The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-09-23
THE HUSBANDS SECRET.

- .t
"Not word, mind, to Dinah Ann i"
Dinah Ann herself, the speakers wife,
having strolled down the garden in the
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 q pleasing
little woman of seven or eight and thirty,
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.
"Not q word, for your Life, mind, to
Dinah Ann |"
"No fear |" replied voice, which she
recognized as that of her brother, Harry
Leete "I know what women are. Shed
be for-for revolutionizing the house,
and herself too, orce let her get A ink
ling Of this. No f1Gx, Janeel Take care,
on your side, that you don't lose that
or let Dinah Ann f1nd Il.
"Ill take care. When are you COM
ing to smoke A~q1iet pipe with me- I
shall want yfmr advice a. to -"
"One Of these EVENING" > interrupted
the lawy e be drove up the lane.
James Hzrbuzy, substantial farmer
and agriculturist came through hegate,
and turned 10 fasten il. Had be turned
the other WY, 10 the left instead Of to
the right, he would have seen his wife,
standing against the hedge - close as
she could stand, almost into it 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, ,caughthold of herlilac 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 drop
her gown, and entered the sitting room,
all calmly, nearly as soon as her hus-
band. SIS
"Got back r. size exclaimed, with
quite look of surprise. 80 '.--. 2 q
"Just come" replied the farmer ;
".Harry drove me in his gig. =, - Il.
"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 the end of everything.
"Harry had to come" said the farm
er, who seemed to be walking about
father restlessly and who never
thought of such thing as refusing to
satisfy his wife's questions. "He got q
message from the Down Farm, to go
over there without loss of time.
thought might as well come up with
him, Dinah Ann. As to Hall, left
him stuck in the tap-room of the Taw-
ny 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, reck-
on, had you come back with him."
"Oh, he'll not get as bad as all that
But, say, Dinah Ann, it's a sad thing
about Partridge at the Down Farm. A
day or two ago he went out with his hay.
makers-and you know what man he
is to work when he does set about it
got into heat, and drank lot of colo
cider. II struck TO him for death, they
say and Harry is gone to make his
will"
"what dreadful thing u exclaimed
Dinah Ann, who had n feeling heart with
all her curiosity.
"Ay, tits. 1 think I'd like snack G
cold beef, Dinah Ann, though it is late
I got talking to your brother in his of
fee, and missed my tea, SO I've hat
nothing since o'clock dinner. Whil'
Phoebe puts it I'll just go and take {
look at White Bess.
"White Bess is all right" said Mrs
Harbury. $50 much better that Eval
thinks you might have ridden her in to
day. No need to go and see her now.
:" Better, is she? I should like +
give her a look"
He took up his hat, which still lay ol
the table, and went out. Mrs. Harbury'
eyes followed him they were full G
speculation, and her mind, also.
I" don't believe he is gone to look a
the mare" soliloquised she. He'd nc
disturb her, now he hears she is a.
right. And how absent and fidgety h
seemed There is some mystery agate
and / should like to know what it is.
wonder whether--I should not think
no, should not think he can have stole
out TO meet somebody" she concluded
her tone dubious in spite Of the stres
laid on the "not."
Stepping lightly into the kitchen an
giving her orders to Phoebe about th
supper-tray, she caught up an old watel
proof cloak that hung in the back pas
sage, threw it ON TO hide her light dress
and crept out after her husband. II wa
avery light and beautiful night; in fac
il could not be said TO be yet as dark a
1t would be, and that is never dark
the fine nights Of summer.
For him to lose his tea, ran he
thoughts, "of all things 1t must /
some uncommonly urgent business
induce James to forego a meal of an
kind. I do wonder what secret the
have between them. Not word, Il
your life, mind, TO Dinah Ann. cries h
No fear, answers Harry. 1 know whi
women are. and she'd be for revolution
izing the house and herself, too Ye
that should, but it's them shou
reyolutionize, not myself, (" she emphai
cally pronounced. 1t may be that o
love affair cropped up again that won
an who threatened to bring an action Il
breach Of promise when James marie
me. Perhaps she has been writing lie
ters TO him. Mind you don't let Dina
Ann find IT,, says Harry: or perhaps
perhaps James has been foolish enoue
l. IA n