Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-11-27
ssNOT A WORD. MIND, TO DINAH
ANN,

Dinah Ann herself, the speakers wifi
having strOlled down the garden in tn
sweet stiffness of the summer night
heard these suggestive words as the gie
pulled ND at the gate, and her husband
descended from it. She was pleasing
little woman, of seven or eight and thirty
with dark brown eyes, a fresh face and ;
natural propensity to take her own way
in the house and out of it. Drawing
back from the gate behind the the well
kept hawthorn hedge, she waited fOl
what was to come next.
Not word, on your life mind, to Di
nah Ann.
mo fearr replied voice, which sh,
recognized as that of her brother, Harr.
Leete. IL know what women are. She'(
be for reyOlutionizing the house
and herself too, once let her get an ink
ling of this. No fear. Jamesl Take
care. on YOUR side, that you don't lose
that-Or let Dinah Ann find out"
sPII take care. When are you coming
to smoke quiet pipe with me? / shall
want your advice as to"
"One of these evenings" interrupted
the lawyer, as he drove up the lane
''Good night"
James Harbury, substantial farmer
and agriculturist, came through the
gate and turned to faSten it. Had hf
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
Datb to the house. When his footsteps
had died away, Mrs. Harbury wound her
light summer gown over he black silk
apron, caught hold of her lilac cap
strings. lest the cap should fly off, and
ran swiftly up the marrow sidewalk got
round to the back, went through the
house, let drop her gown and entered the
sitting room, all calmly, as soon as her
husband.
.GOt back?" she exclaimed, with quite
a look of surprise.
"Just come" replied the farmer, "Har-
~ drove me in his gig"
"What brings Harry up here in his gig
at this time? and why did you not come
back with Hali?" inquired Mrs. Harbury,
who liked TO be at the beginning and
end of everything.
Harry had to come, said the farmer,
who seemed to be walking about rather
restlessly-and who never thought of
such thing as refusing to satisfy his
wife'S questions. He got a message
from the DOwd farm to go there without
loss of time. 1 thought / might as we'll
come with him, ,Dinah Ann. AS to Hall, |
left him stuck in 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."
"0h. he'll not get as bad as all thatl
But / say, Dinah, it's sad thing about
Partridge at the DOwd farm. A day or
two ago he went out with his haymakers
and you know what a man he is to
work when he gets set about it-gOt into
a heat and drank a lot of cold cider. 1t
stuck to him for death, so they say, and
Harry has gone TO make his will"
"What dreadful thingw exclaimed
Dinah Ann, who had "a feeling heart,
with all her curiosity.
"Ay, tbs. think I'd like a smack of
cold beef, Dinah Ann though it is late.
got talking to your brother i'm his office
and missed my tea; so I've had nothing
since one o'clock dinner. While Phoebe
puts it on, I'll just go and take look at
White Bess.r
white Bess is all right" said Mrs.
Harbury. $50 much better that Evans
thinks, you might have ridden her i'm to-
day. No need to go and see her nOw..'
Better, is she? l should like to give
her look"
He took up his hat, which still lay on
the table and went out. Mrs. Harbury's
eyes followed him, they were full of
speculation, and her mind also.
ssI don't hplipvp no ia Uona 70 looI, nj
the mare" sOlilOquiZed'she. Hell not
disturb her, now he knows she's all right.
And how absent and fidgety he seemed !
There is some mystery agate and should
like to knOwwhat tits. wonder whether
I should not think--nO, l should not
think he can have stolen out to meet
somebody" she concluded, her tone
dubious in spite of stress laid on the
not"
Stepping lightly into the kitchen and
gave her orders to Phoebe about the SUD-
per tray, she caught up an old water
proof cloak that hung in the back pas
sage, threw it on to hide her light dress
and crept out after her husband. 1t was
a very light and beautiful night--in fact,
it could not be said to be vet as dark as
it would be, and that is never dark in
the fine nights of summer.
"FOr him to lose his tea" ran her
thoughts, "Of all things' 1t must be
some uncOmmOnly urgent business to
induce James to forego meal of any
kind. / do wonder what secret they
may have got between them. Not a
word to Dinah Ann cried he. No fear,
answers Harry; 4 know what women
are; and she'd be reyOlutionizing the
house, andIherself too Yes, that l should;
but it's them I'd revOlutiOnize, not my
SELF" she said. 1t may be that that old
love affair has cropped up again! that
woman who threatened to bring an ac-
ton for breach of promise when James
married me. Perhaps she has been writ
ing letters to him? Mind you don't let
Dinah find it, says Harry, not married
man himself; and lawyer would lend
himself to any earthly thing without
scruple. All lawyers do"
This rural district, remote from the
haunts of willy men of tine world. was
given over entirely to farmers and farm
ing interests, simple minded and simple
hammered people, who live out their I'M
eyentful lives in the routine of daily
dntles. The small market town of
Northam, four miles distant, was sleepy
aud primitive, never awaking from its
slumbers save on the weekly market
DAY. 1t had its parsOD, its doctor and its
iawyer-Harry Leete-all three of them
Deihg nearly as simple as the farmers.
MOI SIMPLE in point of intellect, it must
u uhdersto0d; but to life and manners.