Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-06-25

could not have hintod at its cause.
Dear old fellow, of course he had loved
| her then, and of course he loved her
nowl Uncle Jabcz's distracting gossip
could be easily explained. To think
otherwise was absurd.
"Jehu! | was satisfied | hoered some-
thing smash, F" cried that simple indi-
vidual, pushing the door aiar with his
moccasined toe, and shunling in, his
arms full of wood. "Thcre, there,
ma'am, wouldn't take on so about the
chaney. Your husband won't feel get
ting you new sugar-dish, bcin' he's in
the crockcry line"
at breaks the set, you Sec" cquiyo-
Gated the proud little matron, humor-
ing his conceit. Better pass for a ninny
than jealous wife.
1--WE all have our pestcrs," philoso-
phizcd Uncle Jabcz, placing the sticks
in the wood-box with fond deliberations
"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 nodeed aflably to
Mrs. Gerrish as he dropped his paHcls
upon the table. "Warm morning,
ma'am. Shower brewing. Mr.. Gerrish
to be gone longp'
"Only till noon. He has run up to
Boston"
"Oh, / supposed he was gone further.
Noticed he carried n valisc and got
checks for New York"
"Gucss he was seen' to jimmy Ebbitt's
traps" volunteered Uncle Jabcz, fol-
lowing the grocer out to beg u ride.
"She's started for New York. They're
tinkerin' the mectin' house, and she's
free to run off.
And to stay off, for all me-" NUT
tered tAe little matron, sweeping up the
scattered sawdust with n spitcful ilirt of
her broom. "Why didn't Warren tell
me she was gongp 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 herself-ninctcen this very
day! What ravishing bonnets this CO.
quetto did wear, and what airs she put
on in the choir, where she always sat
next Mr.. Gcrrish! Often whispering to
him too. Was it necessary for organ
list and choristcr cvcrlastingly to confer
with each other? In that case, ag-
gricvcd Mrs. Gerrish wished that she
might be the organst herself. With
little more practice in the use of pedals,
she was sure she could play as well as
Miss Ebbtt. AT all events she could
have played rs 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
''every thing 10 him. What else had
he said to Miss Jenny that day? Had
she been in Uncle Jaboz's place, Mrs
Gerrsh felt sure she could have heard
every word, had her husband whispered
moment holding Miss Jenny's shawl
about her in the cars, as he had held it
in the carriage? Didn't the woman
possess shawl-pinP
Ten o'clock, and the dishes unwash-
ed! The belatcd little housc-keeper
barred her dimpled arms and made
fcint at 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-wife had not stepped in be-
tween them. Once she had told War
rem rs much, and been silenced by
kiss. Yet last Wednesday week, when
she got veXed at chess and threw the
queen across the room, he had called
her 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 Jabez 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
rish said to herself that she didn't care.
He had been partaking of an intellec-
tual feast with Miss Jenny; he must
make that do. But when at two clock
the dinner was smoking in the warming
oven, she chafed at his non-appearance.
Why should he delay on this of all days,
while the heavens bewailed u furious
tempestP He knew her dread of light
nlng. He had never before neglected
her so cruelty. What absurd fancyl-
what if he had really gone on journey,
as the grocer had supposed! Gliding
herself for the thought, she rushed
up stairs to prove its fallacy. Through
gathering gloom she glided straight to
her husbands S closet, suggestively open.
Where was the valisc that had stood in
one cornerP Where indecdP The
space it had filled Knocked her with its
Darkness. A new suit fresh from the
tailors had also vanquished-yes, and
the bank-book! In PHYS name, why
had her husband needed that? Had he
gone on to New York with Miss Ebbittp
Transtixed with horror at the suspicion,
the miserable young wife glared at the
VII IpuStu W DDN-
steal fear by terrific thunder-bolt.
Then, half frenzied, she lighted lamp,
drew the shutters, and flung herself on
the bed.
In the grasp of that memorable tenn
pest the cottage trembed like u living
thing, and the ground shook as with an
earthquake. Older and Drawer women
than Mrs. Gerrish shuddered 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 drowsed. Suddenly she started
up in a panic. The clock was striking
five. The September night was shut
ting down upon her. She could not
confront it unattended; but, on the
other hand, ow could she proclaim her
desertion to the neighborsP Could she