The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-05-26

generally, being sick. He was a tail,
I slender man of SO years, very fair, with
exceedingly handsome features and mild
blue eyes, looking as unlike the popular
notion of farmer as q man could look,
and presenting a marked contrast to his
agricultural neighbors. So far as APP
pearance went none of them, poor or
rich, could vie with James Harbury, and
his temper and his bearing were alike
gentle.
He had one fault, though, perhaps,
all people would not call it fault, love
of money. That he was one of the
warmest Z" farmers in the district was
universally believed, and the most saw
ing of men. Too saving, his wife would
tell him, and where was the use of it,
she would ask, considering she had
neither chick nor child? And every
now and then she would make the money
fly, for she was dear lover of smart at
tire, and of having pretty things about
her. James would vince, and bid her
be careful; but he never went the
length of telling her she had spent too
much. He was fond of her, and she of
him.
"Neither chick nor child" In that
fact had lain a sharp sting. They had
been married eight years now, and the
sting was wearing itself away. Time
softens all things. He had never given
her cause for an unhappy thought until
tonight. He had never had any secrets
from her, except that he never could be
brought to tell her what the exact sum
was that he was enabled to put by at the
end of each year. Dinah Ann Harbury
did not care for that she knew that,
however much it might be, it was all for
her.
But she did care for this-this mys-
terious secret which had come to her
hearing tonight. She knew how good
looking James was how universally he
was liked by man and by woman, and
what a kind heart he had-she put it
soft and something like jealousy
began to torment her spirit.
~ When james came in again the sup
portray was at one end of the table, and
Dinah Ann, an unusual light in her
eyes, sat at the other end, near the
lamp, having taken up her knitting.
The farmers general manner was easy
and placid, though he had certainly
seemed restless after leaving the gig, but
now he was calm again.
60 Well,'' she said, as he cut himself
slice of the cold boiled beef, "and how
did you find White Bess p
"Oh, she seems comfortable" he re-
piled, looking round Tor the mustard
pot.
You deceitful villain You know
you did not go near the stable, thought
his wife. "You are sure you think so ?"
she added, aloud.
"Aye. White Bess viii be all herself
again tomorrow, Dinah Ann"
It's more than 1 shall be" thought
Dinah Ann, "unless 1 can come to the
bottom of this"
He ate his supper nearly in silence,
like man who is mentally preoccupled.
And he enjoyed it, too, for he was very
9 hungry. sh
, ,b1tsJames, do you ever hear anything
now of that Emma Land ?"
20 James Harbury laid down his knife
and fork In surprise at the question, and
looked across at his wife, whose face was
bent over her knitting.
] ibid ever hear anything of Emma
Land "he repeated. fWhat can make
you ask that, Dinah Ann?"
tsWhat can make me ask it? don't
know. The query happened to come
into my mind. Why should / not ask
it?"
"There's no sense in it-that 1 see."
"But do you ?"
"Do I what? +"
Ever hear of her? u"
5a" Why, you know she went out to
where was it ?-the West Indies, think
Ito her friends there-ever so long ago.
Nigh upon eight years it must be. You
know she did, Dinah Ann"
'tBut she may write from the West
Indies. Perhaps she does. Does she
write to you?' ih
He shook his head to imply mega
tive, and occupied himself with his sup
per again. Emma Land had once upon
a time been somewhat-sore subject be-
tween them, for Dinah Ann tOds jealous
In the old days.
ne" Do you ever see her, James?"
"See who?
'' "You know. Emma Land"
s'I can't think what has put all this
into your head tonight, Dinah Ann.
How is it ?"
90 'sBut do you?"
y at' Do what ?" 'i
"See her?p
d "Why, how could I see her ?" re-
turned he, in a sort of helpless tone,
that his wife fully thought waslput on.
She is III the West Indies, and / am
here"
'sss.ss She may not be in the West Indies
now"
"Idon't know where she is. She's
there for all know and I'm sure it does
not matter.
4 ''ft Ask no questions, aud you'll hear
mo stories, " thought his wife, quoting
the line familiar to her in her schoolgirl
days. 'l,ili1t
s'I should not at all wonder, James,
but Emma Land has come back again"
"May be- Two or three years ago
we heard she was married out there"
5 s. Who heard it j? Who said it?
81 know heard it [ remember it
quite we'll But as to who said it, for
get that--your brother, L think. That
she had married cousin"
"Oh not that that's unlikely, for
she was ready to marry anybody. Shed
have married you, you know. She laid
traps for you. I"
'.Thatis about true, 1 believe; but I
did not fall into them, Dinah Ann y
And, laughing good-naturedly, James
Harbury turned from his sdpper-tray to
reach his pipe Dinah Ann rang the bell,
resumed her knitting, and fell into an
unpleasant reverie.
: E*st - 90
A few days passed away, things going
on smoothly at the farm. Dinah Ann
had recovered her temper-at least, she
displayed no signs of its being rutied.
James Hsrbury was as usual, save that
at times he seemed a little absent and
Thoughtful. One afternoon he went up
STAIRS tolchange his everyday coat for
better one. -a-
i = =. Where are you going 2" cr1ed Mrs.
Harbury, quickly, as he came down
again..,
5 Only into Northam. shall be home
early sefs it
:. e Into Northam It's not market
Harr ba vffeE, -szsfa 1zucU
2, ~ No; but I've got little business
ithere--about those sheep, you know,
oDinah Ann. Shall get them at my
own price, after all. . is s. IS ~
% ss0f course you will. 1 told you so
sIi along But ], do wonder you could
not wait nnfiI tomorrow zssW
!. yssOh-aafket-d always bustling
tay,; one forgets half ones business, or
Isas mot time to- adoT 1T anyway,
? hSught I'd go ia this, afternoon"
q Z Sssf should Ekenito go with you,
: James ~ s3t l-ll hre er11a
ms = - -,rtf15