The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-10-07
THE HUSBANDS SECRET.

NOJ WOru, Iulllu, W Dlnill hHH
Dinah Ann herself, the speakers wife,
having strolled down the garden in the
sweet stiffness of the summer night,
heard these suggestive words as the gig
pulled up at the gate, and her husband
descended from it. She was pleasing
little woman of seven Or eight and thirty,
with dark brown eyes, bright, fresh
face, and natural propensity to take
her own way, in the house and out of it.
Drawing back from the gate behind the
well-kept hawthorn hedge, she waited
for what was to come next.
"Not word, for your life, mind, to
Dinah Ann |"
"No fear !" replied voice, which she
recognized as that of her brother, Harry
Leete "I know what women are. She'd
be for for revolutionizing the house,
and herself too, once let her get an ink
ling of this. No fear, James! Take care,
on your side, that you don't lose that
or let Dinah Ann find it."
"I'll take care. When are you COM
ing to smoke quiet pipe with me? l
shall want your advice as to -"
cone of these evenings" interrupted
the lawyer, as he drove up the lane.
"Good-night |"
James Harbury, substantial farmer
and agriculturist, came through the gate,
and turned to fasten it. Had he turned
the other way, to the left instead of to
the right, he would have seen his wife,
standing against the hedge MS close as
she could stand, almost into it. He did
not see her, and went straight up the
path to the house. When his footsteps
had died away, Mrs. Harbury wound her
light summer gown over her black silk
apron, caught hold of herlilac strings,
lest the cap should fly off, and ran swiftly
up the narrow sidewalk, got round to the
back, went through the house, let drop
her gown, and entered the sitting-room,
all calmly, nearly as soon as her hus-
band.
SCOT back p size exclaimed, with
quite look of surprise.
"Just come" replied the farmer ;
Harry drove me in his gig"
"What brings Harry up here in his
gig at this time? And why did you not
come back with Hall ?" inquired Mrs.
Harbury, who liked to be at the begin
ming and the end of everything.
Harry had to come" said the farm
er, who seemed to be walking about
rather restlessly - and who never
thought of such thing as refusing to
satisfy his wife's questions. "He got a
message from the Down Farm, to go
over there without loss of time. /
thought 1 might as well come up with
him, Dinah Ann. AS to Hall, l left
him stuck in the tap-room OF the Taw-
ny Lion; he didn't order his gig to be
ready before 10 o'clock"
"Just Like Peter Hall !! You'd have
taken the reins yourself, James, | reck-
on, had You come back with him."
ooh, he'll not get as bad as all that
But, I say, Dinah Ann, it's sad thing
about Partridge at the Down Farm. A
day or two ago he went out with his hay
makers-and you know what a man he
is to work when he does set about it
got into heat, and drank lot of cold
cider. 1t struck to him for death, they
say; and Harry is gone to make his
will"
What dreadful thing p exclaimed
Dmah Ann, who had n feeling heart with
oil her curiosity.
"Ay, tits. think I'd like snack ci
cold beef, Dinah Ann, though it is late.
igot talking to your brother in his OF.
nee, and missed my tea, so I've had
laothing since o'clock dinner. While
Ph@be puts it I'll just go and take
look at White Bess.
-" White Bess is all right" said Mrs
hi1arbury. $50 much better that Evar
ihinks you might have ridden her in to
Gay. No need to go and see her now.
Better, is she? I should like t.
give her look"
de took up his hat, which still lay OF
tne table, and went out. Mrs. Harbury''
eyes followed him; they were full o
speculation, and her mind, also.
Il l don't believe he is gone to look a
ine mare" soliloquised she. He'd no
disturb her, now he hears she is al
ileht. And how absent and tidgety h'
seemed There is some mystery agate
and l should like to know what it is.
wonder whether-I should not think
no, should not think he can have stoleI
Uut to meet somebody" she concluded
her tone dubious in spite Of the stres
lald on the "not."
stepping lightly into the kitchen AM
slvlng her orders to Phoebe about tn
sapper-tray, she caught up an old water
p.oof cloak that hung in the back pas
.age, threw it ON to hide her light dress
.nd crept out after her husband. II wa
avery Light and beautiful night; in fac
could not be said to be yet as dark a
would be, and that is never dark il
ne nne nights Of summer.
a. For him to lose his tea" ran he
thoughts, "of all things II must b
me uncommonly urgent business ;
lao9ce James TO forego Q meal Of an,
8luQ. L da -opI~, ~,lak ~>~~~k A. -