The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-08-20
mot A WORD, MIND, TO DINAH

"NoT a word, mind, to Dinah Amir
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 hus-
band descended from it. She was a
and thirty, with a dark brown eye. a
bright, fresh face and a natural propen-
sity 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 Annr'
ssNo fear!' replied a voice, which
she recognized as that of her brother,
Harry Leete; 81 know what women
are. She'd be for -revolutionizing the
house, and herself, too, once let her get
an inkling of this. No fear. James!
Take care, on your side, that you don't
lose that-or let Dinah Ann find it,
"Tn take care. When are you COM
ing to smoke quiet pipe with me? I
shall want your advice as to-
One of these evenings" interrupt
ed the lawyer, as he drove on up the
lane. "Good nightr'
James Harbury, substantial farmer
and agriculturist, came through the
gate and turned 10 fasten it. Had he
turned the other way, to the left in
stead of to the right, he would have
seen his wife, standing against the
hedge as close as she could stand, al
most 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 her lilac cap-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 husband.
SCOT back!' she exclaimed, with a
look of surprise.
"Just come" replied the farmer;
..Harry drove me in his gig.''
"What brings Harry up here in his
gig at this timer and why did you not
come back with HALF" inquired Mrs.
Harbury, who liked to be at the begin
ming and the end of everything.
ssHarry 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 Down Farm to go over
there without loss of time. thought
might as well come with him, Dinah
Ann. As to Hall, left him stuck in
the tap-room of the 'Tawny Lion:' he
didn't order his gig to be ready before
Just like Peter Hall! You'd have
taken the reins yourself, James. !
reckon, had you come back with him..
ssOh, he'll not get as bad as all that?
But, l say, Dinah Ann, it's sad thing
about Partridge at the Down Farm. A
day or two ago he went out with his
lawmakers you know what a man
he is to work, when he does set about
it-got into q heat, and drank lot OF
cold cider. 1t struck to him, for death.
they say; and Harry is gone to make
his will"
.tWhat dreadful thingr' exclaimed
Dinah Ann, who had q feeling heart,
with all her curiosity.
cav tits. think I'd like snack of
cold beef. Dinah Ann, though it is late.
I got talking to your brother in his
Office, and missed my tea; so I've had
nothing since one o'clock dinner.
While Phoebe puts it, I'll just go and
take look at White Bess."
..White Bess is all right" said Mrs.
Harbury. $50 much better that Evan
thinks you might have ridden her. No
need to 60 and see her now"
Better, is she! should like to give
her look"