The Portland daily press., 1886-08-03

she could play as well as Miss Ebbitt At
all events she could have played as well be-
fore she left her fathers home and the dear
piano. Warren had praised her execution
in those days. He needn't trouble himself
to praise it again if Jenny Ebbitt was "ev-
erything to him." What else had he said
MISS Jenny that day? Had she been in
Uncle Jabez's place, Mrs. lGerrish felt sure
she should have heard every word, had her
husband whispered ever so softly. Was he
at the present moment holding Miss Jenny's
shawl about her in the cars, as he had held
1t in the carriage? Did not the woman pos
sess shawl pin?"
Ten o'clock, and the dishes unwashed!
The belated little housekeeper barred her
dimpled arms and made feint of haste; but
the stroke of eleven found her hands still in
soapsuds, and her thoughts in Boston. War
rem called Miss Ebbitt a 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 between them.
Once she had told Warren as much, and been
silenced by a kiss. Yet last Wednesday
week, when she got veXed at chess and threw
the queen across the room, he had called her
eilly child, and soon after he had taken his
hat and gone out.
for. He went to invite Jenny Ebbitt to ac-
company him the next day to Boston. In
Gle Jabez had witnessed their return. In
plain English, Warren had become weary of
| his tOOllSn llIUl6 WIG, anu ndu pT61eTT6U
society of a 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 pud-
ding was dough and the lamb not half roast
ed What allied the oven? For once in his
life her husband would have to wait for his
dinner. Mrs. Gerrish said to herself that
she didn't care He had been partaking of
| on intellnptua1 feast with Miss Jenny: he
must make that do.
But when at two o'clock the dinner was
| smoking in the warming oven, she chafed at
| his non-appearance. why should ne deIay
/ walled a furious tempest? He knew her
| dread of lighting He had never before
| neglected her so cruelty. What if-absurd
| fancy!-what if he had really gone on a
| ing herself for the thought, she rushed up
stairs to prove its fallacy. Through gather
| ing gloom she glided straight to her hus
bands closet, suggestiyely open. Where
Where indeed? The, space it had filled
Knocked her with its darkness. new suit
fresh from the tailor's had also vanished
yes, and the handbook! In pitv's name,
why had her husband needed that? Had he
gone on to New York with Miss Ebbit
TransfiXed with horror at the suspicion,
the miserable young wife glared at the dis
mantled wardrobe till reused to physical
fear by terrific thunderbolt Then, half
frenZed she lighted a lamp, drew the shut
tiers and flung herself on the bed.
In the grasp of that memorable tempest
the cottage trembled like living thing, and
the ground shook as with an earthquake.
Older and Drawer women than Mrs Gerrlsh
shuddered that day; and she, poor fasting
soul, was all alone and battling with her first
anguish 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
panic. The clock was striking five. The
September night was shutting down upon
her. She could not confront 1t unattended;
but, on the other hand, how could she pro-
Slain her desertion to the nelghbors? 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 Eb-
bits? Shrouded in misery, little Mrs. Ger
IRISH buried herself again among the pillows.
From this premature interment somebody
exhumed her later, somebody with broad
shoulders, and beard slightly frosted with
gray-her own husband, in fact.
Enlightened, Mabel?" cried he blinking
at the lamplight; why, my blessed. girl,
He threw back the shutters, and let the
sun shine full into her fearful eyes.
"WhatLwhy-how did you happen t., to
embrace with the dignity of an insultedspar-
row.
Cordial query, little wife! came for my
dinner, but it seems was not expected.
"Dinnerw Mrs. Gerrish choked with in
dignation. To be put off like baby in this
manner was too humiliating.
Her husband regarded her with surprise
'How ill you look!' he said, tenderly
'fStrange thunder showers should PROSTATE
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 two"
"At two! 1t chances to be past five al
ready"
rently you are talking! Don't feline you've
been struck by lightningp' cried he, anxious
ly. Look at my watch. It's just quarter
past one"
ne-two-three-fou r-five-six disputed
the clock below, with lying impudence.
Mr. Gerrish threw back his head and fairly
roared with laughter. sob, that's the
game. is it? So much for my tipping the
thing over-taking time by the forelock, as
that you didn't suspect, that the clock, was
going two hours in one! How absorbed you
must have been this morning!"
more absorbed than you were" Queried
Mrs Gerrish, viciousy.
"Well, no, Pussy, maybe not, responded
her sublimely unconscious husband, with
rogush twinkle. "You see, this is young
Mrs Gerrish's first birthday, and Eve been
deeply engrossed in choosing gift worthy
of her" :,
"We've been engrossed, should say.
Johnny Ebbitt's judgment has been every
thing to me. We didn't find everything sat
isfactory last week, and had to wait till to
day for the new lot; but Jenny declares that
we've at last hit upon the sweetest-toned
piano in Boston. I'm dreadfully cut up be-
cause you can't have it on your birthday;
but you can try it tomorrow. Meanwhile,
here is the bill of sale made out in your
name, as you'll perceive Mrs. Gerrish, al
low me to present tito you with your hus-
bands love-"
Warren, you're lots too good for me-"
sobbed his little wife, with self-upbraidings
as wild as her grammar.
Nonsense, goosie; no man created could
be that" TESTED he, highly fattered. He
thought her simply overweight by the
fierce tempest without. OF the fiercer tenn
pest that had ragged within he knew nothing,
| either then or aftePward.
Next day, along with the piano, came Mr..
Gerrshs valise containing the suit left at
the tailors for alteration. And the post
brought ii letter from Miss Ebbitt. The
writer had secured lucrative position as
organist in a New York church; might she
resign her former situation in favor of Mrs.
Gerrish?
"How kind of her! It's more than 1 de-
serve, Warren" cried the contrite young
| wife.
And it gratifed her husband to see that
she put the letter carefully away in the very