The Florida agriculturist., 1884-07-23
Man and Wife.
"SoT WORD, MIND, TO DrSAH ANN

heard these suggestive words as the gig
pulled up at the gate, and her husband
descended from it. She was pleasing
little woman OF seven or eight and thirty,
with dark brown eyes, bright, fresh
face, and natural propensity to take
her own way, in the house and out of it.
Drawing back from the gate behind the
well-kept hawthorn hedge, she waited
for what was to come next.
Not word, for your life, mind, to
Dinah Annp'
NO fear' replied voice, which she
recognized as that of her brother, Harry
Leete; II know what women are. She'd
be for-for rrevolutioniZing the house, and
herself, too, once let her get an inkling
of this. No fear, James Take care
on your side, that you don't lose that
or let Dinah Ann find it,
''I'll take care. When are YOU coming
to smoke quiet pipe with me? l shall
want your advice as to-"
Zone of these evenings" interrupted
the lawyer, as he drove ON up the lane.
"Good night. -
James Harbury, substantial farmer
and agriculturist, came through the gate
and turned to fasten it. Had he turned
the other way, to the left instead of to
the right, he would have seen his wife
standing against the hedge as close as
she could stand almost into it. He did
not see her, and went straight up the
path to the house. When his footsteps
had died away, Mrs. Harbury wound her
light summer gown over her black silk
apron, caught hold of her lilac cap strings
lest the eapshould fly off, and ran swift
ly up the narrow sidewalk, got round to |
the back, went through the house, let
drop her gown and entered the sitting |
room, all calmly, nearly as soon as her
husband.
"Got back ?" she exclaimed, with
quite look Of surprise.
"Just come" replied the farmer;
Harry drove me in his gig"
"What brings Harry up here in his
gig at this time? and why did you not
come back with Hall?" inquired Mrs.
Harbuy, who liked to be at the begin
ming and the end of everything.
Harry had to come, y said the farmer,
who seemed to be walking about rather
restlessly-and who never thought of
such thing as refusing to satisfy his
from the Down Farm, to go over there
without loss of time. I thought might !
as well come with him, Dinah Ann. As
to Hall, left him stuck in the taproom
of the 'Tawny Lion;' he didn't order his I
gig to be ready before 10 O'Clock.
s'Just like Peter Hall! You'd have
taken the reins yourself James, l reckon, |
had you come back with him.
F'Oh, he II pot get as ban as'all 11at
But, ! say, Dinah Ann, it's q sad thing |
about Partridge at the Down Farm A
day or two ago he went out with his hay
understand you know what man he
got into a heat, and drank lot of cold |
cider 1t struck him for death they say; |
and Harry Is gone TO make his Will"
What dreadful thing!" exclaimed
Iinah Ann, who had a feeling heart,
With all her curiosity.
"Ay, tbs. think I'd like snack of |
cold beef, Dinah Ann though it is late.
/ got talking to your brother in his office
and missed my tea; so l have had moth
ing since I o'clock dinner. While Phoebe
puts it I'll just go and take a look at
White Bess.'
''White Bess is all right, said Mrs.
Harbury $50 much better that Evan
thinks you might have ridden her in to-
day. No need to go and see her now"
Better, is she? l should like to give
her look
He took up his hat, which still lay on
and went out. Mrs. Harbury' eyes fol-
lowed him they We're full Of specula-
tion, and her mind also.
81 don't believe he is gone to look at |
the mare sollloquized she. He'd not |
disturb her, now he hears she is all right. |
And how absent and fdgety he seemed |
There is some mystery agate-and I
should like to know what it is. l Won
der whether-I should not think-no,
should not think he has stolen out to
meet somebody" she concluded, her
tone dubious, il spite of the stress laid
on the mot
Stepping lightly into the kitchen, and
giving her orders TO Phoebe about the
.supper-tray, she caught up an old water
proof cloak that hung up in the back
passage, threw it on to hide her light
dress, and crept oNt after her husband
1t was a very light and beautiful night;
in fact, it could not be said to be yet as
dark as it would be-and that is never
dark in the fine nights of summer.
''For him to lose his tea," ran her
thoughts, "of all things, It must be
some uncommonly urgent business to
induce James TO forego a meal of anv
kind. | do wonder what secret they
have got between them. Not a word,
for your life, mind, to Dinah Ann cries
he. No fear, answers Harry, I know
what women are-and she'd be for rev.
olutionizing the house and herself too
Yes, that l should; but it's them l sho'd
revolutionize, not myself" she empbat-
ically pronounced. ''It may be that Old
love affair cropped up again that wo-
man who threatened to bring an action
for breach Of promise when James mar
ried me. Perhaps she has been writing
letters to him. Mind YOU. don't let
! Dinah Ann find it, says Harry Or per-