Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-06-03

He sl1nteu Oh DaU J. On, no, IL WAS Dc-
cause he couldn't tear around the eoun-
try all he wanted to and still give his
wife all the watchin' she needed. She's
deep one, for all her baby face.
jumped right up and ran over to her, but
she shet her lips tight and motioned me
away, and went out of the door holding
up her head like queen.
"You wicked old man" says I elf
you should talk like that to me, I'd use
You worse than Jael did Sisera." / ex-
pected he'd kill me for it, but L was SO
mad didn't feel bit afraid of him; but
he just said, kind of subdued, Darn
you, l believe you would" and walked
off without another word. ] expected
he dtell John, but he never did, and
years after he said I'd always been the
most sensible woman he knew.
went to Cynthy's bedroom and
knocked. She called out, "Come in, -
in cheerful voice, and there she was
on Dams knee, the tears not dry On her
cheeks but lookin' happy again. "Oh, "
she began, the minute | got my head in
side the door, "we're goin' to have a
home Of our own. Dams to have the
Fort Hill farm, and we're goin' to live
there all by ourselves" Dan didn't
speak, and he looked queer. He tried
to smile when he ketched my eye, but
it wasn't natural smile, and wouldn't
seem to spread mite beyond his
mouth. felt as if something was
wrong, but thought she might have
told him what his father said. l found
out afterward that she never complained
to bim in her life. 'Fraid of maxim him
uncomfortable.
We were called to dinner Just then,
so nothing more was said about the
matter; but that afternoon, as we were
pGrin' apples for dryin', asked her if
Dan was goin' to buy the farm. "Well,
no" she says, kind Of hesltating !;
there's some business matt srs between
the Cap'n aud Dan, and MS fathers
goin' to give it to him in the settle
ment." Now l knew the Fort Hill farm
was the very best place the Csp'n owned,
and he wasn't the man ever to do
anything TO make his boys independent
of him, and as TO settlin' with Dan, /
knew the only business there ever was
between them was Dams gettin' into
trouble and his fathers buyin' him out
of it; so | felt real anxious. But the
Lord knows, never dreamed how bad
II was. She went on, poor, innocent
child "There's something for me to
sign. Dan thought wouldn't like to,
and he said he felt just as bad about it
as L would But l told him he needn't
worry; I amt afraid to do anything
that's for his interest, and do long to
git away by ourselves. She didn't
know what the paper was, and couidn't
think, and jest then [ heard John calm
from the gate that our things was up to
the farm, and didn't l want to go mp
and see 'em. started to git ready,
Cynthy helpin' me, for our men folks
never liked to wait, but she hurried me
so almost jerked my bunnit strings off
tyin' 'em. scolded her little, and
she made the excuse that she knew /
wouldn't keep John waitin' for the
world. told her l jest would, for a
good deal less than the world, too. 1t
wouldn't hurt him bit to wait. "Why,
Marg'ret !" she said. don't you love
your husband ?" "If you mean am l a
heather idolator," says |, 81 amt.
Reasons reason. 1 like John, or I
needn't to have had him. He wasn't
my first chance, and l mean to be good
wife, but calculate to let him take his
fair share of the trouble. It's no worse
for him to wait minute than it is for
me to tear myself to pieces hurryin'.
And / think you'd get along enough
better if yon'd take your own way
more. "But, Marg'ret," she said,
with tears in her pretty eyes, ''I hav'n't
any way but Dams. 1t was Jest so from
the first minute ] saw hlm. Father
didn't want me to marry him, and l
loved father, too, but 1 couldn't go
against Dan in anything. Why, ii he
wanted me to put my hand into the fire
| should suffer good deal more to re-
fuse than to do it. s'pose it's because
he's my husband, and that's how / felt
sure you were only in fun when you
said you didn't care if John did wait. "
| kissed her without a word. I'd never
heard such talk in my life, and didn't
know what to say.
John told me as we were lidin' along
what the trouble was. 1t seems the
Cap'n had been offerin' Dan the farm all
along If he'd-John stopped as if he
was ashamed to tell it-if he'd git a
divorce from Cynthy, and finally he
was so greedy for the land that he'd
given in. The paper Cynthy was to
sign was promise not to interfere with
the suit.
Your grandfather told 'em plainly
what he thought of it, and said much
as he liked peace in the family we'd
leave the house next morning after he'd
had talk with Cynthy. [ declared
I'd never stay in the house another
night, but he finally convinced me l
could help persuade Cynthy, so we went
back. | wouldn't go to the supper
table, and as soon as they got through
Dan called Cynthy into the parlor, and
John didn't have a chance to speak to
her till the next morning When we
set down to breakfast | saw Cynthy
knew. She looked dreadful pale, and
never eat thing, though she spoke
pleasant to Dan two or three times.
Dan and the Cap'n looked as if they'd
been caught stealth sheep, and the rest
OF us never said word.
After breakfast John told Cynthy we'd
like to speak to her before we went. She
looked at Dan and he nodded. He was
sure enough OF her, and we didn't know
the grounds of divorce. | don't s'pose,
though, 'twould have made any differ
ence if we had
Well, there's no use in goin' over
what was said. We urged and argued
nv Il xr.aI I.rnA kt....D 4