The National tribune., 1891-01-15

into the field as cheerfully as she did the
house and garden.
But her pride and ambition, and possibly
the wear and tear upon her nerves in other
directions had told upon her. She found
herself dreading the hot harvest The work
looked like a mountain. Patty was on the
point Of breaking down.
JOINTLY she said one morning, and her
face was very pale, "Im feeling very poorly
OF late; my appetite is gone, and nay bones
ache continually"
Bless my soul Patty, you're not going to
get sick here in harvesting" and her hus-
band turned upon her with peeYish, ugly
frown. 1t never rains but il pOurs. Last
night that lout, Jim Cook, overfed the team,
and to-day the gray mare fell in the traces,
and I'll probably have TO break the twO-year-
old or hire horse"
Why not make her work." asked his
wife, her lip trembling.
What, make a sick horse work." and he
looked at his wife GROSSLY. women amt
much sense anyway. Why, that mare is the
best worker on the place"
"Oh!n and the woman who had drawn
near her husband for sympathy drew back,
and sitting down, said quietly, I'll not get
sick, Jointly"
That's right Patty, that's right" and en-
tiTely ObliyiOus Of the expression on her
face continued, "Mebbe you best take
some boneset. Lid'ann, / mind, set great
store by bOneset tea I've see il bring her
out Of iever'n'ague many time, and without
losing days work"
Lid'ann's remedies and mine are differ
ent, most likely" said Mrs Sourbeck in the
same tone. i have a new remedy"
90! take what you like, only don't go TO
upsetting things in harvest-time; !" and be-
slowing upon her what he meant for a very
affectionate glance, the farmer went out and
down TO the wheatfeld.
joey! JOeyl"
" Yes, Ma" and ten-year-old Joey came in
from the wOodpile
Joey, run over 10 Widow Bakers and
ask her if Mary Ellen mayn't come and help
me till harvest is over. I'm sick, joey. Tell
her that, and ask Mary Ellen TO come so as
to get dinner. Now, be spry, Joey, and you
shall have some new marbles"
When Jonathan Sourbeck, with six
hungry men, came in at noon good dinner
was ready, but big fat Mary Ellen Baker was
presiding.
Mrs. Sourbeck's sick" was her brief re-
spouse 10 Jonathan's sharp inquiry.
He waited TO hear no more, but darting
into his wife's room was struck dumb by the
sight
In cool loose print gown Patty was COM
fortably curled up on the bed and reading a
novel
Good Heavens, what's the meaning Of
this?" demanded the man.
His wife looked much as usual except the
pallor in her face. His wife lying on bed
reading in haryest-time
oh! hired girl in the kitchen, while
my lady reads novels. / see, i see"
Patty laid down her book.
"Well.o
1t was only one word, but the man flushed.
oh! if you're really SICK" shutting
about, why, / suppose
Jonathan Sourbeck, n-he scarcely knew
the voice of his wife, it was so hard-"when
your horse dropped in the traces, you said
she couldn't be worked any more. You even
spoke Of hiring a horse 10 take her place
When your wife was taken sick, you got
angry and showed her less heart than you
did the sick mare. For better than a year
have tried TO make man Of you. / never |
believed but what you had been lied on in |
the stories Of your brutality TO poor Lid'ann. |
Now j know it-and listen TO me. There's |
no use 10 do for you. There's no man in Won. |
You are mean, ill-tempered, stingy and |
brutal. Mary Ellen Baker is going TO stay
till harvest is done; then I'm going TO pack /
up and 20 70 mothers back in York State. |
Pm sorry for the children, but I've only one
life, and you can't take that by inches, as
you did poor Lid'anns. Now I've said my
say, and i mean IL, every word"
Was the earth really taken from under
him? IL seemed so to the man who had
faced this picture of himself As occurs to
drowning men, Jonathan Sourbeck may
have seen in one moment his whole life pass
in review-his own life, and those Of two
women, one in Heaven, the other there, an
accusing angel.
There was one moment Of irresolutiOn,
Dne short, fierce battle within himself, then
Jonathan Sourbeck-not a very romantic or
enticing figure in his harvest soil and heat
took step forward, and, falling upon his
knees by the side Of the bed, muttered in a
hoarse, stifed voice, Forgive me, Patty,
forgive men
Two years later, when some neighbor
poke 10 Patty of what O changed man
Jointly was since the time Lid'ann was his
wife, Patty smiled and said:
Pm afraid poor Lid'ann hadn't much
TACT In dealing with men folks"