Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-11-12

l
"Dear me, Josiah" said Mrs, Black
chow dead and alive you seem. Nobods
would realize that you had been only
three hours married.
81 don't seem TO realize it myself,
said Mr. Black, leaning his head against
the car window, with thoroughly dis
couraged air.
"But if you s'pose I'm going to turn
my house into a refuge for all your re-
lations," added Mrs. Josiah, with energy,
"you are very-dear me! Blue Point,
already? This can't be the place, can
it? Why, we haint-'
just then the relentless conductor,
swooping through the train, bore MIR. and
Mrs. Josiah Black off to the platform,
the latter still demonstrating loudly.
Mr.. Black was silent and moody as
they walked up the steep hill leading to
the village street. Mrs. Black was Sc
cretly resolving that, husband or no hus-
band, she would not be captured by the
Goth and Visigoth horde of relations who
doubtless were waiting to pounce on her
hearth.
81 must assert myself" she thought,
Eat the very first, or | shall be oyerrun"
Here is the house." somberly re-
marked Josiah.
A long, low, red building faced them
at the top of a hill, with fence draped
with morning glory vines, trailing hops
and wild vetches, and two or three gnarled
ounce trees leaning up against the
south end.
"Theres lights inside" said the late
Miss Pamela " And a fire! There's
somebody there !! "
"My folks" briefly remarked Josiah.
your folks " repeated Pamela; and
there was world of unsyllabled meaning
in her voice. Walking valiantly forward,
she flung open the door, and stood facing
the little group which was gathered amic-
ably around the blazing fire. And Josiah
Black, following, pushed her, in rather
an undignified manner, into their midst
with the Introductory speech:
MY wife. Here she is 3"
"How d ye do, Mrs. Josiah ?" said an
elderly woman. I'm your husbands
step-ma."
And I'm his sister," said blonde
matron with lilac ribbons in her cap.
" And I'm his other sister," spoke up
short, sharp, little female with black
and -tan-terrier sort of face and rust
ling black silk dress.
Brother Simeon" announced Josiah,
as stout man with profusely pomat-
umed head rose and ducked it toward
her. "And Uncle Lijah and Aunt
Nancy" motioning toward sold-look-
ing couple in the background; "and my
cousins, Heber and Stratton," as two
tall, awkward young men emerged from
behind calico-covered screen in the
rear.
81 hope you allIfnd yourselves pretty
well?" said Mrs. Josiah Black, with the
geniality of an arctic iceberg. "But
sha mt find it convenient to entertain
you here"
The herd of relations stared, and Mr.
Josiah's step-ma bridled, and said:
1--WE wasn't a-calculating to stay
tea"
Tea or dinner, it makes no differ
ence," said the bride. "If we're to ge
along comfortable together, all thes
things has got to be understood at once
| amt goin' to keep free hotel for m
husband S relations, and | don't want i
to be expected of me"
There was an indignant buzz anon
the relations at this remarkable piece o
plain speaking-they all rose up in COZ
> cert.
"Well," said they, addressing Josiah
"step-ma," as if she were the representa-
: tive of the mass, "if Josiah's wife don
want nothin' to do with us, we certainl
don't mean to trouble her."
Don't be in hurry" family uttere,
Josiah; but none of the relations took tn,
least notice of him, as they seized upoi
their hats, bonnets, shawls and other ar
ticles of outer wrapping with precipitat
haste.
"0f course" added Mrs. Josiah,
little alarmed at the result of her owl
generalship. II shall always be happ,
to have you call in friendly way"
Josiah's step-ma, who had taken
package from the table, stonily remarked
as she held it up:
"My ce-pitcher-best triple plate ant
porcelain-lined-as | had intended for {
wedding present. But if folks dom
want me, they don't want my presents
so I'll wish you goodbye, Mrs. Black.
One of the sisters took up Il cream-jue
of chased silver-the other put plate,
caster back into its box, and off they
, marched
"Our simple offerings, said they, "ar
hardly elegant enough for one SO eX
cloosive in her tastes as our brother
wife"
Simeon Black swung heavy wicker
basket across his shoulders.
"A tca-set of real lngy china that be
+ longed to Chinese sea-captain," sale
he, land got at bargain-but CUES
= it amt wanted" and he, too, departed
=. banging the door.
n One by one the others took hast
4 leave, each carrying some little offering
of more or less value which had bee
brought thither for the deIectation o
: "Josiah's wife" while that lady hersel
a stood gazing after them in blank dsmay
with an agonized consciousness that sh
Z had committed an awful political blum
der in this, the first term of her married
, life.
/ "Thero!" said Josiah, grimly, "noy
a you've done ii, Pamela Every one o
p EN- well-to-do and livin' in their ow
placeS. Anu, us sure as you i've, tney
J.. never forgive you in this mortal world!
q "I-I thought they was comm here t
!. live!' gasped the bride. II only wantc
h to protect myself"
a "Well, you've done it now," said Nj
Black. "There is such thing as beil
too beforehanded
And he sat slowly down, too spiritles
, even to upbraid his wife. While Panel
! felt that her wedding day had not bee
@ altogether success.
For the Blacks were a clannish trib,