Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-02-14

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?" said
Mr.. Hinklc, anxiousIy.
"No, 'tisn't that" replied Mr.
Trip, twisting his foreiinger under
his collar, as if his cravat chokcd
him." 'tisn't that-but-"
"She's getting most ont of pa.
tience waiting for me, / suppose >
suggested the unsuspecting Reuben
"Well, I'd oughter gone alorc, only
the off OK broke through the fence
and
'Laviny says she won't come
back" interrupted Mr.. Tripp, des
perately; "for she's lived with you
as long as she can stand it!'
Mr.. Hicklc Topped down like q
starchless dicky.
81 might have knowed she could
not bear wha, l do, groaned he
'rhis morning, when she was blow
ing Of me, l spoke hash to her:
don't see how | come to. But, Ezra
you don't think, now, she won't nev
er come round?"
Mr.. Tripp 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 ifyou'd step il
in the morning and tell me how she
rested :"
Mr.. Tripp consigned the bottle to
his coat pocket, while Reuben, re
turning to the deserted kitchen,
which already wore a masculine air
tilted his chair against the wall, and
listened to the dirges Of th> 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"
ga dreadful poor hand l should
be to sit alon ;" commented he, as
he shuffied about to tasten the win
dows. "Laviny is a master-woman
for making things lively. Some
how l can't bear to lock her OUT"
and it is Il 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 a 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 abomlnation OF
desolation reigned.
"Seems S it 1 was just frame
work, with nothing inside" said the
poor man, moving about the chaotic
kitchen in hushed manner, like a
person at funeral; "the pith is all
knocked out of me-"
But Notwithstanding this alarm
ing internal condition, by dint OF
burning three fingers he succeeded
in making lumpy hasty pudding
for breakfast, and also cup of cot
fee, which, by reason of the large
amount of fish-skin that settled it,
bore an unpleasant resemblance to
chowdcr. AS he was sitting at this
frugal repast his Sister Phebc
tlounced in,
elias Lavlny left you, Reuben? it
can't be"
Mr.. Hinkle nodded his head sol
emnly, his mouth being not availa-
BILE Just at that time as an organ OF
speech.
"Thc worst is her own," stormed
Miss Phebe, raining shower OF
hair-pins from her falling chignon.
IL guess we sha'n't die on her ac-
count"
This reflection seemed to convey
no consolation to Mr.. Hinklc.
"You never felt right toward La
viny," said he, sorrowtully 81
don't lay this up agin her, her clear
ing out; | blame it on to Miss Md
dllns. She always had a dreadful
faculty Tor onsetting Laviny."
Miss Phebe had contemptuous
nose, turned upward at the end like
sled runner. 1t curled higher yet
at this remark.
II wish you had some of my spir-
it, Reuben Hinklc;" coiling her
back hair with rapid circular mo
ton, 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. Pll
keep house for you, 50 don't be a
mite concerned"
Mr.. Hinkle groancd in answer
AS dough is without yeast, so was
he without Laviny. "Hc needed
her to keep him up" he said, pa
thetically, and though tortures
would not have wrung from her the
confession, it was equally true that
Laviny needed him to keep her
down. Some lcaven is safest hid
den in its three measures OF meal
Certainly, in her husbands pres
encc, Mrs. Hinkle had been pa
tient Griselda compared to what
she now was, freed from home re
straints. She fretted and fumed
in an explosive manner, raising an
unwonted fermentation in the Trip
household. She hated his folks, She
hated Reuben for not hating them,
she hated herself for having borne
their interference so long, and de.
clared she had not had "lhe temper
of which, indeed, was quite
true. But as the week wore on
without bringing the coveted vision
of her husband at her feet, the ctfer-
vescence of her mood was fast sub
siding, when the rumor that Miss
Phcbe was welding her domestic
scepter agitated it anew. Pretty
work it was, to be crowded out ol
her own home by his folks! She
knew now why Reuben did not come
'NI. 80. L. Il l,onn cntt;urr him o,rainc G