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

book In PHYS name, why had her hus-
band needed that7 He'd he gone on to
New York with Miss Ebbfttq Trausfxed
with horror at the suspicion, the miser-
able young wife glared at the dismantled
wardrobe till reused to physical fear by
terrific thunder-bolt. Then, half
frenzied, she lighted the lamp, drew the
shutters, and flung herself on the bed.
In the grasp of that tempest
the cottage trembled like living thing,
and the ground shook as with an earth
quake. Older and Drawer women than
Mrs Gerrish shuddered that day, and she,
poor fasting soul, was all ne, and bat
tling with her first anguish. Oh, the cru
city of it Gradually the storm subsided.
She grew calmer. Spent with excite
ment, she may have drowsed. Suddenly
she started up in a panic. The clock
was striking five. The September night
was shutting down upon her. She could
not confront it unattended; but, on the
other hand, how could she proclaim her
desertion toahe neighbors2 Could she
ever tell living mortal of the tress Of
hair hidden among her husbands old
letters---a snaky curl just the shade of
Miss Ebbitt's2 Shrouded in misery, lit
tie Mrs. Gerrish buried herself again
among the pillows.
! From this premature interment .some-
body exhumed her five minutes later
somebody with broad shoulders, and
beard slightly frosted with gray-her
own husband, in fact.
frightened, Mabel2" cried he, blink
ing at the lamp-light. ''Why, my
blessed girl, the shower is quite over.
See how bright it is2'
He threw back the shutters, and let
the sun shine full into her fearful eyes.
"What--why-how did you happen
to come back3" gasped she, fiuttering
/ from his embrace with the dignity of an
insulted sparrow.
Cordial query, little wifel came
fol- my dinner, but it seems was not ex-
pected."
'Dinnerr Mrs. Gerrish choked with
Indignation. To be put off like baby
in this manner was too humiliating.
Her husband regarded her in surprise.
"How i'll you look!n he said, tenderly.
Strange thunder showers should pros
trate you SO. Don't try to come down.
I'll forage for myself in the pantry. Must
bolt my dinner in order to be at the store
at g."
cat 2? 1t chances to be past al
ready"
'Past 81 My dear Mabel, how inco-
herently you are talking! Don't tell me
you've been struck by lightninglp cried
he, in real concern. Look at my watch.
It's just quarter past one"
ne-two-three- four = tive-six,
! disputed the clock below, with lying i'm
pudence.
Mr.. Gerrish threw back his head and
fairly roared with laughter. ooh, that's
the game, is itl So much for my tipping
the thing over-taking time by the fore
lock, as you might say. But, dearie,
how strange that you didn't suspect that
the clock was going two hours in onel
How absorbed you must have been this
morningw
''Mofe absorbed than you were9"
queried Mrs. Gerrish, viciously.
''Well, no, Pussy, maybe not" re-
sponded her sublimely unconscious hus-
band, with roguish twinkle. ''You
see, this is young Mrs. Gerrish's first
birthday, and I've been deeply engrossed
in choosing a gift worthy of her."
''Warrenp'
"We've been engrossed, I should say.
Jenny Ebbitt's judgment has been every
thing to me. We didn't find everything
satisfactory last week, and had to wait
! till to-day for the new lot; but Jenny de-
clares that we've at last hit upon the
sweetest-toned piano in Boston. I'm
dreadfully cut up because you can't have
it on your birthday; but you can try it
tomorrow. Meanwhile, here's the bfll
of sale, made out in your name, as you'll
perceive. Mrs. Gerrish allow me to
present it to you with your husbands
! love"
"Warren, Warren, you're lots too good
for me, " sobbed his little wife, with self
upbraidings as wild as her grammar
'sNonsence, goosie; no man created
could be that" jested he, highly flat
tered. He thought her simply over
wrought by the fierce tempest without.
OF the fiercer tempest that had ragged
within he knew nothing, either then or
afterward.
Next day, along with the piano, came
Mr. Gerrish's valise containing the suit
left at the tailor's for alteration. And
the post brought letter from Miss Eb-
bitt. The writer had secured lucra-
tive position as organist in New York
church; might she resign her former
situation in favor of Mrs. Gerrishl
'How kind of her It's more than l
deserve, Warren" cried the contrite
young wife.
And it gratified her husband to see
that she put the letter carefully away in
the very drawer which held her dead
sisters curl.-Penn Shirley, in Bazar.
A. A.,o,. DIoto pho4 NJ cI,ot ~,