Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-01-23
A WIFE'S uMPH.

That / was considerably surprised
10 hear of Joe's marriage, | don't
deny" said Mr.. Ailesbury. sitting in
his wheeled chair in the sunshine. II
didn't knows he had no such idea in
his head. But everything happens for
the best, and the old place is clean
run down for want OF a nice stirrin'
housekeeper."
Aud Mr.. Ailesbury chuckled Mt the
prospect of the good time coming"
1t was Thanksgiving morning wnen
the young couple arrived.
is this my new home. Joe?'
''Wby. yes, pet he said. Isn't 1t
like what you had fancied?'
The bride laughed Historically.
Not in the least" said she. But
| dare saw | was absurdly fanciful."
IL guess" said old Mr.. Ailesbury,
that Mrs. Joe had better change that
fiucky dress for something palmer and
help Bercnice S,ubbs with the supper.
Berenice is sort o plagued with neu-
ralgy to-day"
Shes too tired TO do much tonight,
father" said Joe.
ilIths w udA y oht hOhts hOH I
call it hard work TO 60 ridin' ia the
railroad cars. DO youg"
Berenice Stubs, IA hard featured
female with waist like the town
pump and sh y, t~winkling eyes,
matched with sparse white lashes. re-
garded Mrs. Joseph Ailesbury with
scant favor.
Don't look a bit as il she could
worry through n days wash" said she.
When Mrs. Joe came in from the
garden after tea with a bunch Of clover
pinks in her hand, her father-in-law
was ready 10 accost her.
Now you're here. Mrs. joe" said
he, Ito sort o. see TO things. I've told
Berenice Stubs she can go home tor
half a week. aud I'm curious TO find
out what sort of a h~ousekecper you'll
make"
Mrs. Joe looked hclplessly at her
husband.
Il dare say she'll urn out a capital
honsekeeper. father" said he. But
YOU won't iiud out about it at present.
I'm going 10 take her to Welland Falls
to see Cousin Simeon Ailesbury. Her
mother used TO know Cousin Simeon
Years ago."
What, all that wayP" croakcd the
farmer.
Joe nodded.
'Traveling's dreadful EXPENSIVE"
Well. il docs cost something" adj
mitted Joe.
And you'll have to stop over night
at some tavern"
Yes"
1T seems to me-" growled the olo
man, that all this Is a senseless waste
of money. Life is made for work. not
play"
Time enough for that, father" said
the reckless Joe. "A man doesn't get
married, ordinarily, oftener than once
in a lifetime"
Mrs. Joe drew a long breath of re-
relief when she found herself out from
under the farmhouse roof.
Joe" said she. I'm afraid I'm 60
ing to be an awful disappointment TO
your father"
LAS long rs you're not a disappoint-
ment 10 me-" he retorted. laughing. ait
doesn't so much signify"
There must be a deal OF work in
that h~ouse-four cows. a hundred tur-
KEYS. n flock of sheep. a poultry yard
of Leghorn fowls, butter. eggs, cook
ing. washing, baking, scrubbing-'
How do you know all this?" asked
he.
Miss Stubs told me. Oh. Joe. why
| didn't YOU marry Berenicc Stubbs?"
Look in the glass. little giddy. IL
/ 800, .-art tho unnsfiop opaxyaraI
..But I am so useless. You should
have seen Miss Stubs look ut me when
| said | didn't know how to make
bread and that l had never done a
washing in my life"
You'll easily learn. Ellie"
do you think shall. Joe?" A lit
tie cloud. no bigger than a mans
hand came over the pearly frankucss
of her brow. Did your mother wash
and bake and brcw?'
Presumably she did. But don'i
remember her; she died young"
Cousin Simeon A~ilcsbury was tho
village doctor. a pleasant old man with
a bald head and a genial smile. Eiieu
Ailesbury made friends with him nj
once.
..You are very like your mother.
Child" said he. She always remind
ell me OF n little mountain daisy"
Ellen's lips quiyered.
Il am glad you speak so kindly to
me DOCTOR" said she. for somehow
since | came TO the old farmhouse
feel as il | was n fraud"
"A fraud, my dear!'
The bright tears sparklcd now.
Il was brought up TO teach" said
she. Il can DO nothing about ths
house. ana joss iather seems to ex
pcct me 10 be the maid Of all work.
OF course l can learn. I'd do any
thing 10 please Joe. But it's hard to
think one is such u Disappointment
"Humphm said DR.. AiIcsbury. I'll
speak tn Joe about that"
And that afternoon, when Ellen aud
Mrs. DIR. Ailcsburyswcre gone to look
at a pretty cascade In the woods, the
old man had u long talk with hi'
cousins son.
At the emil Of the week Joe wen
back 10 the Ailesbury farm.
well. l'm glad ye'vc got through
%galivanting," said tho old man. with I
long breath Of relief. '.All the farm
work is behind. and Bercnicc Stubs
ain't worth half what she used 10 be
hope your wife is prepared TO take
risht hold Of the butter and the poultry
and"
"No. father. she isn't" said Jos
valiuntly. ELLEN isn't very strong