The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-07-14
A WIFE'S GRIEVANCE.

'Maybe I'd go to Boston with you,
Warren, if urged" said young Mrs. Ger
rish, archly, standing on tiptoe to smooth
down her husbands nodding scalp lock.
cts too late to think of it-too late
altogether" cried Mr.. Gerrish. in haste.
rushing to his desk and scattering the
papers like Dakota blizzard. "Where's
my handbook? Seen it, MabelYo
"There, Warren; forgot to tell you.
| thought it would be safer behind the
clock
'Safcr behind the fiddlesticks,n copi-
tated the annoyed husband, as he tipped
over the timepece in laying hold of the
missing property; but being gentleman,
he merely remarked impressively at
ten to one he should lose the train.
ITS only eight, Warren. You've half
an hour"
but Pve--pve something to attend to
before going to the station" !" he STAN
mered, obviously embarrassed
"oh!" Mrs. Gerrish dropped her ques-
tioning brown eyes, flushing hotly. Why
did her husband reject her proffered
companyl And what was this mysteri-
GUS errand that he would not tell of
"Good-by, wifekin. Take care of
yourself till l sec you," he added, in a
friendlier tone, as he jumped into his
carriage.
WELL l must sayp' CIRCULATED the lit
tie lady, frowning after the retreating
vehicle. But she did not say it. In
stead, she set the clock on its legs again.
and fell to musing.
She was sorry she had vexed Warren
by meddling with his bank book. but he
need not have been so cross. What did
he want of the book, ANYWAY? Had he
not only yesterday told her that he didn't
owe cent in the world9 And why
this was vital query-why had he gone
of without her, too preoccupied to snatch
good-by kissl Last week he had left
her behind in the same way. She would
not have minded the neglect so much if
1t had not afterward come to her ears
that he had gone straight from her to
Miss Ebbitt, and escorted that young
lady to the city. He never had limited a
word about it. Mrs. Gerrish secretly
hoped the rumor wasn't true, but it was
shocking to have the neighbors talking.
And now to think that, after .humbling
she should have me. with fat refusal!
The stroke of nine surprised her just this
side of tears. Was it possible she had.
idled away a whole hour in arranging
the writing. desk, and bridget gone for
the week9
Hurrying into the kitchen to wash the
breakfast dishes, her eyes rested on a
quaint looking man in the doorway.
"Mornin', Miss Gerrish, said he, dof-
fng his hat for GOODNESS rather than cour-
tesy.
"Good- d-morning, Uncle Jabez," re-
sponded she, kindly. ''Have you come
to split me some kindlings2"
''Sartain, ma'am. suspicioned you
must be about out, A" said the village fac
totum, wiping his bald knob of crown,
which rose above its encircling fringe
like the seed-vessel of poppy above its
corolla.
II knew your husband wasn't here to
do for you he continued, putting his
hat Oh again with screwing motion, as
If it were the cover of fruit jar. 'I'd
been clearing out the Widder Ebbitt's
pipes, and was crawling along on her
rug, when Mr.. Gerrish drove up for
jimmy. He didn't have to wait. On the
iat of her foot jimmy is, for all her fuss
and feathers"
"Did they catch the trainl" faltered
the young wife, her face averted.
Eyes, ma'am, they catched it. I asked
Hiram Blodgett when he fetched your
horse back TO the store, - answered Uncle
Jabez, his contding blue eyes fixed on
the sky. Pm jealous of a shower,
ma'am. Remember that pealer we had
the last time your husband took Jimmy to
Boston,"
Last Thursday do you meanY"
queried Mrs Gerrish, anxiously. That
miserable rumor might be true. She
was ready to believe anything.
1T strikes me twas Thursday. Yes,
ma'am, twas a week ago to-day, for was
in the Widder Ebbitt's stable mendin'
her crib when your husband drove in with
jimmy. The water was a-streakin' it off
o. the kerridge, but he'd wropped jimmy
complete, SOFT she skipped out dry as a
grasshopper She told him she was no
end grateful for his care, and faith she'd
orter been; for if he hadn't held her
shawl round her so, her silk gownd would
a been spotted hitherty yonder.n
"What did he say to that, unclel"
"Oh he was even with her, ma'am.
Pm the one obleeged Miss jimmy, says
he. You know you're everything to
me- lost the rest, he spoke so low"
eyes, certainly, murmured the dazed
little wife, absently shutting Unele Jsbez
into the she'd
Miss Ebbitt everything to Warren by
Waren's own confession Gould she
trust her own ears4 Eccentric and scat
Drained Uncle Jabez might be, but