Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-10-01
MAN AND WIFE.
mo, word, Mind, to DInah Annw

mot word, mind, to Dinah Ann"
Dnah Ann herself, the speakers wife, hav-
ing strolled down the garden in the sweet
stiffness of tho summer night heard these
suggestive words as the gig pulled up at the
gate, and her husband descended from il.
She was a pleasing little woman of seven or
eight and thirty, with dark brown eyes,
bright fresh face, and n 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, Sue waited for
what was to come next.
Not word, for your life, mind, to Dinah
Ann"
mo fear :" replied voice, which she rec
ognized as that of her brother Harry Leete
II know what women are. She'd be for
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,"
"I'n take care. When are you coming to
smoke quiet pipe with me? shall want
your advice as to"
lone of these evenings" interrupted the
lawyer, as he drove on mp the lane. Good
night !"
James Harbul }, substantial farmer and ag-
riculturist, 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
as 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 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 of,
and ran swiftly up the narrow sidewalk, got
round to the back, went through the house,
let down her gown and entered the sitting
room, all calmly, nearly as soon as her hus-
band
Got back ?" she exclaimed, with quite 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 time2 ? and why did you not come back
with Hall ?" inquired Mrs. Harbury, who
liked to be at the beginning and end Of ey-
erything,
Harry had to come" said tho farmer, who
seemed to be walking about rather restlessly
and who never thought of such thing as
refusing TO answer his wife's questions. He
got message from tho Down farm TO go
over there without loss of time. thought
might as we'll como with him, Dinah Ann.
As to Hall, l left him stuck in the taproom of
the "Tawny 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, reckon, had you
come back with him"
"Oh' he'll not get as bad as that But, 1
say, Dinah Ann, it's sad thing about Par
fridge at the Down farm. A day or two ago
he went out with his haymakers-Snd you
know what a man he is 10 work when he does
get ab out it-got into a heat and drank lot
of cold cider. It struck TO him for death
they say, and Harry has gone TO make his
will"
'What dreadful thingl" exclaimed Dinah
Ann, who had a feeling heart, with all her Gu
riosity.
"Ay, It's. think I'd like a smack of cold
beef, Dinah Ann, though it is late. l got to
talking with your brother in his office, and
missed my tea so I've had nothing since l
o'clock dinner While Phoebe puts it I'll
Just go and take look at White Bess"
"White Bess is all right" said Mrs. HAr-
bury; $50 much better that Evan thinks you
might have ridden her to-day. No need to
go and see her now"
Better, is she? should like TO give her
a look2"
He took up his hat, which still lay on the
table, and went out Mrs. HRrbury's eyes
followed him; they were full of speculation,
and her mind also.
II don't believe he is gone TO look at the
mare, soliloquized she. He'd not disturb
her, now he hears she is all right. And how
absent and fdgetty he seemed There ID
some mystery afoot-and / should like to
know what it is. wonder whether
should not think--no, should not think he
! can have stolen out to meet somebody" she