The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-02-11
Select Story.
NABsY's HUSBAND.


An eager come in. from the Squire, to
whom an outside diversion is an inesti-
mable boon, he having Just reached that
uncomfortable stage of masculine con.
valescence when life becomes a burden
not only to the so-caled patient himself
but also to those unlucky feminine rela-
tives whose duty it is to ofciate as his
'ministering angels.
Mary, the servant, came in.
Please, MIR. lIosley, there's a woman
down stairs, who says she must see you.
She's been here before since you were
sick, and now she won't take no for an
answer
/! show her right up, Mary, sad the
Squire, alertly, Frightening up visibly.
like the war horse who scents the battle
afar off. Not all the coy comforts of
his surroundings,the Sleepy lIollowncss'
OF his easy chair. the pleasant pictures
on the wall. the wood fire, which. now
that the wintry twilight was sitting down
over the bit of gray sky left visible by
the curtains heavy folds, danced and
flashed ali over the room in rosy
shadows, could not reconcile the Squire
to his enforced seclusion. Secretely he
pined for his dingy old den of an Office.
and chafed at the doctors restrictions,
which as yet forbade all thought of
business. But now the moral police
torce,represented by his wife and dauoh
ter,being luckily off duty. there was moth
ing to prevent this probable client.
Show her up, Mary, said the Squire,
cheertully Strengthening himself, and as
suming as much legal dignity as dressing
gown and slippers permitted.
Mary disappeared. Presently the door
opened again. why, Nabby, said the
Squire, is it you! How do you dog
'Nes, Squire, it's me- said Nabby,
dropping down with heavy sigh into II
chair, 'and don't do very we'll
Nabhy was ashort squarely built wom-
an of so, with considerably gray in the
coarse black hair drawn stiffly and un-
compromisingly back under bonnet
about fifty years out of date She had
sharp, black eyes and resolute, 60
ahead manner. Evidently hard work
ing woman; yet in looking at her You
could not help the conviction that some
thing more than hard work had plough
ed the deep wrinkles which ran across
her forehead and threatened to lift her
eyebrows up to her hair. Nabby had
lived with the Squires mother fifty years
from the time when Mrs. Hosley took
her in, 10 year old orphan, who was,a
the good old lady expressed it, more
plague than profit, until she grew into
the steady reliable hand-maiden, who
finally, with everyone's good wishes.
married young Josiah Gould and set up
in the world for herself Old Mrs. uosley
had long since gone to her reward, but
the family still kept up Il friendly in
terest in Nabby and her fortunes, the
Squire i'll particular being for her guide,
philosopher and friend in all the emer
gencies of life.
why, what's the matter now, Nabby?
said the Squire, good-natmedly. Are
you sick?'
Yes, l am, said Nabby, emphatically,
with snap of her black eyes. I'm sick
to death of Joshia.h | can't stan it any
longer, and I've come to talk with You
about gettin divorce. You see he's
been GROWN worse and worse and
worse, now for a good while. I've KEEP
it to myself pretty much, because | was
ashamed ont, and then | KEEP hopin'
he'd do better. I've talked and talked
to him, and said and done everything
woman could, but ii seemed as if the
more talked the worse he grew
The Squire looked mt Nabby's rather
sharp, hard face, and perhaps was hard
ly so surprised as Nabby expected, that
Josiah had not been reformed bv the
Vigorous talking to he had undoubtedly
received,
He grew more shiftless and good-for-
nothing, continued Nabby, till finally he
didn't do much but set around the kitch-
en- fire, half boozy. II there's anybody |
hate, burst out Nabby, its Il man for
ever sttin round the house under foot.
And there was takin in washin' and
Il shaving early and late to be kinder de
cent and forehanded, and him 10 better
than dead man on my hands, so far as
helping any was concerned And so |
told him time and again. lie worked
just enough to keep himself in drink.
lie knew he couldn't got any of my
money for that, But | stood il all till
about fortnight ago. Td been workn'
hard all day helpin Miss Barber clean
house, and il seemed as if every bone in
my body ached | was so tired | came
along home thinking how good nv cup
of tea would taste. The first thing see
when opened the kitchen door was
old Hank Salter settin' there in my
rockin chair He and Josiah were both
drunk as hogs, said Nabby, slandering
an innocent animal in her haste for a
similie.
Git out of this house, Josiah Gould.
and don't eyerlet me see your face inside
ont again
'Sez he, meek as Moses; Where shall
! go Nabby?'
'Sez b don't care where you 90 to, so
longs You don't come near me. I've al
ways been arespectable woman, and don't
want none of Hank Salters friends
around my house,
Wen, queried the Squire, as Nabbys
narrative came toapause.
We'll, said Nabby, in rather a sub
dued tone, he went off, and he hasn't
come back,a and want n divorce
Now, Nabby,' demonstrated the old
Squire, you don't want a divorce ]
know you better than that You are not
the woman to give Josiah up, and let