The Newtown bee., 1880-08-11

love affair cropped up again that woman who threatened to bring, an action for breach of promise when James married me. Perhaps she has been writing letters to him Mind you don't let Dinah Ann find it, says Harry. Or perhaps perhaps James has been foolish enough to let her meet him! :! Harry. not married man himself, and a lawyer, would lend himself to any earthly thing without scrnple. All law yers do."
 This rural district, remote from the haunts of willy men of the world, was given over entirely to farmers and farm ing intere sts; simple-mannered people, who lived out their uneventful lives in the routine of daily duties The small market town of Northam, four miles distant, was sleepy and primitive, never awakening from it's slumbers save on the weekly market day. It had it's par son; its doctor; and it's lawyer-Harry Leete; all three of them being nearly as simple as the farmers. Not simple in point of intellect, it must be understood 1; but as to life and manners.
 James Harbury had gone to it, in the gig of brother farmer, Peter Hall, his own mare, which he either rode or drove generally, being sick. He was tall, slender man, of thirty years, very fair, with exceedingly handsome features and mild eyes, looking as unlike the popular notion of 8 farmer as man could look, and presenting a marked contrast to his agricultural neighbors. So lar as appearances went, none of them, poor or rich, could vie with James Harbury, and his temper and his bearing were alike gentle.
 He bad one fault-though perhaps all people would not call it a fault-love of money. That he was one of the warm est farmers in the district was univer- sally believed, and the most saving ol men. Too saving, his wife would tell him-and where was the use of it. she | would ask, considering she had neither chick nor childp-and every now and then she would make the money fly, for she was dear lover of smart attire and of having pretty things about her. James would vince and bid her to be careful; but he never went the length of telling her she had spent too much He was fond of her and she ot him. "Neither chick nor child" In that | fact had lain sharp sting. They hao been married eight years now, and the sting was wearing itseH away. Time softens> all things. He had never giver
  tonight. He had never had any secrets from her, except that he never could bt brought to tell her what the exact sun was that he was enabled to put by at tht end of each year. Dinah Ann Harbury did not care for that; she knew tha however much it might be, 1t was all fol her. But she did care for this -thi l mysterious secret which had come tt her hearing tonight. She knew how good looking James was, now univer sally he was liked by man and by wo man, and what kind heart he had she put it .soft"-and something lik l jealousy began to torment her spirit. When James came in again, the sup per- tray was at one end of the table, ant 1 Dianah Ann, an unusual light in he eyes, sat at the other end, near the lamp having taken up her knitting. The farm 1 ar's general manner was easy an, placid, though he had certainly seemed restless after leaving the gig, but now h was calm again.
 "Well," she said, as he cut himself 1 | slice of the cold boiled beef, and nov did you find White Bessp" | "Oh. she seems comfortable" he re piled, looking round for the mus ard
 You deceitful william! You knoy ] you did not go near the stable" though l his wife. You are sure you think SO, she added, aloud. 1 "Ay. White Bess will be all hersel l tomorrow, Dinah Ann"
 !" It's more than I shall be- though Dinah Ann, unless I can come to th
 bottom of this"
 He ate bis supper nearly in silenc, like a man who is mentally preoccuplet
 And he enjoyed it, too, for he was yer hungry.
 l "James, do you ever hear anythin now of that Emma Land ?"
 James Harbury laid down his kni
 and fork in surprise at the question an
 looked across at his wife, whose face w.
 bent over her knitting.
 Do ever hear anything of Emm
 Land?" he repeated. "W hat can mak
 you ask that, Dinah AnnP"
 What can make me ask 1tp l don
 know. The query happened to con
 into my mind. Why should l not as
 itp"
 There's no sense in it-that see. ]" ) But do youP"
 , Do whatp"
 '.Ever hear of herr" "Wby. YOU know she went out to [ where was itP-the West Indies, , think-to her friends there-ever so lol ago. Nigh upon eight years it must b Z You know she did, Dinah Ann." But she may write from the We 3 Indies. Perhaps she does. Does s! l write to you?"
 t He shook his head to imply a neg l tive, and occupied himself with his su y per again. Emma Land had once up s a time been somewhat sore subject
 tween them, for Dinah Ann was lealo in the old days. j, Do you ever. see her, James!"
 "See whop"
 f You know. Emma Land?n j. ssI can't think what has put all u $ into your head tonight, Dinah Ar d How is it p
 e .sBut do you p''
 a Do I what?n
 tsSee her."
 ,. "Why, how could I see her P IS turned he, in sort of helpless tol o that his wife fully thought was put {
 "She is in the West Indies, and l l .e here"
 .she may not be in the West Ind y now" r. II don't know where she is. SI Il there for all I know-and I'm sure
 does not matter.
 at Ask no questions, and Eyou'll Il d no stories, ? thought his wife, quoti II the line familiar to her in her scho le girl days.
 I II should not at all wonder, Jam n- but Emma Land has come back agai " May be. Two or three years. ago ut heard she married out there-n CT .sWho heard itp Who said itP' i'd CT know I heard it; remember
 quite well. But as to who said it, l i'd get that-your brother, think. T he she had married cousin. IT. aOh! Not that that's unlikely, $, she was ready to marry anybody. Sh $ have married you, you know. She as traps for you.
 ct, That's about true, I believe; bu l J I G. h Az,