Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1873-02-22
MACON, MISSISSIPPI SATURDAY, FEBRUARY o. 1873. !.

returned to the house half an hour past
noon to find the fire out, his unlucky
mud-prints dried upon the AOOf, and
his wife absent e
"GOne OF in huR TO her sister
Trips, I guess" said he, patiently
setting out the Sunday remnant Of beans.
"Td have hitched up If I'd have known
she wanted to go. She wouldn't speak
to me, l spOse, cause I'd riled her. I
hadn't oughter done it-that's a fact. T"
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 10
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 slow stream trickle down the out
side Of the pail upon the spotless pantry
floor. ''Why, if there amt Ezra Trip
now !" and as he spoke, in at the west
door came hH. wife's brOther-in-law,
with unwilling feet, as though goaded
on by the spears of the setting sun be-
hind him. '
"Laviny amt sick, ] hopeP" said Mr..
Hinkle, anxiously.
"No, 'tisn't that, replied Mr.. Tripp,
twisting his forehnger under his collar,
as if his cravat choked ''tisnt
that-but-" #.'
"She's getting most out Of patience
waiting for me, I suppose" suggested
the unsuspecting Reuben. "Well, I'd
oughter gone afore, only the offo1 broke
through the fence, and"
"Laviny says she won't come back, +"
interrupted Mr.. Trip, desperately (;
for she's lived with you as long as she
can stand it |"
Mr.. Hinkle Topped down like
starcAless dicky.
"I might have knOwed she couldn't
bear what do" groaned he. "This
morning, when she was blowing of me,
[ spoke hash to her I don't see how
come to. But, Ezra, You don't think,
now, she won't never come round 2"
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,
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 a 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
sit and grieve alone.r
"A dreadful poor hand / should be
to sit alone" commented he, as he
shuffied about to fasten the windows.
'Laviny is master-woman for making
things lively. Somehow can't bear to
lock her ont :" 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 desolstion resigned.
"Seems's if I was just framework,
with nothing inside, said the poor man,
moving about the chaotic kitchen in
hushed manner, like person at a
funeral ''the pith is all knocked out Of
me"
But Notwithstanding this alarming
internal condition, by dint of burning
he succeeded in making lumpy hasty-
pudding for breakfast, and also 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 repast
his sister Phebe founced in.
HAS Laviney left you, 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 |
Miss 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
a dreadful faCultyfOr onsetting Laviny.
Miss Phebe had cOntemptuous nose,
turned upward at the end like sled
runner. It curled higher yet at this
"I 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 il you don't
tease her. I'll keep house for you, so
don't you be q mite concerned"
Mr.. Hinkle groaned in answer. As