The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-10-21
A WIFE'S TRIUMPH.
ny SHIRLEY BROWNE.

"I don't deny but what l was considera
bly, surprised to hear of Jocs marriage, -
said Mr.. Ailesbury, sitting in his wheeled
chair in the sunshine. "I didn't knows
he had no such idee in his head. But
everything happens for the best, and the
old place is clean run down for want of
nice stirrin' housekeeper. Berenice
Stubbs charges dollar and a half a
week, and wants the washin' put out, at
that. Things didn't go this ere way in
the life't time of my secon departed-no,
nor yet while my fret was hvin'. I'm
willin' now tC. confess that was sort O.
turnin' over in my mind the idee of ask-
ing Pantheon Jones's wilder if she'd
any objections to share my solitary lot !;
but this marriage o. Joe's puts things in
O different light. l wasn't sartin but
what he was going to be an old bachelor
l do hope his new helpmt te can riz bread
and flaming cakes, and soft soap. Bere-
nice Stubbs never made soft soap. She
was fairly running me with bar soap
boughten at the store. And there's all
my two deceased pardners' calico gowns
upstairs, in the blue paper trunk, waitin'
to be made patchwork Of. OF course
she'll be handy with the needle, or Joe
wouldn't hev selected her."
And Mr.. Ailesbury chuclSled at the
prospect of "the good time coming"
''Is this my new home, Joe4"
The bride stood in the clean. secured,
whitewashed kitchen, looking around in
a bewildered sort of way. She was slight
and small, with large blue-gray eyes,
and delicate complexion. Her travel
ing dress was of the softest pearl gray,
and she wore daintily fitting gray kid
gloves, and boots so tiny that it almost
seemed as if the grass of the door-yard,
like the harebells of Sir Walter Scott's
poem, must have "risen elastic from her
tread" Her stalwart husband, stand
ing beside her. looked down with beam
ing pride on her miniature beauty.
'WhY, yes, pet" said he. "Isn't it
like what you had fancied2"
The bride laughed Historically.
"Not in the least, :" said she. "But l
dare say was absurdly fanciful."
al guess" said old Mr.. Ailesbury,
"that Mrs. Joe had better change that
finicky dress for something palmer, and
help Berenice Stubs with the supper.
Berenice Is sort O. plagued with neuralgy
to-day"
"She's too tired to do much tonight,
father" said Joe.
"Tired What's she done2 I don't
call it hard work to go ridin' in the rail
road cars. Do you"
Berenice Stubs, a hard faced female
with waist like the town pump, and
sharp, twinkling eyes thatched with
sparse white lashes, regarded Mrs. Jo-
seph Ailesbury with scant favor.
'Don't look a bit as if she could
worry through days wash" said She
"These small folks is powerful wiry
sometimes" said the elder Ailesbury.
''My first dear deceased wasn't no taller
than Mrs. Joe-but my what a hand she
was to turn OFF work"
When Mrs. Joe came in from the gar
den after tea with a bunch of clover
pinks in her hand, her father-in-law was
ready to accost her.
"Now you're here, Mrs. Joe, " said he,
"to sort o. see to things, I've told Bere-
nice Stubbs she can go home for half
week, and I'm curious to find out what
sort of q housekeeper you'll make"
Mrs. Joe looked helplessly at her hus-
band.
81 dare say she'll turn ont a capital
h0usekeeper, father" said he. "But you
won't find out about it at present. Pm
going TO take her TO Welland Falls to see
Cousin Simeon Ailesbury. Her mother
used to know Cousin Simeon years ago"
"What, all that wayi" croaked the
farmer.
Joe nodded.
"Traveling's dreadful expensive"
swell, it costs something" admitted
Joe.
"And you'll have to stop overnight at
some tavern"
"Yes."
'It seems to me, growled the old
man, "that all this IS seuseless waste
of money. You'd both OF you deal
better settle down and go to work, l
didn't go incoming around the country
when l married my dear deceased first,
nor yet my dear deceased second. Life
Is made for work, not for play
''Time enough for that, father" said
the reckless Joe. "a man doesn't get