South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-02-20
Two Gross Words.

all day Qa a9 s
Tom didn't speak q bit cross, only
emphatic; but was out of temper that
morning, and my head ached badly
from sitting up late The night before.
ION had gone 70 q superior the Sc
cond time since our marriage. given by
some OF his bachelor friends, and hal
come home the worse for il. IL had
provoked me intensely. So I had fol-
lowed him TO his bed in sullen silencc.
and awokc none the better pleased af-
ter my sleep, on the morning alluded
to. 10 make the matter worse, lust as
he spoke TO mo about the button, the
knife with which I was cutting bread
for his lunch, slipped. INJECTING q deep
CASH on my hand. and the baby awolse
aud set up her sharp little cry from the
cradle. all in one and the same moment
You can wait as long. O.. I did last
night, reckon l replied sharply. real.
~ angry at last. Don't hurry mel
do all can, and more than am able
to do with one pair Of hands,
Tom dropped his button and turned
toward me with q startled why, Lucy?'
Don't Lucy me- retorted, throwing
down the breaii, and catching up the
baby, while the blood streamed from
my hand over her white gown. You've
done enough-you've broke my heart
L wish had never seen you'll wish |
was back again with my father and
mother
broke down with burst Of hyster-
ical tears. aud seeing the blood on my
hand, Tom came over and knelt down
beside me. why Lucy lie said, bis
voice and eyes full OF tenderness, you
have cut your hani. Why didn't you
say SOP Hero, give me the child while
you bind it up-sce how it blecds.
lie held out his hands for tho baby,
but snatched her away and went on
sobbng.
Don't cry, Lucy he continued,
stroking the hair back from my fore
hesd-'please don't; I know I've done
wrong, dear-but l didn't mean it.
fell in with some Of the old boys and
they persuaded me against my will
But it's the last time, Lucy-the last
time
Why didu't turn TO him, then, aud
hel p and encourage him? Because my
mean. tyrannous temper got the better
OF my woman's heart.
oh, yes!' said sneeringly, it is
easy enough to make fine promises
| You told me the same thing before -
How can you expect me to trust you
now?'
Tom was spirited and quick temper
ed--great, loving heated men always
are. He sprang TO his feet like q fash
and, before had time TO speak or think,
he'd left the room. tossed the Child
into the cradle, and rushed 10 the door
but it was too late, he was gone. | Just
caught a glimpse OF him turning the
Garner.
| went back TO the little breakr fast
room, how blank and drear it looked,
and what sharp, singing thorn there
was in the very core of my heart!
loved Tom. and he loved me. We had
been married only eighteen months,
ami this was our first quarrel. sat
down with the baby in my arms, heed
less OF my morning work. aud fell TO
thinking. All the old. happy days
came back. and the one in particular
when we sat in Dumberry Wood. it
was in Autumn, and oil the world SEEM
ed in blaze Of gold, as the sun slid
down, and the squirrels scattered over
head, dropping ripe nut, now and
then. into NY lap, as | sat there, with
the last rose of summer in my hair,
knitting purse for Tom.
Lucy he had said, as wove in the
last.golien stitches you've knit my love
my very life-up in that purse. Tell
me now, before you finish it, how it is
to be? am TO have you and-oh
won't think Of it even, Lucy, il would
be too Dreadful!
No, Tom 1 answered, you are to
have tho purse, and the hand that knit
it, too
Poor Tom, he cried then just like a
little child-he, the bravest man in the
village.
No fault in him. only n little too
wild, too fond Of gay company hut
you must tame him, Lucy, as your
mother did me-.
That was my old fathers advice on
our wedding day My heart smotc me
dreadfully as recalled il TO mind that
morning. Had done my duty? Had
followed the example of my mother,
who never let fall an unkind word?
But Tom would be home TO his din
ner. The thought brought me TO my
feet. did my work briskly, and went
about cooking jlst such dinner as
know lie liked. The plum pudding was
done TO a perfection the baby in a
clean slip, and myself oil smiles TO re-
ceive him when the clock struck one
But lie didn't come.
put by the untasted dinner anil pre-.
pared supper, and lit a bright Ere 10
the little psrlor. lie should have n
pleasant welcome. But he did not
come. Eight, nine, ten O'Clock, AID
put by The Cntasled supper and baby
and 1 went up TO the nursery TO wait
and watch. How the little thorn In my
heart pierced aud wrankled? Tom had
broken his promise, and my unkind-
ness was the cause Nothing else rang
in my ears through the long hours.