The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-02-17

a-been afeared o. hurtin' myself. an
she up an took sheet an went out
an got it full o. straw an put it in the
tick, though how she managed 70 git il
in without Dustin of the sides l don't
pretend to know.
Then she begun about one thing an
another. sayin' as she hadn't had a de-
cent stick o wood for year, an she
was sick an tired o Twin anyhow, an
she was Jest a-goin' to give right up an
lay down an die. You know how Hit
runs on when she gets started.
never said nothin' but l KEEP ep a
mighty thinkin' of how I've went
around with only one gallus button fer
weeks at time an half the time |
amt had no buttons nowhere else
where they'd orto be, an I've moiled
and toiled for Hit for the last forty
year an that's all the thanks git I'm
goin' over to see Square Brown an
have a divorce on cruelty to animals,
that's what l am"
Jared had himself pretty well
wrought up. and he had gone beyond
the confines of the facts in the case in
making charges against his wife, and /
knew it, There has never been a
time when his apparel was not in per-
feet order and ready for him at mo-
ment's notice, but he had made up his
mind that he was abused and had con-
cluded that he was going TO have salts.
faction of some kind, knew perfect.
ly well that Mehitable ("Hit" for
shortl did have fashion of 'runnin'
on" that must have been very exasper-
ahng, but Jared's way of sullSing was
just rs bad and thought it was an
even thing between them, and ! was
morally certain they were just suited
for each other. hardly knew what
to say to Jared, and | kept my mind
pretty busy while | sifted handouts OF
wheat through my fingers to the chick
ems around me.
"Yes, ] know Hit is hard to get
along with" | said, finally land the
time you had fever she neglected you
shamefully, and the way she acted
when you had the rheumatism last
winter was just perfectly awful If You
would mention those little things TO
Brown | think it would help you in
your suit for divorce"
Jared bit off the small end of the
corncob and chewed it reflectively.
had given him a pretty hot shot, for ]
knew that at the times | had mem
toned she sat by him day and night
and attended his every want, though a
more cranky" sick man never saw.
"W-a-a-l," he drawled, finally, 1--WE
amt none of us perfect, but that straw.
tick is what broke the camels back,
an when she said / didn't provide good
wood, that was a-squshin' the camel
pretty fiat, an I'm goin over to see the
square, anyhow" and off he went.
''Be sure to tell him of the things
mentioned" called to him, but he
gave no heed to my suggestion, keep
ing steadily on his way.
was more than little worried over
the trouble Jared and Mehitable had
got into For years had been in the
confidence of both of them and had
had many a good laugh at their ex.
pense, but this seemed to be more seri-
GUS than previous disturbances and
was afraid that some of the modern
novels that Jared had picked up ut my
house had influenced him in the wrong
direction. / have fashion of keeping
one or two Of these volumes of fiction
lying around to read when don't want
to think and cannot sleep, and Jared
had read them with the same serious
ness that he did the Conquest of Next
CO, though / warned him that they
were filed with impossible nonsense.
l expected visit from Mehitable,
but the day dragged along and she did
not come. Things did not go well with
me that day. My work halted in the
most inexplicable fashion, and the
story that l was writing, which was
destined to amuse and astonish the
world came to naught, and found a
resting place in The stove. Finally
walked over to Jared's house. II was
getting on in the afternoon and | found
Bfehitable in the kitchen ironing.
"Where's Jared?" ! asked, after
/ ad taken a seat.
I'm sure | don't know. an don't
know as | care" answered Mehitable.
aather GROSSLY, as she held an iron up
70 her face to see If it was at the prop
er temperature, and then fell at gar
ment which was spread out en- the iron
ing table, with vigor that promised
that it should he well snoothed in a
short time. There did not seem TO be
any very good place for me to begin
again, and sat quiet.
Hes got tantrum," began Mrs.
Sparks, presently, IAN gone off to get a
divorce, an hope he'll get it afore
night, for Pm clear done out with his
triiiin' ways. He'll be mighty glad to
come crawlih' back when he's been do
in for himself week. an / told him so
in short order"
what appears to be the trouble?" l
asked, as innocently as if had not heard
of it before.
'.Oh, nothin' uncommon" answered
Mrs. Sparks, "only las night asked
Jared to fill straw-ticl1 an he went
out an was gone about an hour, an
come in with the tick about half filed,
I f,,1