Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-05-03

had ample opportunities Tor renew
ing the discussion of the latter's
grievances, till, from not feeling
"clear," Mrs. Hinkle, by the time
her guest departed came to feel, as
she expressed it call in a muddle."
Even her ox-eyed husband noticed
something amiss with her.
81 wonder whether or no sage tea
wouldn't be kind of quieting TO
Laviny," he reflected one morning
as he logged along TO the village
after turnip seed. "I hain't seen
her so fractious since she had the
neurology in her face. If she wasn't
a poor, sick creetur, l don't know
but 1 should get put out with her-I
really DON'T" and Mr.. Hinkle lower
ed his voice to an awestruck whis-
per as he gave utterance TO this
treasonous thought.
"His folks7 lived in n sick-head-
ache-colored house at the Four
Corners, and his sister Phebe was
hanging out clothes in the backyard
as he drove up.
SCOT any sage to spare?" cried
Mr. Hinkle, WhoaiDg Dobbin.
''Mercy on usl is LaYiny going to
make cheese in mud-time ?" was
Miss Phebe's answer
f'Tisn't none of her doings," said
Mr. Hinkle, slowly, punishiRg the
wheel with his Whip-lash. "but
she's in terrible nervous way, and
/ think maybe she needs something
soothing. What's good for her
nerves 7"
81 don't know, without it's
sound scolding;" replied Miss Phe-
be, with her mouth full of clothes
pins.
sNow, sister, you're hard on La
viny," said Mr.. Hinkle, in an in
jured tone. "She amt tough, ike
what you be-"
"Her temper is tough enough (;
but Pm suited if you are, poor
soul 20 and Miss Phebe hunted for
both sage and valerian, though in
Wardly persuaded that all the pop
pies in the world couldn't soothe
Laviny when she once got "set
out"
Meanwhile Mrs. Hinkle had been
doing 8 furious forenoon's work,
and, ready to drop from exhaustion,
was just hanging up the mop after
scrub bing the kitchen floor, when
dear, laundering old Reuben shut
fed across the threshold with his
torn paper bags, scattering dried
leaves like an Autumn wind, and
leaving muddy moccasin tracks at
every step. Before those clumsy
footprints Mrs. Hinkle's feeling of
fsrbearance fed. The herbs her
husband trusted might prove a mar
cotic acted upon her SIS powerful
irritant.
''Reuben Hinkle!" said she, brac-
ing 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, I"
pleaded Reuben, "I'll sweep it up.
You de putter round more'n you're
able, that's = fact. You know Pm
ready and willing to hire girl any
day"
ga girl smouchiRg 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 La
viny," said Mr.. Hinkle; "they mean
well by you. Here's Phebe, now,
been and sent you something still
ing. / told her what a flzz your
nerves had been in lately"
$50 you've been running me down
TO your folks I" cried Mrs. Hinkle,
glaring at her husband. CATER all
Eve stood from you, Reuben, it's
too muchP
Mr.. Hinkle was a mild man-mild
as milk; but even the sweetest milk
will sometimes turn sour in a thun-
der storm, and oft-recurring matri-
monial tempests had had their effect
upon him.
''Tve always made excuses for
you, Laviny, and tried my best to
live peaceable," said he, slowly,
"but l believe faint in the power of
mortal man to get along with you"
Then, in state of great amaze
ment at himself, he went out to un-
tackle Dobbin and sow the turRip
seed. Listening in vain for the din
ner 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 of in huff to her sister
Trips, guess" said he, patiently
setting out the Sunday remnant of
beans. "Pd have hitched up if I'd
have knoWed she wanted to co.
She wouldn't speak to me, s'pose,
because pd riled her. l hadn't
oughter done il, that's a fact"
Having relieved his mind by this
last confession, Mr.. Hinkle 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
go for her, and I'd better be off"
said he, as he strained the milk with
extreme care and deliberation, and
by this means let q slow stream
trickle down the outside of the pail
upon the spotless pantry floor
"Why, if there amt Ezra Tripp
now !" and as he spoke, in at the
West door came his wife's brother
in-law, with unwilling feet, as tho
goaded on by the spears of the set
ting sun behind him.
'Laviny amt sick, 1 hope?" said
Mr.. Hinkle, anxiously.
'tNo, 'tisn't that" replied Mr..
Trip, twisting his forefinger under
his collar, as If his craVat choked
him-"' 'tisn't that-but-"
"She's getting most out of pa
thence waiting for me, / suppose, -
suggested the unsuspecting Reuben.
''WeIl, I'd oughter gone afore, only
the off OK broke through the fence
snd-"
''Laviny says she won't come
back" interrupted Mr.. Trip, des-
perately; "for she's lived with you
as long as she can stand it -
Mr.. Hinkle Topped down like a
starchless dicky.
'I might have knowed she couldn't
bear what 1 do, grOaned he. "This
morning, when she was blowing of
me, l spoke harsh to her; 1 don't
see how I came to. But, Ezra, you
don't think, now, she won't never
come round ?''
Mr.. Tripp muttered something
about his sister-in-laW being ''pret-
ty resolute," and turned away.
''I wish you'd carry over Lsviny's
cough medicine" said Mr.. Hinkle,
rousing himself. "Lordl to think
of her hacking in the night, and me
not hearing herl 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 Reuben, re-
turning to the deserted kitchen,
which already wore amasculine air,
tilted his chair against the wall, and
listened to the dirges Of the frogs,
or gave expression to his feelings by
singing,
Gas on some lonely buildings top,
The sparrow tells her moan,
Far from the tents Of JOY and hone
sit and grieve alone"