The Hickman courier., 1873-02-15


Mr.. Tripp muttered something about' \
his sister-in-law being pretty resolute,
and turned away.
"I wish you'd carry over Lavlny's
cough medicine" said Mr.. Hinkle, |
rousing himself. 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. 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,
Gas on some lonely buildings top
The sparrow tells her inoan
Far from the tents Of JOY and hope
sit and grieve alone"
"a dreadful poor hand should be
to sit alone" commented he, as he
shuffled 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 fact worthy of
note that the faithful Reuben, for the
first time in his married 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 resigned.
ssSeemss if I was just a framework,
with nothing inside, said the poor man.
moving about the chaotic kitchen in a
/ hushed manner, like person at
funeral ''the pith is all Knocked out of
me.
But notwithstanding ihis alarming
internal condition, by dirt of burning
he succeeded in making a lumpy hasty-
pudding for breakfast, and also a cup of
coffee. which, by reason of the large
amount of fish-skin that settled it, bore
an unpleasant resemblance to chowder
As he was sitting at this frugal repsst
ass,sI.. L.: ae..-o Reuben? 1t
can't be
Mr.. Hinkle noddedhis hedd solemnly,
his mouth being not available Just then
as an organ of speech.
"The worst is her own, stormed
AIiss-Phebe. raining shower of hair
pins from her falling chignon. ''Iguess
we sha'n't die on her account =
This reflection seemed to convey NO
consolation to Mr.. Hinkle
"Younever felt right toward Laviny,
said he, sorrowfully. II don't lay this
up agin her, her clearing out blame
it on to Miss Niddlins. She always had
dreadful faculty for onsetting Laviny.
Miss Phebe had contemptuous nose,
! turned upward at the end like sled
runner. 1t curled higher yet at this
, remark
az wish that you had some of my
spirit, Reuben Hinkle," said she, coil
ing her back hair with rapid circular
motion, as if she were winding herself
up 'if you had, you wouldn't go nigh
Laviny for one while. She's contrary,
and depend upon it she'll be great
deal more apt to come back if you don
> tease her. I'll keep house for you, SC
!, ! don't you be mite concerned.
:, Mr.. Hinkle groaned in answer AS
dough is without yeast, so was ne
= without Laviny. "He needed hel
> to keep him up" he said, pathetl
cally, and though fortunes woulo
not have wrung from her the comics
sion, it was equally true that LavlnN
u needed him to keep her down. Some
S leaven is safest hidden in its thre'
e measures of meal. Certainly, IN he
y husbands presence, Mrs. Hinkle ha'
been patient Griselda, compared t
what she now was, freed from home re
y straints. She fretted and fumed IN al
II explosive manner, raising an unwonte'
+ fermentation in the Trip household
n She hated his folks, she hated heube
foruot hating them, she hated herself 10
% having borne their Inference so long
2, and declared she h.aa not had :. tn
q temper of fly" which indeed wa
quite true But as the week wore
as without bringing, the coveted vision
TX her husband at her feet, the efferve'
r cence of her mood was fast subsidlnt
al when the rumor that Miss Phebe wf
n welding her-domestic scepter agltated
u, anew. Pretty work it was, to be crowde
We out of her own home by his folks 81
l knew now why Reuben did not com
al They had been setting him against he
What if he should never come? r.
MT the first time this thought intrudt
b. itself and in her anguish she soug
n relief in the camphor bottle. Wh
he RIGHT had Phebe in her kitchen, solacil
lst Reuben with delectable cookery, VIII
XIV he should have been hungering IN so
nd tude- after his wife ? She declared su
conduct would provoke saint, thout
er she did not give her authority for II
sly conviction. One thing was sures Phe
rs. sbould not have the washing of her tt
wn snoons. and without delay Mrs. Hlni
ak sent a juvenile Trip to remove the
and other valuables, choosing the DIM
;, bour for the errand, that the scei
80. effect might be greater. When .
,or Hinkle was forced to stir his tea VIII
Inc fork. perhaps he would be IN IN,
basta to conciliate his wife The pl
p was we'll laid; but it failed in the e
ro cution through the tardiness OF III
10 % Joe who, having a woodchuck to atte
80 70 ON the way, did not reach his unel
ms till the remains of the dinner lay G
80 On the nantry shelf, and Mr.. Hinkle
trv half mile away at his afternoon plowl
49, Miss Phebe sent the spoons obedie
est M ly. inwardly resolved that heu'