The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-02-13
Eliza said Mr.. Blackbridge; 'but !


4 never thought that Seth and l
would have come to words, sobbed
Mrs. Blackbridge. But no woman
could respect herself who consented to
be trampled into the DUST
'At the weeks end, however, Mr..
and Mrs. Blackbridge met. 1t was not
'in crowd;' it was at a railway station.
Mrs. Blackbridge was going down the
line to see about getting her cinnamon
colored silk dyed black. Mr.. Black
bridge was going up to Selbyville to in
spect some cattle that were to be sold
the next day at auction. Neither of
them looked at each other. Both pre-
tended to be deeply interested in the
printed matter nailed up on the station
walls, although Mrs. Blackbridge could
not read word without her spectacles,
and honest Steve did not know whether
he was persuing Greek iambies or cune-
form inscriptions. But their peculiar
department was fortunately unobserved,
end of the room, was engaged in telling
a story about somebody up at ICELAND
Three Corners few miles away.
'Yes,' said he, they've separated !
Over fifty, both on 'em! And only just
found out that they was suferin' from
incompatibility of temper! Did you
ever hear of such pair of old fools in
all your life7'
'Never!' said old Captain Jenkins,
who was the spokesman of the eager au
dience.
(Mr. Blackbridge looked out of the
window and made feeble attempt at
whistling. Mrs. Blackbridge stared
harder than ever at the 'Sedgwick juno
tion Time-Table.)
'And what d yes s'pose it was all about?'
went on Deacon Zephaniah Ellis, with
a resounding laugh. 'Why, nothin'
more nor less than the moth-eaten old
uniform that the squire's grand-uncle
wore in the war of 1872! True's you
live and breathe, that was ALL
Cit out!' said old Captain Jenkins,
not so much from any spirit of disbelief
as from the necessity for some appro-
pirate comment upon the circumstance,
when Deacon Zephaniah paused.
'I'm tellin' the gospel truth, said
Deacon Zephaniah. 'An old gold-laced
uniform, half eat up by the moths, that
she found in chest up garret. She
wanted to sell it to the ragman, and he
wouldn't let her. She said she would,
and he said she shouldn't. And they
came to high words, and SO now they're
parted. And all about the squire's
grand-uncle's old uniform! Ha! ha!
ha
There was a burst of derisive laughter
from the little crowd. Mr.. Blackbridge
came little nearer to his wife. Mrs.
Black kbridge did not stir, but colored
up to her eyes.
'Jane Eliza!' said Mr.. Blackbridge,
in low voice.
Eyes, Seth, was the almost inaudible
response.
4 guess I'll go in the down train with
YOU
mo, Seth, said Mrs -Rlackhridge;
sIll 60 to Selbyville with you. l amt
in hurry about my business
Jane Eliza he said, once again.
well, Seth.
Il was dreadful stubborn about that
cherry wood bureau. I'm willin' to
own it..
20, Seth, don't talk that way, almost
sobbed Mrs. Blackbridge. 1T belonged
to your mother. 1t was natural you
should feel So.
we'll set it under the window said
Seth. Zone place is just as good as
another for it. And you shall have
your corner cupboard just as you wanted
it,
Il don't want no corner cupboardl'
said Jane Eliza, Historically.
'But I do said Mr.. Blackbridge.
'And I mean to have it. There comes
the Selbyville train and I'll be glad to
have you look at the cattle. Your
judgment always was good about fat
cows
He tucked Mrs. Blackbridge's arm
under his, and the couple started for
the train.
Thus the reconciliation was COM
plete. And all through Deacon Zepha-
niah Ellis unconsciously uttered story
about somebody's granduncle's old
uniform.
Il didn't fairly see what fool I was
before, said Mr.. Blackbridge.
Nor either, said Mrs. Blackbridge.
The corner cupboard now occupies
the angle of the chimney jamb, and the
cherry wood bureau stands under the
window, with the family Bible laid up
on the velveteen cushion on its polished
top. :.
And the Blackbridges have never had
any serious difference of opinion since.