The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1873-04-03

'I don't feel clear" said Mrs HinllIe
as she settled the coffee for dinner and
thus ended their first conference.
But as Miss Niddlins spent the week,
iustifying Mr. Hinkle's apprehensions,
she and Mrs. Hinkle had ample opportu-
mites for renewing 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 ex-
pressed it, "all in a muddle. Even her
ox-eyed husband noticed something
amiss with her.
II 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.
81 hain't seen her so fractions since she
had the neuralgia in her face. If she
wasn't poor sick creetur L don't know
but l 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 reasonable
thought.
His folks lived in sick headache
colored house at the Four Corners, and
his sister Phebe was hanging out clothes
in the back yard as he drove up.
"Got any sage to spare 2 cried Mr..
Hinkle, whoaing Dobblin.
MERCY on us is Laviny going to make
cheese in mud time p was Miss Phebe's
answer.
"'Tisn't none of her doings," said Mr..
Hinkle, slowly, furnishing the wheel with
his whip lash ''but she's in a terrible
nervous way, and I think may be she
needs something soothing. What's good
for her nerves p
81 don't know, without it's a sound
scolding," replied Miss Phebe, with her
mouth full of clothes pins.
on
said Mr. Hinkle, in an injured tone. ''She
amt tough, like what you be"
Her temper is tough enough; but L m
suited if you are, poor soulF and Miss
Phebe hunted for both sage and valerian,
though inwardly persuaded that all the
people in the world couldn't t soothe Lavi-
ny when she once got "set out"
Meanwhile Mrs. Hinkle had been do
ing a furious forenoon's work. and, ready
to drop from exhaustion, was just hang
ing up the mop after scru bbing the kitch-
en- floor, when dear, blundering old
Reuben scuffed 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.
Hinkles feeble forbearance fled. The
herbs her husband had trusted might
prove narcotic acted upon her as pow
erful irritant.
"Reuben Hinklep said she, bracing
her aching back against the piano, chow
much longer do you think I'm going to
wash floors for you to litter p
''There, there! now, don't fret, plead
ed Reuben; I'll sweep it up. You do
putter round more'n you re able, that's a
! fact You know I'm ready and willing
to hire girl any day"
"A girl smouching my paintE cried
Mrs. Hinl<le, in wrath. "Put down the
broom, Reuben; you've made tracks
| that handle, that spend your money on
hired help"
you're rather hand on 'em Laviny,"
said Mr.. Hinkle; "they mean well by
you. Here's Phebe now been and sent
you something stilling. l told her what
fizz your nerves had been in lately.
80 you've been running me down to
your folks p cried Mrs. Hinkle; glaring
at her husband. after all I've stood
from you, Reuben, it's too much"
Mr.. Hinkle was a 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.
i've always made excuses for you, La
why, and tried my best to live peaceable, ;"
said he slowly "but believe 'tain't 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
and 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 a huff to her sister Trips,
1 guess" said he, patiently putting out
the Sunday remnant of beans. I'D have
hitched up if I'd have knowed she want
ed to go. She wouldn't speak to me, l
s'pose, cause I'd riled her. 1 hadn'
oughter done it-thats 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.
Il expect she calculates for me to 60
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 triclzle down outside of the
pail upon the spotless pantry floor
'Why, if there amt Ezra Tripp now p
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 p said Mr.
Hinkle, anxiously.
mo, 'tisn't that" replied Mr. Tripp
twisting his forefnger under his collar
as if his cravat choked him-"tisn't that
but"
She's getting most out of patience
waiting for me l suppose" suggested the
unsuspectng Reuben. "Wel, I'd rather
gone afore, only the off OK broke through
the fence and"
"Laviny says she won't come back, in
terrupted Mr. Tripp, desperately "fol
she's lived with you as long as she car
stand itP
Mr.. Hinkle Topped down like starch
less dicky.
"I might have knowed she couldn'
bear what l do" groaned he. This
morning when she was blowing of me,
spoke ha' sh of her; don't see how
come to. But, Ezra, you don't think
now, she won t never come round p
Mr.. Tripp muttered something abou
his sister-in-law being pretty resolute,
and turned away.
81 wish you'd carry over Laviny' cougf
, medicine, said Mr.. Hinkle, rousing him
self. Lord to think of her hacking IL
the night. and me not hearing her And
Ezra, I'd take it kindly of you if you'C
step in the morning and tell me how sh'
, rested"
Mr.. Tripp consigned the bottle to hi
coat pocket, while Reuben, returning t
the deserted kitchen, which already wor,
a masculine air, tilted his chair agains
> the wall, and listened to the dirges of th
, F,o,s ~, ,rroya axDrasSioO tn his faplin u