Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-10-11
Man and Wife.
"Not a word, mind to Dinah Ann j.


sweet stiffness of the summer night,
heard these suggestive words as the gig
pulled up at the gate, and her husband
descended from it. She was pleasing
little woman of seven or eight and thir-
ty, with dark brown eyes, bright fresh
face, and 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, she waited
for what was to come next.
Mot word, for your life, mind to
Dinah Ann !"
"No fear !" replied voice, which she
recognized as that of her brother Harry
Leete; al know what women are.
She'd be for-for revolutionizing the
house, and herself, too, once let her 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'll take care. When are you coming
to smoke quiet pipe with me A? shall
want your advice as to"
"One of these evenings" interrupted
the lawyer, as he drove on up the lane.
Goodnight"
James Harbury, substantial farmer
and agriculturist, came through the gate
and turned to fasten it. Had he turn
ed 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 foot
steps died away Mrs. Harbury wound
her light summer gown ever 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 down her gown and en-
tered the sitting room, all calmly, near
ly as soon as her husband.
Got back p 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 time ? and why did you not
come back with Hall ?'' inquired Mrs.
Harbury, who liked to be at the begin
ming and end of everything.
Harry had to come," said the farm
er, who seemed to be walking about
rather restlessl y-and who never thought
of such thing as refusing to answer
his wife's questions. "He got mes
sage from the Down farm to 20 over
there without loss of time. l thought
| might as we'll come with him, Dinah
Ann. AS to Hall, ! 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, say, Dinah Ann it a sad thing
about Partridge at the Down farm. A
day or two ago he went out his haymak-
ers-and you know what a man he is to
work when he does get about it-got
into heat and drank a lot of cold
cider. 1t struck to him for death they
say, and Harry has gone to make his
will"
"What dreadful thing! !' exclaimed
Dinah Ann, who had a feeling heart
> with all her curiosity.
GAY, It's. l think I'd like a smacl
of cold beef, Dinah Ann, though it il
late. l got to talking with your broth
er in his office, and missed my tea ; 81
| had nothing since l o'clock dinner
While Phoebe puts it Ill just go ant
take look at White Bess.''
"White Bess is all right" said Mrs
Harbury $50 much better that Eva
thinks you might have ridden her tc
day. No need to 60 and see her now. "
q "Better, Is she? l should like to Civ
: her look ?'
He took up his hat which still lay o
n the table, and went out. Mrs. Har
" bury's eyes followed him /; they wer
Ii full of speculation, and her mind also.
81 don't believe he is gone to look a
: the mare" soliloquized she. "He'
Il not disturb her, now he knows she is a
right. And how absent and fdgety b
= seemed There is some mystery afoot-
# and | should like to know what it i
It | wonder whether should not thin
N no, should not think he can hay
stolen out to meet somebody" she col
. cluded, her tone dubious, in spite of tt
stress laid on the s'not."
5 Stepping lightly into the kitchen, an
giving her orders to Phoebe about tt
g supper tray, she caught up al old waite
g proof cloak that hung in the back pa
X sage, threw it on to her light dress, an
{ crept out after her husband. 1t was
very light and beautiful night; in fac
2 5, it could not be said to be yet as dal
N as it would be-and that is never dar
h. g. e