Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-04-02
AFRAID SHE HATED HIM

AFRAID SHE HATED HIM.
Ten O'Clock, and the lunch basket
lot rea ~ for the field-as usuall' said
Farmer Brewster, as he threw himself
nto the rocking-chair in the kitchen,
and famed hIs flushed face with his
straw hat. a quarter of an hour
wasted, very likely, waiting here, right
n the midst of AS fine a hay day as a
nan would wish to see. Now, my
mother used to have her lunch ready to
lie minute whenever we came for it,
and don't see why
His CrumblIng was checked 10y the
appearance of his wife, who came out
IF the pantry, tuggmg along the great
unch basket, almost too heavy for her
strength.
Farmer Brewster WAS a young man,
spite of his grumbling. Only twenty
.hree, tall, straight, healthy, with blue
eyes, rosy cheeks, fair curly hair, and
handsome face, WHEN L WAS not dark
ened, as now, by scOwl of discomfort.
An only son, lie had Inherited a large
aud handsome farm, clear from mort
gage and debt, which supplied all the
wants of his household most literally,
and gave him a mic little sum OF money
% deposit in the bank each year.
There was no reason why he should
De mean, and yet misery habits were
gradually growing upon him far faster
han he knew. Nor was there need of
Zrumbling over the household arrange
nents, since the wife of his choice was
farmers daughter who knew well
now to work, and who had taken de-
light in getting her home in faultless
order when first she came as bride to
,he pleasant Brewster farm.
The same order reigned still from
gaIIe Ito cellar OF the square old house,
out Mrs. Brewster went through her
asks mechanically now, or with nerv-
)us haste and hurry that made them
almost uncomfortable sometimes.
The constant dropping water will
wear away stone, and the constant
fault-fnding, in which her husband
saw fit 10 indulge, had nearly worn the
patience. the hOpe, and tie endurance
put of the young wife > heart. The
comfort and happiness of that home
lung upon thread which frayed more
and more, hour after hour, under the
pain of unmerited blame. But George
Brewster saw nothing of tins until the
morning of which l write.
There is your lunch, and 1t is exactly
i've minutes past teD,' said Mrs. Brews-
.er, setting down the basket with some
emphasis at his feet. Il was delayed
hat much with the butter. 1t had to
De seen to before the sun got too high. ,
My mother always churned before
breakfast observed George Brewster,
rising slowly to his feet.
His wife said nothing, but the color
rose hotly in her cheeks TIL the last
bloom of her girlhOod seemed ito have
come back again, and she raised her
eyes to his with look that startled
him.
Very handsome eyes they were
lark, soft and yelvety, with world of
owe and tenderness in their depths.
Yet now they met his own coldly and
,ternly, with such an expression that
he exclaimed:
Good gracious, Lettyl You look as
you hated me!'
I'm afraid l do WAS the astounding
,eply.
With a swift glance at the clock
Lefty hurried down to the cellar, with
4 knife and a pan 10 make preparations
Afraid she hates me! My wife! She
hat was Lefty Glover! he muttered TO
himself in his bewilderment. why,
what on earth-she mus he going crazy,
Or something or other! Letty' lie
allied at tile cellar door.
at is ten minutes past ten,' she an
swered from the depths of the cellar.
IL don't see about the dinner now it
l.. 81 70 Ia
minute, as your mother used TO have
{. L can't come
We'll, if this don't beat ALP said he
% the maltese and white cat, who
:ame up from the cellar and rubbed
herself against his legs
4 shout from the hay field reused
aim to the recollection Of the days
business. He went out and dispensed
hungry men, who praised LeIty's eX-
hey swallowed
1t is enough 10 make an old bachelor
ike me sit down ard cry to eat such
raspberry shoTtcake as that said Solo
non WySe, wiping the crumbs of the
Teast from lis lips before he drank hard
c.der from the jug. Tel you what 1t
bCOlet. gOAA NAtH a ~ -EC "A-C-A gNA
went courtiug.'
so lie did. And here's to her good
lealth,' chimed in another mower, as he
-ook up the jug.
George asseEted vaguely. They were
alking of his wife-his wife, who was
afraid she hated him.
Never had the two hours between
unch and dinner dragged SO slowly.
AS he rode round and round the field
with sharp rattle of the mower, which
ne guided with care, his mind was con-
tinually busy with Letty's looks apd
uer words, and his eyes turned often
toward the cream-colored farmhouse,
behind whose spruce-green blinds his
wife was busy preparing dinner
Il used 10 think how happy L should
be if l ever persuaded her to come
here he thought 1T is two years
why / declare 1t is tSo years this very
iay that we were married! l wonder
she remembers it? But 1t isn't very