Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-05-27
Tempting a Wife,

When Bill Hempsey married Tai
Hsrrel there was great surprise in the
Crbbin Ridge neighborhood. Bill was
Kortbv of respect and was respected;
" was worthy of confidence and had
,een intrusted with 4 county Office, yet
rben he married Tai Harwell there
Ess heard at every turn murmurs of
Stonishment. Tai was a beautiful
yirl and was much younger than Bill;
1er form, unframed by any art, but
with d woods-like wildness of develop
pent, was of exquisite grace, and her
.sir was of gentle waviness, like the
ipples of sun-ray-catching rivulet.
Handsome young fellows-Ned Roys-
on. whose bottom field of corn is this
tear the finest in the neighborhood,
md Phil HightOwer, who has just built
,new, double log house, chinked and
iaubed-paid devoted court to the
,eautv, but when old Bill came along
old Bill with a scar over his eye
where a steer kicked him years ago
md asked her to marry him, she shook
,ff the mischievous airs of the beauty,
0ok up the serious expression of a
thoughtful woman and consented with
out a moments hesitation.
Bill owned little old log house
tuck up on the side of a hill, and
though viewed from the country road
might have seemed a dreary place,
ret standing in the back door Bill could
OOk down and sec the wild plum bushes
bending over the crystal water of the
Teek-cOuld see a wild meadow far
Down the stream and could hear the
iOng of the rain-crow.
Several years passed. The gossips
Nluctantly agreed that Bill and his
wife were happy, that is, reasonably
happy, for the gossips never submit
10 q complete surrender. One. day
while Bill was away from home Ned
ROyston came TO the house. Tai came
in when she heard footsteps, and
spOn seeing the visitor stood wiping
her hands on her apron. She had
been washing and a bubble of sud,
On her hair, catching a ray of light
dashed like a diamond.
"You've about forgot me, hain'
Tou, Tal-Miz Hempsey2"
'No, how could 1 forget you
Ehen 1 see you at church nearly
,very Sunday? Sit down."
''Yes, you see me-" Ned replied
eating himself, "but as you never
peak to me | lowed that you haG
done forgot me-"
al never forget a friend.'
"Much obleeged. You look tired
ut down yourself.
She sat down; Ned continued:
"You do a good deal of hard
work, don't your"
"No more than any other woman
| reckon"
"You do more than I'd let my wife
io.n
"Yes, all men talk that way before
they are married"
"AHd some Of them mean what they
say, Tal-or Nliz Hempsey."
"But the majority Of them do
not"
81 know one that does. Tai if yoI
had married me you never would haC
to work none"
"GOu let your mother work"
ayes, but | wouldn't let you work
wish you had married me, Tai, for
amt been happy single hour senc'
you told me that you wouldn't, not ,
single one. | uster be fonder of per
simmon puddin' than anybody, but
amt eat marry one sense you lowed
that you couldn't marry me. Tell me
Tai, air you happy"
"Happy as most women, L reckon.
"But most women amt happy"
"Mebby not"
A short silence followed; Ned twist
ed his hat round and round. Tai wipet
her hands on her apron.
"Tal-yOu don't care if 1 call yol
Tai, do your"
"NO, am not particular"
"But you wouldn't let everybod,
call you by your first name, woul'
you?"
"No.n
"Tal.o
"WeH."
"Do you know what I've been think
Ing about ever since saw you at meet
in last Sunday?"
GLOW am | to know what you'v
been thinkn' about? Hardly know
myself sometimes what I'm thinkir
about myself"
"Would you like to know what Nv
been thinkin' about, Tal?"
She sat twisting her apron; a ca
purred about the legs of her chair. 1
chicken singing the lazy song of clay
ing time hoped up into the doorway
"Shoo!' she cried. "The chickens al
about TO take the place"
but that amt got nothin' 10 do wit
what I've been thinkin' nor about yo
Wantin' to know. Do you wante
knOwl'
"1ou may tell me if you want to.
"ShO' 'nuff?"
dyes, if it amt bad"
"Oh, it amt bad" He untwiste
his hat, Strengthened it out by pullin
It down on his head, took it off and b,
ginning to twist it again, said:
"Iye been thinkin' that you wan
happy livin' with a man that don
'preclate you-hold on, now, let II
get through" She had moved imp:
nently. ''AIan that don't 'preciat
you; and Eve been thinkin' that | woul
come over here and--and ask you I
run away with me. Wait, Tai, plea,
wait She had sprung to her fee
"Just listen to me a mint. Foil
ulster think you was happy, but the
Know you amt now. Tai, please wa
mint. Tai, for Gods sake i
me explain myself. Say, wait just
mint. You won't tell Bill, will yor