The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1889-09-12


The village of Oxford was alive with Gu
rosity that Sabbath morning to see the
bride that Bob Trench had brought home.
He had wooed and won her in New York,
and none of his family had seen her until
her arrival among them the night before.
"Thc whole thing" said DIR. Tanner,
"done, no doubt, at a white heat, after
the fashion of the Trench family"
The Trenches were a large bodied, hot
blooded race always making a talk in the
county by sudden outbreaks into vice or
into big, heroic deeds of virtue,
The quiet, slows going, Scotch Irish
Presbytcrians who made up the communi-
ty of the village of Oxford, found the vir-
tuous Trenches quite as diScomposing
anh uncomfortable to live with as the
wicked ones.
"Radical religion said Deacon Vale,
sis like balkin horse. He may intend
to drag you up the hill, hut he lands you
in the ditch at last. Give me an old
steady PAGER ON the road or in the
church."
The Trenches had front pew (for
which they sometimes forgot to pay), and
IL was here that Bob led his wife this
morning. She was a small woman, with
light eyes and hair, and looked oddly
white and cool and insignificant among
the big boned, black-browed Trenches
She knew that the whole congregation
were sitting in judgment on her eyes and
nose and gown, but went through with
her dcvotions in absolute calm.
Luncheon was the first meal at which
the family had met since her arrival
Now Grandma Trench, who was seventy
and victim of -douloureux, had long
ago yielded the care of the house to Kate,
the eldest daughter There had been
fierce suspicious in Hates mind that the
newcomer would try to wrest the reign
of sovereignty from her.
She'll take the head of the table you
IL see" she told her sister Josey, vehe-
mently. "She must understand from the
beginning that you and contribute to
the expenses, and that | manage. | will
never take a second place-never! What
can that child, brought up in a city board
ing school, know of housekeeping"
But the child in her babyish white
gown seemed to understand the situation
by second-slght. She came into the room
where luncheon was served, her arm
about grandma's waist, softly smiling as
the old lady chartered. Kate, tall and
grim, stood behind the chair of honor.
In an instant Anna had seated the old
lady in it.
MY dear" she cried amazed. "This
is not my place, Kate, or-or YOU"
mo, no, dear! Sit still. OF course
the place of precedence is yours" said
Anna, gently. THAT is right. will sit
Ivy you and do the work" sliding quietly
into chair.
Kate, in dumb rage, found herself de-
posed. But what could she do3 Anna
was right She was right. too, when Bob
sent for third cup of green tea. in leav-
ing it untitled.
you think you want more" she said,
her light, smiling eyes holding his ilrmy.
But you are mistaken, Robert; you do
not. You only think go"
1t is fact memorable among the
Trenches that Bob never asked for third
Gun again.
These Trenches were undisciplined in
their eating, as in everything else When
grandma asked for deviled lobster, Anna.
with an innocent face, gave her cold
chicken.
"The child did not hear me, the old
lady thought. But Kate was not deceiy-
ed
.You made a mistake" she said to An
ma, after they had left the table, trying to
smile courteously. I'VE never interfere
with mothers diet, however unwhole-
some it may be
"Ah? But that is not right" replied
the bride with her sweet laugh II shall
love her too dearly to allow her to commit
suicide by inches"
ut is right" That aud her sweet
laugh were her only weapons. The
Trenches might fume, or rage or laugh
with savage insolence at her proposed re-
forms but there she stood, calm, immoy-
able, an iniexible purpose animating
every atom of her soft little body, and
giving meaning to her pale blue eyes and
gentle laugh.
Ina year she had proved her power.
Deviled lobster, with all other highly sea
soned and expensive dishes, had vanished
from the Trench table, and had been re-
placed by cool and cheap messes com
pounded by Annas own deft fingers.
ut was not right that so much Of their
moderate income should go to pamper
their stomachs." at was not right that
when Bob was the chief breadwinner of
the household Bob's wife should buy the
bread" She never put this last maxim
into words, but into gentle, MEMORABLE,
incessant practice.
Grandma in secret cried bitter tears of
longing for her hot curries, for her nov
ell, for her evening game OF euchre, for
the gossiping visits of the neighbors, for
the impromptu games and dances OF the
young people, In all Of which 1.-THE viva
cious old woman Delighted: Anna, with