miss
Phebe, raining shower of hair-pins from