Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-08-07

the clock, with some dismay
''Wc have had our supper, if that is
| what you mean" says Mrs job. sudden
ly facing him, ''hours ago? Iut there
is bread in the pantry, if you want it"
still with her eyes upon him, and
bristling for battle. But Job did not
take up the guags, but looked at her
with tender, sorrowful, plying gaze,
and, signing, went and found his crust,
and ate ii without a word.
When a physician finds patient get
ting beyond his skill, he calls in a broth
er practitioner and Mrs. DIR. Job, think
ing the moral symptoms of her patient
more and more puzzling, laid the case
before Mary Ellen.
Mary Ellen was Mrs. Jobs sister,
lived in the lower half of the house, and
never had believed i'm job Spinning.
'sThere is a woman in the case pro-
nounced Mary Ellen portentouslv.
Mrs. job fired. ''Mary Ellen, don't
belive it, job Spinning isn't that
kind of a man.
Mary Ellen smiled superior.
"Men are men, and not women, Jane,
and facts are facts; and if job don't
spend his time here, he does somewhere
else. May be job is all right, and |
don't say he amt; but the first question
| always ask about husbands is, what
do they do with their time and their
money ?and then judge accordingly"
There's different ways of putting
facts" said Mrs job much wilted, but
still vaguely convinced of the monstrO-
sity of Mary Ellen's conclusions when
applied TO job; ''and we all know you
always were Jealous about JOb"-that
slipped off her tongue without intend
ing-''and Idon 1T believe it, Mary Ellen
say what you like"
''None so blind as them that won't
see; and for jealous, cried Mary Ellen,
very red, Il must first see something to
be jealous of-not to say that you
needn't be mad at me. Jane, a. | amt
the woman he's after, any how p"
81 call that low, ;" observed Mrs. Job,
hastily picking up her work-basket and
retiring with much dignity. Not for
worlds would she have cried before
Mary Ellen; but sitting by her own
fire, she could do what she pleased-and
then, her hysterieal passion over, she
still sat, watching the fire gleam on the
wall; and in the silence, broken only
by the falling of a coal, or the measur-
ed ticking OF clock, came back to her
a bright morning in their welded lives
when Job had brought home that very
clock and set it up ON the shelf, telling
her it would say, as long as it could tick
faithful for ever; faithful for ever. and
Mrs. Job said TO herself that the clock
had licked out many an hour that found
her fretful, but never one that did not
find him patient; and minutes enough
i'm which she had been selfish, but never
one where he was not self-denying-
and what was the use of his faithful
ness.
Mrs. Job started and gave little
scream-Job, coming in softly, had
touched her OF the shoulder before she
was aware-and starting up, she faced
him, hesitating and flushed.
What, crying?" asked Job in a
troubled way.
"No, not crying" returned Mrs. Job,
glowing between her recollection and
Mary Ellen's spur and new resolve;
''or, if / was. it was for myself, not
because of you, Job; for believe you
are right, Job, though it all seems so
strange, because it is you; and | love
you, Job, and am going to trust you
till YOU speak out, of yourself, and tell
me what it is between us!' crying
heartily as she talked and with her arms
about his neck.
"Between US, over us. muttered
job; and then sudden and awful pale
ness fell upon him-you could not say
he turned pale, he was so pale already.
And with the plying, tender, woeful
look that she had seen on his face before.
Poor little woman. poor Jane"' he
said, stroking her hair that was still
soft and bright; ''poor dear!' an d that
was all. His manner was very tender,
and from that night he softened into
many of his old ways; but that was all.
The days went on into months, and
one morning job proposed a Spinning
spree. He had not spoken the word be-
fore since that day that had changed
him in such mysterious fashion,
"we will take the steam cars" said
Job.
At once the small Spinnings were
clamorous. but Mrs. job was silent.
Her heart beat fast To the thought that
to-day Job would speak out. She
never thought where she was going,
only when would JOB speak out? The
iron horse picked them up at one depot
and trudged sturdily off with them to
another raw little station where
Mrs. Job looked about her bewildered.
81 have a friend who has a house
here said Job, giving her his arm;
and she noticed that his breath came
short and his steps were uneven.
"He is going to speak, | know" she
said to herself"
The friends house was charming
house, with a yard at the back and in
the front, and oddly enough, the key of
the front door in Jobs pocket, who
entered without ceremony. Mrs Job
entered, and. looking about her, grew
red and pale by turns.
.'There are large rooms above" said
Job, watching her.
ats our very house." burst out Mrs.
Job, 'sthat we've planned a hundred
times; and the carpet | was always
coveting job" catching him by the
arm .'whose house is this"
.'It belongs to a bad man." answered
Job, sswho never told his wife that bis
salary was raised six hundred and fifty
dollars; and when she had been pinched
on fourteen dollars a week. made her do