The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-03-15


poor rheumatic mother"
81 guess you'd better keep your pity
for yourself" observed Mr.. Hooper,
shrewdly. by all accounts, you'll
need it! Going to Uncle Prickett's
for your wedding trip, Ell? Well. its
a pleasant part of the country. l dare
say you'll like it."
Uncle Prickett was a leather-com-
plexioned old man, with keen black
eyes and sharp. yellow teeth, like those
of an elderly monkey. He gave them
q cordial welcome.
That's a pretty little new wife O.
yours, Mr.. Aikin," said he. s.And as
smart as steel, too. though she is my
niece!'
EYES," said Jonas, with modest ex-
ultation, II calculate she'll be helpful
like around the farm. We need STIR
ring woman at home"
mot too helpful. Hope, said Uncle
Prickett.
'EhP" said Jonas.
''Look here" said Uncle Prickett.
''Sir?" stammered Jonas.
'.Fond of her, eh?" questioned Uncle
Prickett.
You bet I ami Jonas promptly re-
sponded.
'srhen don't murder her!'
Murder herr
Look here again" And Uncle
Prickett drew Jonas towards the win
dow. .'D'ye see the church-yard over
there on the hill?"
Jonas shivered little.
EYES," said he, 81 see it. Them
white stones gleamin' through the
trees. amt itr'
my wife lies there" said Uncle
Prickett.
'Indeedw said Jonas, a little un-
easily.
~ killed her!" said Uncle Prickett.
Jonas started back.
''Ehp" he exclaimed q second time.
Don't look at me that way said
Uncle Prickett. II didn't stab her,
nor poison her. / loved her, young
man, just as well as you love yonr
wife. And yeti killed her. DO you
want to know how it was done?"
Jonas stared at him. Had the man
gone crazy?
Work" said Uncle Prickett. "Hard
work! We were proud Of the farm
and OF the dairy. We liked to add
premiums at the county fairs. We
added up our bank account every night.
Jenny was as anxious to save money
as l was. She rose at three o'clock in
the morning, and sat up sewing until
eleven at night. Well, here's the farm,
and there's the bank account; but Jen-
ny lies buried under the biggest gray
shaft on yonder side hill. She died
the day before her twenty-ninth birth
day, and knew just as well as If a
coroner's inquest had said so that I had
been her DEATH"
mo. no" pleaded Jonas. Don't say
etat!m
'As true as ] stand here" said Uncle
Prickett- II should have been careful
Of her. A woman amt an iron ma
chine. l should have cherished her.
amt that what the Marriage Service
saysP-instead of letting her work her
self into q decline. What sort O. good
DO you suppose all that money does me
soUa She amt here to share it with
ne. Now you know what mean, young
man."
And Uncle Prickett turned on his
heel and went out OF the room.
Lefty" he said to his niece, who
vas gathering the first ripe raspber-
lies that grew On the sunny garden
vail. I've been giving your husband
! word of advice. I've been telling
him he mustn't let you work yourself
o death, like your Aunt Jenny did,"
''Do you think he needs advice, Uncle
'rickett?'
"Alt young men do at one period or |
'nother Of their lives" said Mr.. Prick
IT.
1t was Of a Saturday night when Jo- |
as brought his bride home. Mrs. |
ireen. the nearest neighbor, had been
elping around the house, and had
repaired savory supper. The even
ng meal was scarcely concluded, when
wagon drove up to the door, and out
topped stout Welsh girl, with bum
lie under her arm, and q yellow cot
On umbrella.
''Who's this?" said Mrs. Akin, view
1g the new arrival with disfavor.
"lt's the hired help" Jonas an
wered.
THE hired help! Why, l thought
ou'd got married to-"
1.-THE fact is, mother" said Jonas.
indy, I've sort o. changed my mind
bout some things. Hou've most killed
ourself with hard work. You never
ould have got this rheumatism fast
led on you If you hadn't stuck to it
1u'd WhftpWaah tho ooffo,