The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-11-23

him a proof of the woman's dull, unap
preciative nature. "Shc didn't &C
pleased, but was only daze1 like, as
knew she would be-" he muttercd as b,
went about his midday ''chores."
At che sam time Mr.. Tucker was con
sclous OF hay ny performed q most praise
worthy act. and felt so comfortable tina
he resolved to repeat the experiment
SO On the following Sabbath, Jane agar
found her husband Ill waiting, and a.
She mounted the high buggy, vcnturcd
to utter a ha!f-audible t'thank you," and
to ask Samuel if he had been waiting
long. To which Mr.. Tucker replied
that he had just reached the church,
and didn't know but he might find she
had started on foot. This reply seemed
to Jane a positive assurance that her
husband had really returned for the sole
purpose of taking her home, and her
chilled heart glowcd with a warmth ur.
known for years. She longcd to tell her
husband how much she appreciated his
trouble, but imagined it would sound
$50 foolish" that she kept her pleasure
to herself.
The third Sabbath was rainy, and rs
she washed the breakfast dishes, Mrs
Tucker kept thinking: II wonder if
Samuel means to come for me this O
it would be such a help in the rain; Pm
half a mind to ask himr" This resolu-
ton was soon stifed, however, with the
reasoning which had silcnced many SIM
liar resolves in the past ten years. "No,
l won't ask no favors. If he don't think
enough of me to come, why he needn't"
Although proudly unwilling to seek n
attentions, Jane longed for some demon
stration of her husbands love and care.
She had walked home in the rain too Of
ten greatly to dread such exposure; but
a week before, the wife had tasted the
Joy of being considered, and longed for
some new and further proof of her COM
panion's affection.
Mrs. fuckers heart leaped for JOY,
when, at noon, she saw the old mares
head from the lecturc-room window.
Indeed, her hungering heart suddenly
became quite u~nmanageable, and, en-
tering the carriage, poor, melted Jane
out: '1'm sure it's very good OF
you, Samuel, to come back for me
this rainy day!" and her the tears
flowed so fast that further words were
impossible.
Completely taken by surprise, Mr..
Tucker exclaimed: ct declared I hadn't
idee you'd care so much about it'll"
II wouldn't mind the walk" re-
sponded the wife, "bu.-Samuel-pm
so happy to have you-care enough about
me to come !"
The strong man was brushing away a
tear from his own check now his tend
better nature was mastering the
selfish spirit which had long pos
sessed him, and with some coughing and
choking he said: "Jane, I see I've made
an awful botch of our married life: if
you're a mind to forgive me, I'll see if I
can't treat you from to-day as a
ought to be treated"
This confession was all too much for
the weeping wife, and she answered
quickly: "You're not a bit more to blame
than am; I've been proud and obstin-
ate; but I'll tell you what it is, we'll be-
gin all over again"
The ice was now thoroughly broken.
md that afternoon Farmer Tucker and
his wife had a long talk over the
and the future. And in the even
ing when they were about to start for
the prayer meeting to be held in a
neighboring school house, the renewed
husband stopped and kissed his wife.
"Janc, I've been a.thinkine
married life amt so very different
rom farming or any other occupation.
Now, | amt such a fool as to think a
ield will keep ayielding if I only enrich
t once and plant it once; I have to 90
'ver the same ground every season; and
'ere supposed you was a-going to al
ways do as you did when we were a.
'ourting, without my doing my part ut
"lfI hadn't changed any, maybe you
would always have been Us tender rs you
ised to be-" pleaded the happy wife.
perhaps so and perhaps not; but T
ion't mean to leave you to try no such
plan. tell you what it is Jane, 1 feel
IS II we hadn't new been really mar |
led till to-day. 1t most seems as if We |