The Portland daily press., 1890-01-25


sat on the rail fence of the COW lot near
by.
Everything became so still when the
parson stepped from among the crowd
into the entry that the drone of the bees
around the hives at the end of the cabin
could be heard. Berry led his bride from
one of the rooms, and they stood before
the preacher. Her gown was of plain
white muslin. A mass of glossy brown
hair fell in waves over her shoulders.
A few smiles, such as touch faces at
fashionable weddings, even though void
of sincerity, would not have been out OF
place, now that the girls step was ire
vocable; but the simple minds of the
spectators were unlearned in such subtle
arts, and the upturned countenances
mutely and firmly spoke disapprobation
of the match, and sympathy for the
parents, for the bridegroom's character
was well and unfavorably known by
them all.
At the feet of the bride sat her parents,
their gray heads uncovered in the spray
of dancing sunshine which fell through
the tree branches. Truly pitiful was the
feeble semblance of approval which they
stroye to keep in their care worn faces.
The ceremony was over. The most
friendly of the neighhors shook hands
with the newly married pair; then the
: throng melted away. Intense and EN-.
barrassing silence came to the household
with the departure of the guests. Martha
was to go forthwith to the cabin that her
husband had made ready for her on
some land few miles distant, which he
had rented for the next year.
Berry brought out Martha's box and a
bundle of new quilts-her dowry--and
put them in a buggy. The young bride
kissed her speechless mother, and twined
her arms tightly around the wrinkled
neck. With eyes brimful of tears she
went to her father, as he leaned over the
fence looking fixedly at nothing.
He turned when her hands touched his
arm and put his rough, sun Drowned
hand against the side of her faIe. He
did not kiss her; she did not intend to
kiss him. Such mark of affection had
never passed between them, but deep
feeling was evinced in his dispirited de.
meanor, and revealed in the dimmed orbs
beneath the shaggy gray eyebrows, that
more than sufficed.
you'll be over soon, you an your
you an Berry, reckon" he said dis
connectedly with twitching lips. "You're
ally's welcome as long as men your mo-
ther has roof above us. I'll have lobe
Sanders drive your COW over early in the
mornin'. You'd better take Sock, ]
reckon; she seems to be your favorite.
She's good mich COW, anil give more'n
enough milk for you two"
For few moments after the bride
and bridegroom had driven away Farmer
Compton remained where she had left
him. Mrs. Compton sat in the entry
alone. She rose firmly and went to kin
die fire in the chimney. Her husband
approached her as she knclt in the ashes
on the wide hearth.
"Never mind, mother" he said, plain
lively, 81 haint hungry. Les make out
with cold snack this time. It's been
many year sence we've gone 'thout
warm supper, but don't feel much like
eatin', an reckon you don't nuther."
Nothing reluctant she consented. They
sat in the door and watched the 0inking
sun draw away his gold from the
clouds, and saw the cleaning darken
the low lands and drape the hills in
gray. They sat closer together than they.
had sat for years before. = =
Berry began his married life in much
more exemplary manner than was gen.
orally expected of him. His cabin was
well equipped for occupany. He straight
way went to work to bring his soil into
fit condition for the planting of crops.
Winter passed; spring rolled brightly
on. Martha was happy. Her husband
was, indeed, very kind and attentive,
and she loved him more than ever, and
secretly enjoyed the knowledge that her
friends were now finding out the errors
of their prophesies concerning her well
fare.
But, alas! this happy time was short.
Berry had gone to the village to poll his
vote in local election. He did not re-
turn as early as had been his wont when
he went to the village. Martha stood in
the door, anxiously awaiting him until
night had fallen. She heard the clatter
of horse hoofs, and he rode up, his horse
foaming with perspiration. He alighted,
leading the animal bunglingly to the
stall.
The young wife shrunk with instinct
i've dread into the cabin. Once before
her marriage she had seen precisely that
unsteady walk, that languid dropping of
head and shoulders. She knew we'll
what it betokened. She made haste to
place the supper on the table. She could
not go to him as she had been accus-
toned to do. This he noted with quick
ened sensitiveness on his entrance.
Throwing himself clumsily in chair,
he glowcred at her as she shrunk before
him. The consciousness that he had
broken his promise of total abstinence
was nppermost in his mind.
"a man cayn't tech a drap 'thout you
a-thinkin' at he's gwine to take to it
reg.ar," he said, with thick tongue.
tines reason in everything. A man
haint wuth that"-trying to snap his
fingers-"that cayn't drink on partic-
ular 'casion like this 'thout making q
hog O. hiss'f."
With the table between her and him,
she stood, pale and quivering in every
fiber, unable to answer him.
'Lostyore tongue, t seems. Lection's
over, Pete Grogan's our next sheriff;
stayed till votes counted out. You kin
jest STAN thar like post till it thunders
Ell you want to. won't make you be-
heve what I'm a-tellin' you"
Berry" she said desperately, moving
chair to his place at the table, supper
is ready. Come before it's cold"
Don't want no supper" he said, tes-
THY; "ain't gwine to eat at no table whar
I'm looked on like a brute. Cayn't tech
drop with ole friends I wuz fo-ch up
with 'thout the whole world bein' up
SET"
de rose angrily and staggered out of
doors. She heard the gurgle of bottle,
and when he came in she noted the
bulge OF capacious whisky flask in his
pocket He resumed his chair without
speaking.
Hours passed by; he was becoming
more deeply inebriated. He sat. an
inert human mass, with lolling head
waggling, now and then, on his breast.
and was in great danger of tumbling 10
the floor. The last pine knot was flick
ering in the chimney. When it expired
darkness would fall. She shuddered at
the situation. f;omething must be done;
she must get him upon the bed.
She touched his feverish head with her
,o1d horJS 1Ja paid No haad tn bar