The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-21
THE DAILY STAR
CHARLEY's WIFE.
BY VICTORIA F. BENTON.

mare Won't stand q moment lohSeI'
Seems as if she knew that Charley was
coming back with me. There-look al
the creatures ears now! and see how she
turned her pretty head round to me!
Bess, my beauty, do you want to set oil
after him at once, ehl You shall have
another quart of oats this evening foI
being SO willing-that YOU shallf' sali
good old Captain Palmer, patting the
arched neck of the handsome Morgan
brown mare that he chad raised from
colt" "Now, then, you women, are
those eggs ever comingY' he added, turn
ing toward the house; ''or is the hen lay
ing them%'
"Oh, dear! it does beat all, what i'm
patient creatures men are!" exclaimed
the Captains hale, rosy-cheeked, black
eyed wife of 60. within doors, as she ran
to and fro in the great kitchen, in what
she mentally described as "Auster."
Through the open door came a ring OF
bells-a perfect peal, gush of music
every time the mare stamped foot or
shook her impatient little head; yet those
eggs packed by the good wife's
own hands, that very afternoon, with
such care-where were they? Where
had she put them so safely that they
could never, perhaps, be found of men
again.
"Why, Aunt Hannah, are you waltz
ing all alone by yourself in this great
kitchenw asked fresh young voice i'll
an amused tone.
A girl of II, dark-haired, dark-eyed,
with look like the handsome old Cap
tain in her regularly-featured face,
opened the swing-door of the kitchen
staircase and stood on the lower step,
watching her bewildered relative, with a
smile.
"Oh, Hannah Palmer! The eggs for
the store. Nine dozen and eight, packed
by my own hands! And twelve pounds
Of nav best butter for Mrs. Searle, at the
tavern Oh, dear, do hear the Captain
and what did | do with the basket? Tell
me, Hannahl Bless the man, how he
does tramp up and down that entry!
And, oh, Hannah Palmer, what jewel
of girl you are! remember now that
did put them in there-only the Cap
tain always fusters me so! do hope
Charley's wife won't have to put up
with, though the Captain is really the
best of men in every other way"
Hannah had disinterred the eggs and
butter from the refrigerator, where Mrs.
Palmer had placed them that afternoon
when she herself was cooler then she was
now.
Hannah tripped out, with the basket
on her arm, into the hall, as neat and
pretty maiden of II as any one could
ask to see, in her pink and white ging.
nam dress and white muslin apron and
snowy lace frills with the pink ribbon
that Charley had brought her on his last
visit from the city; coquettishly knotted
in her smooth, dark hair.
"My wife is a blessed good woman,
but she does put man out when she
keeps him waiting on a day like this"
prowled the Captain, till he saw the bas-
ket on Hannah's arm and then his mood
changed at once. "There's a sensible
girl" he said, taking it from her hand.
SGo in and give the old lady a kiss for
me, and tell her that l say I hope that
Charley's wife (when he gets one) will be
Just as nice as you are"
Hannah looked ont with smile as the
man dashed along the road, the sides of
the newly vanished sleigh glittering in
the wintry sunshine.
"Will Charley's wife ever drive out in
a sleigh. wonder?" she thought, before
she turned and went into the kitchen
which was now glowing from floor to
ceiling with the fame Of noble fire
upon the open hearth.
"Charley hasn't seen such fire since
he went from home, know" said Mrs
Palmer, as between them they set Out
the round table, and covered it with one
of the home-spun table-cloths, smelling
of lavender, that Charley liked so wei
to see. The snowy wheat-bread, the gol
den graham rolls, the old-fashioned sweet
iohnny-cake, with sweet apple chopped
and baked inside, to be eaten with cream
and sugar-all these good things were il
their places upon the board.
Mrs Palmer was in the pantry, max
ing selection from among perfec
army of pies, when a step at the doc
startled her.
There stood Hannah, white as death
with a wild, hunted, desperate look il
her dark eyes.
"The land alive! What is 1t, childT
asked her aunt, turning pale through
sympathy.
"Charley's wife! He has brought he
home" gasped the girl, and in an instan
was gone.
The old lady stood aghast, facing the
door, pie in each hand. A tall, bearded
figure rushed through the house, caugh
her in bears hug, then snatcheo botl
pies out Of her hands, and ran toward {
lady who stood in the middle of th'
kitchen. as if waiting to be introduced.
"Here is some of my mothers cooking
It can not be beaten! Here are pies O
fruit, and pie of chicken and steak-ah
there's treat for you, Kate! Mother
dear, where are you, and where is m,
dear Hannah? Come and speak to Kate
Charley's wife, you know! Isn't it tea