Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-08-05

Win ettcn OJnefs IN JnaU case
aggrieved Mrs. Gerrish wished that
she might be the orgsnist herself. With
little more practice in the use oil
pedals, she was sure she could play as
well as Miss Eboitt. At all events she
could have played as well before she
left her fathers home and the dear
piano. Warren had praised her exc
cution in those days He needn't
trouble himself to praise it again, IL
Jennie Ebbitt was everything to
him." What else had he said to Miss
Jenny that day? Had she been IN
Uncle Jabez' place, Mrs Gerrish felt
sure she should have heard every
word, had her husband whispered
ever so softly. Was he at the present
moment holding Miss Jennie's shawl
about her III the cars, as he held it in
the earriage2 Did not the woman
possess a shawlpin?
Ten clock, and the dishes unwashedl
The belated little hoasekeeper barred
her dimpled arms and made a feint OF
haste; but the stroke OF IL found her
hands still in soapsuds. and her
thoughts in Boston. Warren called
Miss Ebbit a superior woman. Pity
| he hadn't married her! A lovely life
they might have led discussing proto.
plasm 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 yexed 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 Jennie
Ebbitt to accompany him the next
| day to Boston. Uncle Jabez had wit
messed their return. In plain English,
Warren had become weary OF his
foolish little wife, and preferred the
society of a reasonable woman.
Twelve o'clock Well, by this time
he had doubtless seen Miss Jenny of
to New York, and he must be on the
train for. home. She would put the
pudding in to bake.
Att, the usual hour of dining, the
| pudding was dough and. the.lamb not
! half roasted. 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 amin
tellectual feast with Miss Jenny, he
must makesthat do.
But when at o'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 a
furious tempest2 He knew her dread
| of lightning He had never before neg
lected her so cruelty. What if--absurd
fancyl-what if he had really gone on
a Journey rs the grocer had sup
posed2 Gliding herselffor the thought
she rushed up stairs to prove its ial.
lacy. Through gathering gloom she
glided straight to her husbands closet,
suggestiyely open. Where was theva-
lise that had stood in one corner?
Where indeed? The space it had filled
Knocked her with its darkness. Anew
suit fresh from the tailor's had also
vanished-yes, and the bank book!
In PHYS name, why had her husband
needed that2 Had he gone on to New
York with Miss Ebbitt?
Transfixed with horror at the sus-
| picion, the miserable young wifeglared
at the dismantled wardrobe till reused
to physical fear by terrific thunder
bolt. Then, half frenzied, she lighted
lamp, drew the shutters and flung
herself on the bed.
In the grasp ofthat memorable tenn:
pest the cottage trembled like q 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 alone, and battling with her
first anguish. Oh, the cruelty of
i'll Gradually the storm subsidized.
She grew calmer.s Spent with excite
| ment she may even have drowsed.
Suddenly she started up in panic.
The clock was striking 5. The Sep
TENDER night was shutting down upon
her. She could not confront it unat-
tended; but, on the other hand, how
could She proclaim her desertion to
the neighbors? Gould she ever tellliv-
ing 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.
Gerrish buried herself again among
the pillows.
From this premature interment
somebody exhumed her five minutes
later-somebody with broad should
ers and beard slightly frosted with
gray-her own husband in fact
Enlightened, Mabei?" criedhe blink.
ing at the lamp light. "Why, my
blessed girl, the shower is quite over.
See how bright it isl'i i fE
He threw back the shutters and let
the sun shine full in her fearful eyes
"What-why--how did you happen
to come back" gasped she, futtering
from his embrace with the dignity of
an insulted sparrow.
Cordial query, little wife! came
for my dinner, but it seems was not
expected EttB
"Dinner!!" Mrs. Gerrish choked with
indignation. To be put off like a
baby in this manner was too humili-
ating.
Her husband regarded her in sur
prise. "How ill you look" he said,
tenderly. Strange thunder showers
should PROSTATE you SO. Don't try
to come down IIIforage for myself
in tho pantry. Must bolt my dinner
in order to be at the store by g"
"At 81 1t chances to be past 5 al
ready" 49,.
past 81 My dear Mabel, how inco.
herently you are talking. Don't tell
me you've been struck by LIGHTNING"
cried he, in real concern, Look at
my watch. It's just 1.l5."
0ne-2-3-4-5-6, disputed the
| clock below, with lying impudence.
Mr.. Gerrish threw back his head and
fairly foared with laughter. "Oh,
that's the game, is it2 So much for
my tipping the thing over-taking
time by the forelock, as you might
say. But, dearie, how strange that
you didn't suspect that the clock was
going two hours in onei How alb.
sorbed you must have been this morn
ingl''
More absorbed than you were?"
queried Mrs. Gerrish. viciously.
"Well, no, Pussy, maybe not" re-
sponded her sublimely unconscious
husband, with roguish twinkle.
You see, this is young Mrs, Gerrish's
first birthday, and Pve been deeply en-
crossed in choosing a gift worthy OF
her"
warren
"We've been engrossed, l should
say. Jenny Ebbitt's Judgment has
been everything to me. We didn't
find everything satisfactory last week,
and had to wait till to-day for thenew
lot; but Jenny declai es that we've at
last. hit upon the sweetest toned piano
in Boston. I'm drsadfully cut up be
cause you can't have it on your pirth
daY: but YOU can try it tomorrow