The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-12-13
The Tax ColIectOr,s wife.

to settle down upon the earth. All
day the rain had been falling, some.
times in heavy showers; the rose,
and pinks in the garden had a sicklv
look, 70: the petals hung low and
were heavy with wafer, and with
mud that had splaslIed upon them.
The clouds were siill dark and
threatening. hespeaking stormy
night The little town of Ashton
in Virginia, was unusually quiet,
The streets were too muddy amlsthe
weather too Indictment to entice
| people from their homes Only now
and then solitary traveller was to
| be seem. 5 A8ieT Hi
In a vine -wreathedA cottage on a
1oWer-sprinkled- lawn the supper had
been waiting over an hour for the
master Of the house, whose business
had necessitated his being absent
from home all day, AIF. Jacobs was
the tax. coll ector of the district, aud
consequently could not wait the
return of pleasant weather before
pursuing bis journey. Therefore he
had equipped himself in his india
rubber overgarment in the morning,
and had gone about his business,
leaving his wife the promise of an
early return in the evening but
supper time had come and gone
without his making his appearance.
Mr. Jacobs, however, was not anxious
as yet Such delays were too fre-
quent 80 cause this one to give her
any nneasiness of mini.
She fitted about the house, busy
with evening duties, singing a gay
song as she went. She was a bright
little woman, with world of cour-
age written in her dark, sparkling
eyes. .lt
Anon she disrobed her little ones
and put them to bed and when the
night shadows turned 10 inky black
ness. she seated herself by the lamp
and began to work, still Leaving the
supper table spread. and Tie food on
the stove keeping warm for the re-
turn Of her husband. But the little
clock on the mantle-sheIf had told
her the hour often o'clock before his
step was heard at the door. He
came in shurriedly, and strobe to a
seat without removing his dripping
outergarments.
II must go to Richmond tonight. :"
/ he said, in answer to his wife 8
/ questioning look.
$50 Richnnondr - rpDeated his wife.
in dismay. Twenty miles in the
storm!' @ aa
! Cant be helped" he returned,
Business business, you know
He removed his hand from his
pocket and took off his hat,
revealing the handsome face of
q light eomplexioned. middle
aged man. lie had large gray eyes.
but they wore an anxious expression.
i an their glance wandered restlessly
about the apartment.
Jane" lie said suddenly, again
diving his hand into his troublesome
pocket. "do you suppose you could
take care Of large sum of money
till tomorrow y
"Why. yes," she answered, in
surprise.
Il have collected $500" he con.
/ tinued, sit is too late TO get the sum
into the bank, aud do not care tc
carry so much with me-
"Well, you can leave it here as
we'll as not. No one would think OF
my having such sum of money"
He drew a large wallet from his
pocket and placed it in her bands.
4 ut belongs to the government
and if you let it pass from your
hands | am ruined be added.
And he rose as if to depart.
You are going to eat some sup
per- she inquired. a
mo, have no time to lose.
must reach Richmond by midnight
! Goodbye. Take good care of tht
money, and fasten all the DOORS
He gave her a hurried kiss ant
was gone. I IS b
But the sounds of his footstep:
had scarcely died away before Mrs
Jacobs began to feella strange feal
! creeping over her. Why it was sht
knew not. She had lived there
4 seven years, and slept there many {
night without the doors even, being
shut. Now they were licked anC
boIted, she could not think Of going
to bed. She was too nervous fo
that. She was likewise too nervou!
to work. She put the, money in th'
pocket Of her dress, and clasped i
4 tightly ih her hands, as she sat yer.
still, gazing auxiohsly into nothing
ness, and listening so intensely tha
silence became a fearful ming1Ing 0
discordant sounds to her ears -
An hour paosed. IL had been al
age to her. Present. II she heard !
sound. It was not the rain. fo
there was perfect full in the storm
It could not be a eighbor, for sh
l lived in the outskirts of the village
: some distance from any one. AM
she was not likely tohbe called u
in case of sickness
! Again she heard it. It seemed a
r if window sash had been sloMl
e raised, Strange that she shoul
2 have forgotten TO fasten them down
Why didn't John leave me hi
' revolver?' she mnsed. | havesnotI
: ing with which to pro- ect myself j
case / should be molessted to-nigh
a 1t was really an oversight in him.
Again she heard lhe sound.
seemed 70 4c0me aff6nitltLe bedroom
81 1t was surely tie raising OF a asasl
= Then there kwasthe sonHfl of q n1ot'
ment. although some que was iente
Z ing that way. qi12 so
: Fear nearly parall'zed her for
q moment. but she quickly rallied. eah
II faI+i nv -,,ts ga,o lats,,s Is ,,raannf3nalg i