The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-07-14

ueat OF prone TO mlSchlef he was not.
She could not for a moment doubt his
word. That her husband should be
seeking clandestine interviews with any
lady was enough; that the lady thus
sought should be Miss Ebbitt was beyond
endurance In her fierce perturbation
Mrs. Gerrish hardly heard the crash of
the sugar-bowl that slipped from her
hand. Who would heed breaking china
when the very sky was falling1 To be
frank, from the time she came TO Oak
land bride, Mrs. Gerrish had suffered
intermittent spasms of jealousy on ac
count of this same Miss Ebbitt She
had never been able to forget a jesting
remark made by one of her best callers.
Among our village celebrities we
reckon Miss Ebbitt our talented organ
ist, " the guest had said. "Really, Mrs.
Gerrish, must hasten to introduce you
to your husbands old flame"
"Old flannel" the coarse words
ranked. One moment the young wife
would resolve to repeat them to her hus
band, the next she would shrink from
alluding TO them, feeling that if he had
once loved Miss Ebbitt, she would rather
not be assured of the fact. She recalled
the nervous headache produced by that
unpleasant visit. How devoted Warren
had been, SO grieved by her suffering,
that for shame's sake she could not have
hinted at its cause. Dear old fellow, of
course he had loved her then, and of
course he loved her now.
Uncle Jabez's distracting gossip could
be easily explained. To think otherwise
was absurd
"Jehu l was satisfied 1 heerd some
thing smash" cried that simple individ-
ual, pushing the door ajar with his moe
casined toe, and shuffling in, his arms full
of wood "There, there, ma'am,
wouldn't take on so about the clancy.
Your husband won't feel getting you a
new sugar dish, bein' he's in the crockery
line"
1t breaks the set, you see" equivo-
Gated the proud little matron, humoring
his conceit. Better pass for ninny than
jealous wife.
"We all have our pesters," philoso-
phized Uncle Jabez, placing the sticks
in the wood-box with fond deliberation.
"Now you know how twas at my house
last spring. My wife was sick, and l
had narrer squeak to get along; but
now my wife's dead, and I'm out of debt,
and l thank the Lord Hullo! here's
Lunt's team"
The entering grocer nodded affably to
Mrs Gerrish as he dropped his parcels
upon the table. Warm morning,
ma'am. Shower brewing. Mr.. Gerrish
to be gone long2"
''Only till noon. He has run up to Bos-
ton"
ooh, supposed he was going further.
Noticed he carried valise, and got
checks for New York"
''Guess he was seein' to jimmy Eb-
bits traps" volunteered Uncle Jabez,
following the grocer out to beg ride.
"She's started for New York. They're
tinkerin' the meetin' house, and she's free
TO run off"
''And to stay off, for all of me, NUT
tered the little matron, sweeping up the
scattered sawdust with spiteful flirt of
her broom. "Why didn't Warren tell
me she was going9 He's amazingly coy
about speaking of his old love-"
Old love IN more senses than one.
Miss Ebbitt was thirty at least, for all
she would persist in dressing as youth
fully as herself--nineteen this very day
What ravishing bonnets the coquette did
wear, and what airs she did put on in the
choir, where she always sat next to Mr.
Gerrishl Often whispering to him too.
Was it necessary for organist and choris-
ter evcrlastingly to confer with each
other2 In that case, aggrieved Mrs
Gerrish wished that she might be the
organist herself. With a little more
of 10. el,
sure she could play as we'll Miss Ebbitt.
At all events, she could have played as
well before she left her fathers home and
the dear piano. Warren had praised her
execution in those days. He needn't
trouble himself to praise it again, if
Jenny Ebbitt was Everything to him."
What else had he to say to Miss Jenny
that day? Had she been in Uncle Jabez's
place, Mrs. Gerrish felt sure she should
have heard every word, had her husband
whispered never so softly. Was he at the
present moment holding Miss Jenny's
shawl about her in the cars, as he had
held it in the carriagel Didn't the woman
possess a shawl-pinl
Ten o'clock, and the dishes unwashedl
The belated little housekeeper barred her
dimpled arms and made feint of haste;
but the stroke of eleven found her hands
still in soapsuds, and her thoughts in
Boston. Warren called Miss Ebbitt
superior woman. Pity he hadn't married
her!
Twelve o'clock Well, by this time
he had doubtless seen Miss Jenny off to
New York, and he must be on the train
for home. She would put the pudding
in TO bake.
At one, the usual hour of dining, the
pudding was dough, and the lamb not
half roasted What allied the oven2 For
once in his life her husband would have
to wait for his dinner. Mrs. Gerrish said
to herself that she didn't care. He had
been partaking of an intellectual feast
with Miss Jenny; he must make that do
But when at two o'clock the dinner was
smoking in the warming oven, she
cbafed nj his non-annearance Why