The Monitor., 1891-10-16
A wIFE's TRIUMPH.

II don't deny but what was considera-
bly, surprised to hear of Joe's marriage"
said MIR. Ailesbury, sitting in his wheeled
chair in the sunshine. 81 didn't knows
he had no such idee in his head. But
everything happens for the best, and the
old place is clear run down for the want OF
nice stirrin' housekeeper Berenice Stubbs
charges dollar and half a week, and
wants the washIn'put out. at that. Things
didn't go this ere way in the life time of
my second departed-no, nor yet while my
first was livin'. I'm willin' now to confess
that was sort o'turnin' over in my mind
the idee of asking Pantheon Jones wIdder
if she'd any objections to share my solitary
lot; but this marriage of Joe's puts things
in different light l wasn't sartin but
what be was going to be an old bachelor.
do hope his new helpmate 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 nv two de-
ceased partners calico gowns upstairs, in
the blue paper trunk, waitin' to be made
patchwork of. OF cou,se she'll be handy
with the needle, or Joe wouldn't hev select
ed her,,
And Mr.. Ailesbury chuekled at the
prospect of ''the good time coming"
is this my new home, Joe?'
The bride stood in the clean secured.
whitewashed kitchen, looking around in
bewildered sort of way. She was slight
and small. with large blue-gray eyes, and
delicate complexion. Her travelling dress
was of the softest pearl gray, and she wore
daintily fitting gray kid gloves, and boot.
SO tiny that it almost seemed as il the
grass of the dooryard, like the harebells Of
Sir Walter SCOTS poem, must hays' risen
elastic from her tread" Her stalwart
husband, standing beside her, looked down
with beaming pride on her miniature
beauty.
why, yes, pet, ''said he. "Isnt it like
what you had fancied?"
The bride laughed Historically.
''Not in the least" said she. but |
dare say was absLrdly fanciful."
Il guess" said old Mr.. Ailesbury, sthat
Mrs. Joe had better change that fnicky
dress for something palmer, and help Be-
renice stubbs with the supper Berenice
is sort O. plagued with peuralgy to-day"
'She's too tired to do much tonight,
father" said Joe.
Tired! What's she done? | don't call
it hard work to 60 ridin' in the railroad
cars. Do youa'
Berenice Stubs, a hard-faced female
with waist like the town pump, and sharp
twinkling eyes thatched with sparse white
lashes, regarded Mrs. Joseph Ailesbury
with scant favor.
"Don't look bit as if she could worry
through days wash" said she.
''These small folks is powerful wiry
sometimes" said old Mr.. Ailesbury. .sMy
first dear deceased wasn't no taller than
Mrs. Joe-but my! what hand she was
to turn off work.
When Mrs. Joe came in from the garden
after tea with bunch of clover pinks in
her hand, her father-in-law was ready to
accost her.
''Now you're here, Mrs. Joe," said he.
Ito sort O. see to things, I've told Berenice
Stubbs that she can 60 home for balf
week, and I'm curious to find out what
sort of housekeeper you'll make
Mrs. Joe looked helplessly at her hus-
band.
Il dare say she'll turn out a practical
housekeeper, father,s said he. ''But you
won't find out about it at present. I'm
going 10 take her to Weland Falls to see
Cousin Simeon Ailesbury. Her mother
used TO know Cousin Simeon years ago."
''What, all that way?" croaksd the
farmer.
Joe nodded.
''Traveling's dreadful expensive"
"Well, it costs something" admitted
Joe.
"And you'll have to stop overnight at
some tavern"
eyes"
'.It seems TO me-" growled the old man,
"that all this is a senseless waste of mon-
ey. You'd both of you deal better settle
down and 60 to work. l didn't go MOON
ing around the country when married my
dear deceased first, nor yet my dear de-
ceased second. Life is made for work, not
for play"
"Time enough for that, father" said
the reckless Joe. "A man doesn't get
married ordinarily. oftensr than once in
a lifetime"
Mrs. Joe drew long breath of relief
when she found herself out from under the
farm house roof.
"Joe," said she, 'I'm afraid I'm going
to be an awful disappointment to your
father
"As long as you're not disappointment
to me-" he returned, laughingly, sit
doesn't so much signify"
There must be deal OF work in that
house-four cows, hundred turkeys, q
flock of sheep, poultry yard full of Leg
horn fowls, butter eggs, cooking, wash
ing, baking, scrubbing-"
.'How do you know all this9" asked he.