The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-04-14

the weekly market day, II bad it parson
It's doctor ard its lawyer Harry Lccte
all three Of them being nearly as simpl'
; a. the farmers No, simple in point 81 in
9 telleei, il must he understood, but as :,
life and manners.
This, THURSDAY, Was market day. lsms'
H.rhary had gone 10 il, in the gis Of !
brother farmer. Peter Hall, his own mare
K which be either rode or drove generally
being sick. He was tall. slender man o.
nine and.thirty years. very fair with ey
oeedingly handsome features and mild
blue eyes, looking as man could look
aud presented q marked contrast 10 his ag
rieultnral neighbors. So far as appear
anee went none Of them, poor or rich,
could vie with James Harbury, aud his
temper and bis bearing we're alike gentle.
He had one fault though, perhaps, all
people would not call il iault--lose OF
money. That he was one Of the ''warmest
farmers in the district, wes i.niversally be-
lieyed, and the most saving OF men. Too
saving his wife would tell him--and where
was the use Of it, she would ask, consider
ing she bad neither chick nor child2-and
oven now and then shs would make the
money fly, for she was dear lover o'
smart attire, and Of having pretty things
about her. James would vince, and tell
] L.. A.. l.. 20, l. l.ttt ha ha
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 laid 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 till tonight. He
had never htd any secrets from her, except
that he never could be induced to tell her
what the exact sum was which he was en-.
abled 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 mysterious
secret which had come to her hearing to-
night. She knew how good looking James
was, how universally he was liked by man
and by woman, and what a kind heart be
hadshe put it, ''soft"-and something
like jealousy began to torment her spirit
When James came in again, the supper
tray was nt one end of the table, and Di-
nah Ann, an unusual light in her eyes, sat
at the other end near the lamp, having
taken up her knitting. The farmers gen
sral manner was easy and placid, though
he had certainly SCENE restless after leav-
ing the gig, but now he was calm again.
Well she said as she cut herself slice
of the cold bold beef, and how did you
find White Bess,
Oh, she seems comfortable, he replied,
looking round for the mustard pot.
You deceitful william! You know you
did not go near the stable, thought his
wife. You are sure you think soy she nd
led
Ay. White Bess will be all herself
again tomorrow, Dinah Ann.
It's more than shall be, thought Dinsh
Ann, unless | can come to the bottom of
this.
He ate his supper nearly in silence, like
man who is mentally preoccupiej. And
he enjoyed it, too, for he was very hungry.
James, do you ever hear anything now
of that Emma Land?
James Harbury laid down his knife and
fork in surprise at the question, and look
ed across at his wife, whose face was bent
over her knitting.
Do / ever hear anything OF Emma Land?
he repeated. What can make you ask that,
Dinah Ann?
What can make me ask it? | don know
The query happened to come into my
mind. Why should not ask it?
There's no sense in it-that ! see
But do you?
Do what?
Ever hear of her?
Why, you know she went out io--where
was it?-the West Indies, think-to her
friends there-eyer so long ago. Nigh hup-
on eight years it must be. You know she
did, Dinah Ann.
But she may write from the West Indies.
Perhaps she does Does she write to you?
He shook his head to imply negative,
and occupied himself with his supper
again. Emma Land had once upon time !
been somewhat sore subject between
them, for Dinah Ann was jealous in the
Did days.
Do you ever see her, James? {
See whol )
You know. Emma Land.
| cant think what has put all this into |
your head tonight, Dinah Ann. How is t
Z? Q
But do you? ,
Do what? t
See her.
Why, how could | SEQ her? returned he,
n sort OF helpless tone, that his wife a
ully thought was put on. She is in the o
West Indies, aud am here. v
She may not be in the West Indies now. a
don't know where she is. She's there u
or all kuow-and I'm sure IL does not u
natter a
Ask no questions, and you'll hear no '
tories, thought his wife, quoting the line
amiliar to her in her schoolgirl days. y
should not at all wonder, James, but q
Emma Land has come back again.
May be Two or three years ago We c