Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-02-13
The Jones Family.

."Jeptha, what is this?" asked Mrs
Jones, suddenly confronting that gem
tleman as he sat reading.
THAT is hairpin," answered Jones
quietly, apparently absorbed in his
book. -
'.Is it, indeed?" retorted Mrs. Jones,
"and not one of miIfe, either A
twisted hairpin. May ask what has
become of the rest of the woman ?''
''Maria," exclaiped Jones, looking
up with the fearlessness of conscious
guilt, ''why these unnecessary and dis
agreeable questions? What is that
hairpin to me p,
THAT is just what l would like to
what | am trying to find out" said
bis wife, turning white around the
mouth and lsanlng family against the
mantel.
"Where did you find it ?" asked
Jones, looking at it as if it was Cat
ling gun directed toward him.
Il f-f-found it in your overcoat pock-
et," sobbed Mrs. Jones, that's
where !"
''Then you put it there !" suggested
Jones, carrying the war into the enemy's
camp. Il don't use lfalrpins. What
do You suppose L want of the thing ?''
and he assumed an obstinately virtuous
look that might have deceived even a
woman. But it didn't deceive Mrs.
Jones, who. suddenly changed her
tactics. .
"Jeptha, ~ she said, in a soft, persua-
sive, sealskin-cloak tone, ''if you ever
loved me III the s-s-sweet days that are
past-if-if you have the least regard
for me now, tell me-tell me where you
got that hairpin ~
She could not have chosen more for
chile way of appealing to his feelings.
The wIetched man twined his fingers in
his gray hair, dug his toes into the Am
sterdam rug, and gritted his teeth as he
nerved himself to tell the truth, the
whole truth and nothing but the truth
-''s' help me Mira ~
He began with his eyes cast down,
and ina low troubled voice, that trem-,
bled with canned and condensed mis-
cry:
1T was only Yesterday he said,
feeling as if it might have been cen.
tury before; ~ had been to the restau-
rant-"
"Oh oh Lob you told me you never
ate mouthfuf all day." interrupted
Mrs. Jones. TO collect bill
owing me-" continued Jones in hollow
speech, land as came out saw some
thing glittering on the walk. 1 thought
of what my good m-n-mother had told
me years before.
ITO see pm and let it lie,
. You'll come 10 want before you die;
To see PIN ana pick II up,
You'll be sure 10 have good luck.
'Maria, 1 had no thought of evil
when l stopped down to pick up the
pin, as | SUPPOSED, but it was that mis-
cradle hairpin. I-T-wasn't it, An
thony!-and L picked it up-a thing
that any man might do with perfect
impunity."
''Is that alp" asked Mrs. Jones calm
ly.
That is all, )" asserted Jones, with a
truthful smile.
Then where did this blonde hair
come from 20 inquired his wife, hold
ing 1t up for inspection. Did you find
this on the sidewalk"
Then Jones realized that the way of
the transgressor is har1, and he owned
up and really aid tell, tile truth; how
that he stepped into dry goods store
on the avenue to get pair of new kid
gloves; how a pretty girl buttoned them
ior him with hairpIrr; how she gave 1t
to him because it was more convenient
than a glove buttOner, and that he
hoped to die if he'd know her again
from a side of sole leather-a story that
any reasonable woman would see car
ried truth OH the face of it.
Did Mrs, Jones believe it? A-hem
The nefghbors complained next morn
ing OF the racket, and sand if Jones was
going to rehearse private theatricals
again this winter they'd compel him to
If they wouldn't.