Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-09-08

| ueNOtcu warren n4u Dcen, SORTlcNcu Dy
her suffering. that for shame's sake she
could not have limited at its cause.
Dear old fellow, of course he had loved
her then. and of course he loved her
now! Uncle Jabcz's distracting gossip
could be easily explained. To think
otherwise was absurd.
"Jchu! was satisfied l heercd some
thing smash" cried that simp'c indi-
vidual, pushing the door ajar with his
moccasined toe, and shutting i'm, his
arms full of wood "Therc, there,
ma am, wouldn't take OH so about the
clancy. Your husband won't feel get
ting you new sugar-dish, bein' he's in
the crockcry line"
"It breaks the set, you scc," equivo-
Gated the proud little matron, humor-
ing his conceit. Better pass for ninny
than a jealous wife
1--WE all have our posters" 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 /
had narrow squeak to get along; but
now my wife's dead, and I'm out of
debt, and / thank the Lord! Hullo!
here's Lunt's team"
The entering grocer NODDED affably to
Mrs. Gerrish as he dropped his paYcls
upon the table. Warm morning,
ma am. Shower brewing. Mr.. Gcrrish
to be gone long?"
"Only till noon. He has run up TO
Boston,"
"Oh. l supposed he was gone further.
Noticed he carried valise and got
checks for New York"
"Guess he was seem to jimmy Ebbitts
traps" volunteered Uncle Jabez, fol
lowing 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 of, for all me-" NUT
tered the little matron, sweeping up the
scattered sawdust with a spiteful ilirt of
her broom. "Why didn't Warren tell
me she was goingP He's amazingly
coy about speaking of his old love-"
Old love in more senses than one.
Miss Ebbitt was thirty at the least for
all she would persist in dressing as
youthfully as hcrsclf-ninetccn this very
day! What ravishing bonncts this CO.
qucttc did wear, and what airs she put
on in the choir, where she always sat
next Mr.. Gerrish! Often whispering to
him too. Was it necessary for organ
list and chorister everlastingly to confer
with each otherP In that case, ag-
gricved Mrs. Gerrish wished that she
might be the organst herself. With n
little more practice in the use of pedals,
she was sure she could play as well as
Miss Ebbitt. At all events she could
have played as well before she left her
fathers home and the dear piano. War
rem had praised her execution in those
days. He needn't trouble himself to
praise it again, if Jenny Ebbitt was
"evcry thing to him. What else had
he said to Miss Jenny that day.? Had
she been in Uncle Jabczs place. Mrs.
Gerrish felt sure she could 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 carriage? Didn't the woman
possess a shawl-pinP
Ten o'clock, and the dishes unwash-
ed! The beIatcd little housc-kccpcr
barred her dimpled arms and made
feint ut 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! A lovely life they
might have led discussing protoplasm
and the correlation of forces, if she, the
gay girl-wifc had not stepped i'm be-
tween them. Once she had told War
ron rs much, and been silcnced by n
kiss. Yet last Wednesday week. when
Oh. - - Al.
queen across the room, he had called
her a silly child, and soon after had
taken his hat and gone out. 1t was
evident enough now what he went for
He went to invite Jenny Ebbitt to ac-
company him the next day to Boston.
Uncle Jabcz had witnessed their return.
In plain English, Warren had become
weary of his foolish little wife, and had
preferred the society of reasonable
woman. 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 ovenP
For once in his life her husband would
have to wait for his dinner. Mrs. Ger
IRISH said to herself that she didn't care.
He had been partaking of an intellcc-
tual feast with Miss Jenny; he must
make that do. But when mt two o clock
the dinner was smoking in the warming
oven, she chafed Mt his non-appearancc.
Why should he delay on this of all days,
while the heavens bcwailed a furious
tempcstp He knew her dread of light
nIng. He had never before neglected
her so cruelty. What if-absurd fancy
what If he had really gone on journey,
as the grocer had supposed! Gliding
herself for the thought, she rushed
up stairs to prove it's fallacy. Through
gathering gloom she glidcd straight to
her husbands closet, suggestivcly open.
Where was the valisc that had stood in
one corner3 Where indeed? The
space it had filled Knocked her with its
darkness. A new suit fresh from the
tailor's had also vanquishcd-ycs, and
the handbook! In PHYS name, why
had her husband needed that? Had he
gone on to New York with Miss Ebbitt?
Transfixed with horror at the suspicion,
the miserable young wife glared at the
dismantlcd wardrobe till reused to ply
steal fear by a terrific thundcr-bolt.
Then, half frcnzicd, she lighted lamp,
drew the shutters, and flung herself on
the bed.
In the grasp of that memorable tenn
pest the cottage trcmblcd like living
thing, and the ground shook as with an
earthquake. Older and Drawer women
than Mrs. Gcrrish shuddcrcd that day,
and she, poor fasting soul, was all
alone, and battling with her first an
guish. Oh, the cruelty of it! Gradually
the storm subsidized. She grew calmer.
Spent with excitement, she may even
have drowscd. Suddenly she started
up in panic. The clock was striking
five. The September night was shut
ting down upon her. She could not |