Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-11-27


James Harbury had gone to it in the gig
of brother, Peter Hall, his own mare,
which he either rode or drove generally,
being sick. He was tall, slender man
of nine and thirty years, very fair. with
exceedingly handsome features and mild
blue eyes; looking as unlike the popular
notion OF farmer as man could look,
and presenting marked contrast to his
agricultural neighbOrs. So far as ap-
pearance went, none of them, rich or
poor. could vie with James Harbury, and
his temper and his bearing were alike
gentle.
He had one fault-thOugh perhaps all
people would not call it fault-lOye of
money. That he was one of the warm
est" trainers in the district, was univer-
sally believed, and the most saving of
men. Too saving, his wife would tell
him; and where was the use of it, she
would ask, consider that she had neither
chick nor child?--and every now and
then she would make the money fly, for
she was dear lover of smart attire and
of havingipretty things about her. James
would vince and bid her to be careful,
but he never went to the length of tell
ing her she spent too much. He was fond
of her and she of him.
Neither chick or child" In that fact
had laid sharp sting. They had been
married eight years now and the sting
was wearing itself away. Time sOftenS
all things. He had never given her cause
for an unhappy thought tonight.
He had never had any secrets from her
except that he never could be brought
to tell her what the exact sum was that
he was enabled to put by at the end of
each year. Dinah Ann Harbury did not
care for that; she knew that, however
much it might be it was for her.
But she did care for this mysterious
secret which had come to her hearing to-
night. She knew how good looking
James was, how universally he was liked
by man and woman, and with a kind
heart he had-she put it "sOft'-and
something like jealousy began to tor
ment her spirit.
When James came i'm again the supper
tray was at one end of the table and
Dinah Ann, an unusual light i'm her eyes,
sat at the other end, near the lamp, hav-
ing taken up her knitting. The farmers
general manner was easy and placid.
though he had certainly seemed restless
after leaving the gig; but now he was
calm again.
WELL" she said, as he cut himself a
slice of the cold boiled beef, "and how did
you find White Bess?"
oh. she seems comfortable" he re-
piled, looking around for the mustard
pot.
s'YOu deceitful william You know You
did not go near the STABLE thought his
wife. "YOu are sure you think SOP" she
added aloud.
"Ayl White Bess will be all herself
again tomorrow, Dinah Ann"
Its more than | shall be-" thought
Dinah Ann, unless l can come to the
bottom of this
He ate his supper nearly i'm silence, like
a man who is mentally preOccupied.
And he enjoyed it, too, for he was very
hungry.
James, do you ever hear anything
now of that Emma Land"
James Harbury laid down his knife
and fork in surprise at the question and
looked across at his wife whose face was
bent over her knitting.
DO | ever hear anything of Emma |
Land~ he repeated. what can make |
you ask that. Dinah Amp
What can make me ask it? I don't |
know. The query happened to come in
20 my mind. Why should 1 not ask it?" !
There is no sense in it-that 1 see?"
But do your"
''DO wlIat?"
"Ever hear of her?"
"Why, you know she went out to-
where was it?1the West Indies, think
to her friends there-ever so long ago.
nigh upon eight years it must be. You
NOW she did. Dinah Ann
But she may write from the West In
lies. Perhaps she does. Does she write |
20 yOuT
He shook his head to imply negative.
md occupied himself with his supper
again. Emma Land had once upon a |
lime been somewhat sore subject be-
tween them, for Dinah Ann was Jealous |
N the old days.
do you ever see her, James?"
"See whO?"
you know. Emma Land"
Il can't think what has put all this in |
% your head tonight, Dinah Ann. How
IS it?"
"But do yOu?'
'DO what?"
'See her."
"Why, how could 1 see herr" returned
ne, In sort of hopeless tone, that his
wife fully thought was put on. "She is
n the West Indies and am here.''
ASK no questions and you'll hear no
stories" thought his wife, quoting the |
line familiar to her i'm her schoolgirl |
lays.
Il should not at all wonder. James. but
Emma Land has come back again."
May be. Two or three years ago we |
heard she had married out there"
'WhO heard it? Who said it?"
IL know heard it; remembered il |
luite we'll; but as to who said it, forgot |
hat-yOur brother, l think. That She |
lad married cousin
"Oh! not that that's unlikely. for she
vas ready to marry anybody. She'd |
lave married you, you know. She laid
raps for you"
That's about true, l believe; but did
lot fall into them, Dinah Ann" And
good naturally, James Harbury
turned from the supper tray to reach his
)lpe. Dlnah Ann rang the bell, resumed
Ter knitting, and fell into an unpleasant
.everle.
A few days passed away, things going
m smoothly at the farm. Dinah Ann
lad recovered her temper-at least she
displayed no signs of its being ruffied.
James Harbury was as usual, save at
lines he was little absent and thought
ul. One afternoon he went upstairs to
'hange his everyday coat for better
me.
where are you gOing?" cried Mrs.
1arbury, quietly. as he came down
lgain.
"Only into NOrtham. shall be home
arly."
Into Northam It's not market day."