The Red Cloud chief., 1880-09-16
"NOT A WORD, MIND, TO DINAH
ANN!'

"NOT A WORD, MIND. TO DlNAH
ANN"
"Nor a word, mind, To Dinah Ann
Dinah Ann herself, the speakers wife,
having strolled down the garden IN the
.weet stiffness of the summer night,
heard these suggestive words as the
gig pulled up at the gate. and her nus
band descended from il. She was G.
pleasing little woman of seven or eight
and thirty, with a dark brown eye. a
bright, fresh face and natural propen-
sity to take her own way, in the house
and out of il. Drawing back from the
gate behind the well-kept hawthorn
hedge, she waited for what was to come
next.
Not a word, for your life, mind. to
Dinah Ann
..No fear..' replied a voice, which
she rerognized as that OF her brother,
Harry Leete; Il 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,"
..PH take care. When are you com
ing to smoke a quiet pipe with me? L
shall want your advice as to"
lone of these evenings" interrupt
ed the lawyer, as he drove on up the
lane. "Good nighti'
James Harbury, substantial farmer
and agriculturist, came through tn"
gate and turned 20 fasten il. Haq he
turned the other way, TO the lefiC III III
stead of to the right, he would w
seen his wife, standing against I !
hedge as close rs she could stand, al
most into il. 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 of, 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.
Got 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
gio at this timer and why did you not
come back with Hall?" inquired Mrs.
Harbury, who liked to be at the begin
ming and the end of everything.
Harry had to COME" said the farm.
er. who seemed to be walking about
rather restlessly-and who never
thought of such a thing as refusing to
satisfy his wife's questions. "He got
amessage from Down Farm to 60 over
there without loss of time. / thought
might as well come with him, Dinat
Ann. As to Hall, / left him stuck il
the tap-room of the 'Tawny Lion he
didn't order his gig to be ready before
ten 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 all that
But. 1 say, Dinah Ann, it's a sad thins
about Partridge at the Down Farm. 4
day or two ago he went out with hi
haymakers-and you know what a ma
he is TO work, when he does set abou
it-cot into a heat. and drank a lot o
cold cider. 1t struck to him, for death
they say; and Harry is gone to maxi
his will"
what a dreadful thing!" exclaimed
Dinah Ann, who had a feeling heart
with all her curiosity.
SAY It's. | think I'd like a snack o
cold beef. Dinah Ann, though it is late
got talking to your brother in hi
office, and missed my tea; so I've ha'
nothing since one o'clock dinner
While Phoebe puts it, I'll just 60 ant
take a look at White Bess."
..White Bess is all right" said Mrs
Harbury. $50 much better that Eval
thinks YOU might have ridden her. NJ
need to 90 and see her now"
Better, is she! l should like to Civ
her a look"
He took up his hat, which still lay oil
the table, and went out. Mrs. Harbury't
ewes followed him; they were full O
speculation, and her mind, also.
II don't believe he is gone to look a
the mare" so~liloquized she. "He',
not disturb her now he hears she Is a.
right. And how absent and fidgetty h
seemed! There is some mystery agate
and | should like to know what it Is
I wonder w~hether-I should not thin
no. | should not think he can hav
stolen out to meet somebody" sh
concluded, her tone dubious, in spite {
the stress laid on the mot"
Stepping lightly into the kitchen an
giving her orders to Phoebe about tn
supper-tray, she caught up an old W.
ter-proof cloak that hung i n the bac
passage, threw it on to hide her hgf
dress, and crept out after her husband
1t was a very light and beautiful nigh
in fact, it could not be said to be yet 8
dark as it would be-and that is nevt
dark in the fine nights of summer.
s.For him to lose his tea" AN ht
thoughts, s'of all things! 1t must .
uncommonly urgent business to Undue
James to forego q meal of any kind.
do wonder what secret they have g
between them. Not q word, for YOU
life, mind, to Dinah Ann cries h
mo fear,' answers Harry, Il kno
what women are and she'd be for re
authorizing the house. and hersel
too Yes, that I should; but it's the
should revolutionize, not myself, 81
alphabetically pronounced. cit may |
that old love affair cropped up agan
that woman who threatened to brir
an action for breach of promise WHIT
James married. me. Perhaps she b
heen writing letters to him? MIN
you don't let Dinah Ann find it, 50,
Harry. Or perhaps-perhaps- Jam
has been foolish enoughto let her me
i'm! Harry, not a married man hin
eeH. and q lawyer. would lend himse
90 any earthly thing without scrupi
q An lawyers do"
This rural district, remote from Il
naupts of willy msa Of tbe wsgad, v