The Hickman courier., 1873-02-15

so cool. That man hasn't any more
nerves than a tub of lard / wouldn't
value jumping off the Westinghouse
if 1 thought it would give him start. "
ssPoor woman !" said Miss Niddhns,
displaying the red silk handkerchief
that might properly be called her badge
of mourning. It's your duty to your
self to go where you can take some
peace of your life "
"Idon't feel clear, said Mrs. Hinkle,
as she settled the coffee for dinner, and
thus ended their first conference.
But as Miss Siddlins spent the week,
iustifying Mr. Hinkle's apprehensions,
she and Mrs. Hinkle had ample appor-
tunities for reviewing the discussion of
the latter's grievances, till, from not
feeling ''clear," Mrs. Hinkle, by the
time her guesS departed, came to feel,
as she expressed it, ''all in Il muddle, "
Even her ox-eyed husband noticed
something amiss with her.
Il wonder whether or not sage tea
wouldnt be kind of quieting to Laviny, "
he reflected one morning as he logged
along to the village after turnip seed.
II hain't seen her so fractions since she
had the neurology in her face. If she
wasn't poor sick creature don't know
but / should get put out with her-I
L really don't !" and Mr.. Hinkle lower
ed his voice to an awe-struck whisper
as he gave utterance to this treasonous
thought.
"His folks . lived in 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 ?" cried Mr..
Hinkle, whoaing Dobbin
''DIercy on u.s." was Miss Phebe' $
answer.
'.'Tisn't one of her doings, said Mr..
Hinkle, slowly punching the wheel with
his whip-lash g but she's in terrible
nervoussway, and think maybe she
needs something soothing What E
col for hcr nerves
scolding, " replied Miss Phebe, witt
her mouth full of clothes-pins.
|'Now. sister, you re hard ON Laviny.
said Mr. Hinkle, III an injured tsne
sShe amt tough, like what you be.
Her temper is tough enough; bu
I'm suited if you are, poor soul " an'
Miss Phebe hunted for both sage ant
valerian, though inwardly persuaded
that all the poppies in the wori'
couldn't soothe Laviny when she ono
got "set out.
Meanwhile Mrs. Hinkle had bee
doing furious forenoon's work, and
ready to drop from exhaustion, was jus
hanging up the mop after scrubbing til
kitchen floor, when dear, blunderin
old Reuben scuffed across the threshol
with his torn paper bags, scatterin
dried leaves like an autumn wind, an
leaving muddy aoccasins tracks at ever
step. Before those clumsy Footprint
Mrs Hinkles feeble forbearance flee
The herbs her husband had truste
might prove narcotic acted upon h'
as powerful irritant.
"Reuben Hinkle - said she, bracin
her aching back against the puml
chow nyIch longer do you think L
going to wash floors for you to litter
ssThere, there now don't fret,
pleaded Reuben; II sweep it III
You do putter round more'n you're abb
that's fact. You know I'm ready
willing to hire a girl any day.
"a girl smouching my paint erie
Mrs. Hinkle, in wrath. Put dow
the broom, Reuben you've made tract
, enough. Your folks shall never ha'
!. that handle, that spend your none
on hired help.
You're rather hard on EN-, Laviny
said Mr.. Hinkle; they mean well
: YOU. Here's Phebe now been and Sc
Won something stilling. | told Ii
what fizz. yollr nerves had been
lately
? "So,youve been running me down
n vour folks y cried Mrs. Hinkl
: : glaring at hsparfsband. After all I
y stood from You, Reuben it's too much
Mr. Hinkle was mild man-mild
milk but even the sweetest OF mi
will sometimes turn sour in a thund'
storm. and oft-recurring matrimon
70 tempests had had their effects upon III
u GIVE always made excuses for yc
, Laviny. and tried my best to Il
u peaceable. . said he, slowly; ''but
m believe 'tain't in the power of NOR
a man to get along with you. .
- Then, in state of great amazem'
at himself, he went out to untackle ID
:. bin and SOW the turnip seed. List
NO in vain for the dinner horn,
returned to the house half an hour p
noon to find the fire ont, his unlu'
mullprints dried upon the floor, a
his wife absent.
t~Gone off in "a. huff to her SIS
p :. TrippAs, / guess, said he, patien
y setting out the Sunday yremnant OF bea
,If siI'd have hitched up if I'd have kno
"a she wanted to go. She wouldn't sp
rs to me, L s'pose, cause I'd riled her.
ke hadn't oughter done it-thats fac
a Having relieved his mind by this
ed confession, Mr.. Hinkle ate his din
with an excellent appetite, and IN
y. time his supper also, his wife not hay
th appeared.
ny ssI expect she calculates for me to
ng for her. and I'd better be off, said
m, as he strained fheN milk with extr'
le. care and deliberation,, and by this me
alf let a slow stream trickle down the
,p, side of the pail npon the spotless pal
/" floor. s.Why, if there amt Ezra Il
tty now y and rs he spoke, in at the '