The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1873-04-03
JACKSON c. H, OHIO, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1873.


Seems if I was just frame work,
with nothing inside said the poor man,
moving about the chaotic kitchen IN a
hushed manner, like a person at iuner-
al 1.-The pitch is all knocked out of me.
But notwithstanding this alarming in
ternal condition, by dint of burning three
fingers he succeeded in making lumpy
hasty-pudding for breakfast, and also a
cup of coffee, which, by reason of the
large amount of fsh-skin that settled it,
bore an unpleasant resemblance to
chowder. As he was sitting at this fru-
gal repast his sister Phebe founced in.
Has Laviny left yon, Reuben 1t
can't be-"
Mr. Hinkle nodded his head solemnly
his mouth being not available Just then
as an organ of speech.
''The worst is her own" stormed Miss
Phebe, raining a shower of hair-pins from
her falling chignon. Il guess we shan't
die on her account
This reflection seemed to convey no
consolation to Mr.. Hinlle.
"You never felt right toward Laviny,"
said he sorrowfully.- 'I don't lay this up
again her, her clearing out; 1 blame it
on to Miss Niddlins. She always had a
dreadful faculty for onsetting Laviny."
Miss Phebe had contemptuous nose,
turned upward at the end like sled run
ner. 1t curled higher yet at this remark.
''I wish you had some of my spirit
Reuben Hinkle," said she coiling her
back hair with rapid circular motion
as if she were winding herself up eff 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't tease her. I'll keep
house for you, so don't be a mite con-
cerned."
Mr. HinkIe groaned in answer. As
dough is without yeast. so was he without
Laviny. "He needed her to keep him
up" he said pathetically, and though
tortures would not have wrung from her
the confession, it was equally true that
Laviny needed him to keep her down.
Some leaven is safest hidden in its three
measures of meal Certainly, in her hus-
bands presence, Mrs. Hinkle had been a
patient Griselda compared with what she
now was, freed from home restraints.
She fretted and fumed in an explosive
manner, raising an unwonted fermenta-
ton in the Tripp household She hated
his folks, she hated Reuben for not hatin G
them, she hated herself for having borne
their interference SO long, and declared
she had not the temper of fly (which
indeed was quite true But as the week
wore on without bringing the coveted
vision of her husband at her feet, the eff
fervescence of her mood was fast subsid-
ding, when the rumor that Miss Phebe
was welding her domestic sceptor agita-
ted it anew. Pretty work it was to be
crowded out of her own home by his folks!
She knew now why Reuben did not come.
They had been setting him against her.
What # he should never come? For the
first time this thought intruded itself,
and in her anguish she sought relief in
the camphor bottle What right had
Phebe in her kitchen, solacing Reuben
with delectable cookery, when he could
have been hungering in solitude after
his wife? She declared such conduct
would provoke a saint, though she did
not give her authority for this conviction.
One thing was sure, Phebe should not
have the washing of her teaspoons, and
without delay Mrs. Hinkle sent q iuven-
lie Tripp to remove these and other per-
sonal valuables, choosing the dinner hour
for the errend that the scenic effect might
be greater. When Mr.. Hinkle was
| forced to stir his tea with fork, per-
haps he would be in some haste to con-
cilliate his wife The plan was welllaid :;
but it failed in the execution through
the tardiness of little Joe, who, having a
woodchuck to attend to on the way, did
not reach his uncle's till the remains of
and Mr.. Hinkle was half mile away at
his afternoon blowing.
Miss Phebe then sent the spoons obe-
diently, inwardly resolved that Reuben
should not know of this proof of "Lavi-
ny's Ugliness, for she was well aware
| that only her own repeated assurances
| that Laviny would soften toward him il
left to herself had kept him passive thus
( far.
Seems ifI wasn't doing the handsome
thing not to go nigh her," he often said.
| Il wonder whether or no she amt count
ing on me fetching her?'
'If she comes of her free will she'll be
likely to stay put, Miss Phebe would
answer; "but try to drive her, and you
know what Laviny is
Mr. Hinkle did know, unfortunately
and, knowing, schooled himself to pa.
tient waiting.
Thus the days wore on, and he plodded
through his spring work, cheered little
! in spite of himself by Miss Phebes earn.
est efforts at making him comfortable
while Laviny, mortified and then alarmed
by his non-appearance, worried herseli
into course of exasperating sick head
aches, and in every sense shut out the
sunlight from the house of the Trips.
In the midst of paint-scrubbing Mrs
complaining sister, but left one of heI
children to wait upon her. Mrs. Hinkle
felt abused When had Reuben been too
busy to bathe her aching temples2 Lit
tie Joe made her nervous as a witch, and
one day she told him so, and a moment
after had the satisfaction of hearing him
say to his mother in the kitchen that lie
couldn't get along with Aunt Laviny
! nohow."
Why, that is just what Reuben had
said-Reuben, who had never spoken
hastily to her in his lifel Was she an
uncomfortable person to live with2
''Tain't in the power of mortal man tc
get along with you, Laviny." The words
come back to her with the startling force
OF prooftext, and haunted her after
ward continually,
It must have been in rhubarb time
for dandelion green had gone by, when
one morning little Joe rushed in with
had fallen ker-chunlz from beam in the
barn"
Mrs. Hinkle tore the bandages from
her head and started up.
where's my bonnet Susan? I'm goins
home!"
Maybe he is not badly injured Wait
till we hear further" urged Mrs. Tripp
II tell you I'm going home, Susar
Trippl Where's my bonnetY and snatch
ing it by the string Mrs. Hinkle spranl
into the wagon just vacated by hel
nephew and drove away at q doctor'
;t4Ia Toa +,,rYa al n sar;as of con, arsots G