The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-02-07

How ne Courted Hts Wife After They Had
Been Married for Years.

Although Farmer Tucker had long dreamed
OF visit to Chsutauqus, when he actually
found himself at that Mecca OF devout ex-
cursionists, srly last August, the brawny
man was tempted to doubt his own identity.
The holiday surroundings were wholly un-
like anything to which be was accustomed
in his prosy New England home; the rich,
crowded programme offered was in striking
contrast 10 the dull monotony of farm life.
When this son of toll first entered the audi
torium, and saw that rustic smphithester
crowded with thousands of people listening
breathlessly 10 the full sweet tones of the
grand organ, bis cramped selfish heart was
strangely touched and expanded. For an
| inst ant the wish crept in that he had asked
Jane il she would like to come too. Bat
there was not much time for his own
| thoughts, for as the music ceased white
haired speaker arose and was introduced to
the audience as Mr.. John B. Cough.
| At this announcement Samuel fuckers
| satisfaction was too great TO be kept TO him
SELF and he said; half aloud, 10 his next
neighbor. well, now, am beat, to think
| I'm going to hear the man I've wanted to see
| for more n twenty years. The young lady
gave an amused little laugb but 1t fell IN
needed upon the unsophisticated speaker,
whose attention was already caught by the
/ orator.
Mr.. Cough commenced his brief lecture
with one of his inimitable descriptions
| The story was of man who applied for q
| divorce, and was advised by his eminent
| lawyer to try the effect of making love To his
| wife as he had done before marrying her, IN
stead Of resorting to the measure he had pre-
posed. 1t included also an account of later
| visit when the happy husband Withdrew his
1 E s-l- H. til
sured the lawyer that his experience had
worked like acharm. that Sally had become
| as aniable and affectionaie wife as 8, msn
| could ask to have"
| Mr.. Coughs rep, esentstion Of the scene
drew forth prolonged applause; out Samuel
| fuckers interest was of too serious a nature
70 permit his joining in the laughter. As if
unconcious for the moment of the multitude
| about him. he said in an undertone: I'D
be willing To take my oath that wouldn't
work with Jane. All have to say is, that
mans wife was different from mine; I'd rs
soon think of feeding serrup to mummy as
| to begin sparkling again with her"
1t would seem that this course of reason
ing did not who'll dismiss from the farmer S
mind train OF thoughts and possibilities
suggested by the lecturers story. In every
treat of the following dRys-at sacred service
or popular lecture, in the museum or by the
model of the Holy Land. when listening 10
e concert, or gazing with throngs upon the
Illuminated fleet, tie far-a@ay husband wss
relentlessly followed by vision of hard
| worked Jane, looking upon him with re.
proachiul eyes. AT length he oaieted his
conscience with the determination TO prove
that his estimate OF bis wife was correct.
when | 90 back" he said to himself. ''Tn
just show the woman some little attentions,
and III see they won't have no more effec.
on her than they would on the old bay mare.
James bound to be sullen and obstinate, and
| surDose | may as we'll make up my mind
| to it,"
On reaching home the resolution was not
easily carried out. When Mr.. Tucker plann-
ed some gallantry toward his wife the very
thought made him feel so unnatural and
foolish that pcstpolement resulted; but he
Sabbath offered an opportunity so conven.
lent that he in proved it.
The farm was nearly q mile from Church,
yet Samuel Tucker had for years been in
the habit CT driving bsck alone after the
forenoon service, leaving his wife 70 attend
the Sabbath ScLO0', and then walk home as
hest she could through mad or dust. Great
YES Mrs. fuckers establishment, therefore,
on the Sabbath after her husbands return.
10 find him waiting for her at the close of
the Bible service. The faintest suspicion
that he had driven back TO the Church for
her did not cross the good woman's MIND ;
she supposed he had business with some Of
| the brethersn. and was hesitating whether
| to walk on as usual or to suggest waiting for
| him, when the fHmer called out: "Its jest
| as cheap TO ride as to walk" Silently The
| wife took her seat in the buggy, aud silently
they drove home, much to the husbands
satisfaction, for it seemed to him a proof of
the woman's dull, unapprecistive nature
She didn't act pleased, but was only dazed
| like, as knew she would be- he muttered
/ h.ax hOrr n fe strh<,
At the same time Mr.. Tucker was con-
scious of having performed most praise
worthy act, and felt so comfortable that he
| resolved to repeat the experiment. So on the
| following Sabbath Jane again found
her husband in WAITING, and as she mounted
the high buggy ventured to utter half
audible Thank you" and to ask Samuel If
he had been waiting long. To which Mr.
| Tucker replied that he bad just reached the
Church, and didn't know but he might find
she had started on foot. This reply seemed
to Jane positive assurance that her husband
had really returned for the sole purpose of
taking her home; and her chilled heart
| glOwed with warmth unknown for years.
She longed to tell her husband how much
| she appreciated his trouble, bus imagined il
would sound so foolish" that she kept her
pleasure to herself
| The third Sabbath was rainy, and as she
!, washed the breakfast dishes Mrs. Tucker
kept thinking II wonder if Samuel means
to come for me this noon; Pm half mind
| to ask him. This resolution was soon stified.
however, with the reasoning which hsd
silenced many similar resolves In the past
ten years. mo; won't ask no favors; ii he
don't think enough OF me to come, why, he
needn't" Although proudly unwilling to
seek any attentions, Jane lOnged for some
demonstration of her husbands love and
care. She had walked home in the rain too
often to greatly dread such exposure, but
week before the wife had tasted the Joy of
being considered, and longed for some new
and further proof of her companions affec-
| ton.
| Mrs fuckers heart leaped for joy, when, lat
noon, she saw the old mares head from the
lecture room window. Indeed. her hunger
| ing heart suddenly became quite unmanage-
able. and entering the carriage poor, melted
Jane sobbed out: Pm sure it's very good
| of you, Samuel. to come back for me this
rainy day" and the tears flowed so fast that
further words we're impossible.
| Completely taken by surprise Mr.. Tucker
| exclaimed: 81 declared l hadn't no idse
'dyou care so much about IL"
| II wouldn't mind the walk" responded
| the wife, hut, Samuel. Pm so happy to have
you-care enough about me to come"
| The strong man was brushing away tear
from his own cheek now; bis tenderer, bet
ter nature was mastering the hard, selfish
spirit which had long possessed him, and,
with coughing and choaking, he said:
Jane see I've made an awful botch of