Morris tribune., 1882-06-15

why, Will" said 'PhrOny, with an
accent of reproach that said more than
her words.
'Twould be strange if she did know
about housework at once" said mild
A unit Gray; "she never had no mother
nor no folks SOS she could learn; be sort
O. softly to her, she's lonesome little
creetur, with nobody but you to hold on
to, We know"
Willis really kind heart began to troub-
lie him; he went out again into the street,
ly to buy Sallie rose-pink silk tie that
would look so pretty in contrast with her
rich dark hair and eyes, and perhaps
cast a glow on her too pale, smooth
cheek.
For Will had an instinct of taste in his
uncultivated nature, and knew very we'll
how pretty and refined-looking his wife
was even beside 'Phrony's less delicate
and more blooming beauty.
So he stepped into the sleigh and drove
off, thinking how he would make
friends" with Sallie, and how that dim
pie in her cheek would come and 60 and
her lovely eyes brighten when she saw
the pink tie.
The road seemed very long, for he
knew he had left home in a passion, and
now he was sorry. He got there at last
just before sun-down, and driving into
the barn was received with a chorus
ff9 aJe STnT ana plE never fed them crit
ters this morning! did loose my head,
that's fact. Well, I've got to tend to
'em now. Wonder Sally didn't. Mabbe,
though, she didn't come over, or if she
did she fetched the eggs and didn't look
at nothing else.
Very speedily he fed the hungry
beasts and put out his horse, resolving
to 60 in to supper and finish the barn
work afterward for he was hungry.
There was no light in the house, which
looked rather cherries, but Sally was
frugal, and sat far into the twilight with
out lamp, SO he went on and opened
the kitchen door.
A cold chill struck him; the place was
empty, still, fireless; a rat ran across the
floor as he stepped in.
Nobody was there.
The low light Of the setting sun struck
across the snow-felds with wan glitter
stove cold. Behind the door into the
shed hung Sally's hood and
shawl, and her mittens we're on the
shelf Sally must be in the bedroom,
sick no doubt.
With an anxious heart will opened the
door into it. Nobody was there, the
room was in its usual cherries order;
the bed white and smooth as the QUITE +
shutting out even that wintry sunshine
Probably Sallie had put on her Sunday
cloak and bonnet, the same dark-ren
velvet turban and jaunty, jet-trimmed
sacque she had 10 oked so well in when
they were married. Almost as if he
were afraid ofseeing ghost, Will ope n
ed the door to see, there the things hung
against the wall, straight and smooth,
sacque and shawl, too, and the toque
was on the shelf above.
Then he opened the tiny parlor with
awful misgivings. The andirons shone
in the open fireplace; the wax-fruit was
under its glass shade, between the glass
candle-sticks on the shelf; and the BIZ
BILE, the photograph album, the COPY of
Tupper's Proverbial PHILOSOPHICAL
wedding presents a little
round table in the middle of the room,
and took CHASTITY tint from the green
paper shades and the wan light of dying
day.
Everything was ASPIRIN, as dull and as
musty as ever. Sally was not there.
There was but one room upstairs, and
either side of it dark attic; he lit his
lantern and searched there, but found
nothing
Then he took a Decline for the neares,
neighbours house, but though the family
were full of pity and establishment and
suggestion, he did not find his wife.
"Hev We s'arched the barn?" queried
old Grandsir Phelps from the chimney.
corner.
viii had not thought of that; SO Royal
Phelps went back with him and peered
into every nook and corner of the bin,
NOV, harness-shed and cellar.
the hay, but they did not find Sally
| again, peered suddenly down into the
we'll, and weighing the bucket with
heavy stones and frightening the SOpe
let it down till they heard the wood
strike hard against the rocky bottom
from whence dubbed up that living
spring. Nobody was there.
"You haint tramped around the lots
any, hey YET" inquired Royal Phelps.
Nowhere only tow'rds your house, .
answered Will.
"Well, then, when mornin' comes We
kin track her; for it showed about ar
hour here arter breakfast, and there
haint ben no passin' onto the road sence
for I've ben a-choppin' long side on
the hull time to-day; and took a bite
along SOS not to stop; was boun' te
finish up to-day"
But would that morning ever comet
It seemed not to Will, he walked the
house while Royal snored in the rocker,
and recalled with despair and distress
how he and Sally had parted in the
morning. in anger; parted now, il
seemed for the last time.
had enough to conjure dreadful things
about his wife's fate. All alone there II
the farmhouse what might not have
happened? Or, more probably, had sh
not fed from him forever, afraid of hi
shower of snow that had fallen in hi
absence and must tell the story of he
fight; and he made few but very ear
nest resolu tons, as to his future conduc
towards her-if indeed, any future foun(
them once more together.
| But morning came, and on no field O.
road, not even on the railway track il
either direction, was there q Footprint
except those of Wills old horse and th,
two men.
Sally's light feet had not traverset
that yielding surface; nobody had beer
| there.
Then VIII broke down; without food
or sleep, oppressed by the awful myster,
of his loss, as we'll as by the loss itself, b,
grew half-crazy, sobbed, raved ant
tramped the house, till Royal Phelps a
last went over to fetch his wife, with tn,
sage remark:
Ties past my handlin'; I guess wo
men.folks'd know better how to fetcl
him to"
So Mrs. Phelps came over, made som.