Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-03-06

he reflected one morning, as he logged
| along to the village after turnlp seed. i
| kain't seen her SO fractions since she had
the neurology in her face. 1t she
wasn't a poor sick creetur
don't know but / should get put
out with her-I really don't" and
Mr.. Hinkle lowered his voice to an awe
struck whisper as he gave utterance to
this treasonous thought
'sHis folks" lived in a 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 MIR.
Hinkle, whoaing Dobbin.
"Mercy on US! is Layiny going to make
cheese in mud-time." was Miss Phebes
answer.
"Tisn't none of her doings," said Mr..
Hinkle, slowly Furnishing the wheel with
his whin.lash s'but she's in terrible
nervous way, and I think maybe she
needs something soothing. What's good
/ for her nerves."
| II don't 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. "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
peoples in the world couldn't soothe La
| why when she once got ''set out"
Meanwhile Mrs. Hinkle had been doing
furious forenoon's work, and, ready to
drop from exhaustion, was just hanging
up the mop after scrubbing the kitchen
floor, when dear laundering old Reuben
scuffied 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
husband had trusted might prove mar
cotic acted upon her as powerful irri-
tant.
"Reuben Hinkle!' said she, bracing her
aching back against the pump, chow
much longer do you think I'm going to
wash floors for you to litter?"
"There, there now don't fret" pleaded
Reuben; "I'll sweep it up. You do put
ter round more'n you're able, that's a
| fact. You know Pm ready and willing
to hire girl any day."
CA 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,"
said Mr.. Hinkle; they mean we'll by you.
Here's Phebe now been and sent you
something stilling. l told her what a
tiZz your nerves had been in lately"
$50 you've been running me down to
your folks!' cried Mrs. Hinkle, glazing
at her husband. "After all I've stood
from you, Reuben, it's too much"
Mr.. Hinkle was mild man-mild as
milk; but even the sweetest of milk will
sometimes turn sour in thunder storm,
and oft-recurring matrimonial tempests
had had their effect upon him.
Give always made excuses for you,
| Laviny, and tried my best to live peace
| able" said he, slowly; but believe faint
in the power Of mortal man to get along
with you"
Then, in state of great amazement at
| himself, he went out to untackle Dobbin
ana sow the turnip seed. Listening in
vain for 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 off in huff to her sister
Trips, guess" said he, patiently setting
out the Sunday remnant Of beans. "Td
have hitched up if I'd have knowed she
wanted to go. She wouldn't speak to me,
s'pose, cause I'd riled her. I hadn t
| oughter done it-that's 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.
| for her, and I'd better be of, said he as
| he strained the milk with extreme care
and deliberation, and by this means let a
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 though goaded on by the spears Of
! the setting sun behind him.
'Laviny amt sick, [ hope?" said Mr..
| Hinkle, anxlously.
"No, 'tisn't that" replied Mr.. Trip,
! twisting his fore finger under his collar
as if his cravat choked him-"'tisn't
| that-but-"
"She's getting most out of patience
waiting for me, 1 suppose" suggested the
unsuspecting Reuben. "Well, ia oughter
gone afore, only the off OK broke through
the fence, and"
'Laviny says she won't come back" in
terrupted Mr.. Trip, desperately; ''for
she's lived with you as long as she can
stand It'll"
Mr. Hinkle Topped down like starch
less dickey.
II might have knowed she couldn't
bear what l do" groaned he. "This
morning, when she was blowing of me,
spoke hash to her; | don't see how |
come to. But, Ezra, you don't think,
now, she won't never come round?"
Mr.. Trip muttered something about
his sister-in-law being pretty resolute,"
and turned away.
81 wish you'd carry over Laviny's
cough medicine" said Mr. Hinkle, rous-
ing himself. Lord! to think of her hack
ing in the night, and me not hearing her !!
And, Ezra, I'd take it kindly of ysu if
you'd step in, in the morning, and tell
me how she rested.''
Mr.. Trip consigned the bottle to his
coat pocket, while Reuben, returning to
the deserted kitchen, which already wore
masculine 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
L sit and grieve alone
,>oo~ honI clo,,1I Io 70