The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-10-16
REUNITED.

trying hard to split with a dull hatchet
flew up and hit her On the cheek bone, just
below the eye. ''Ohr" exclaimed Mrs.
Goblc in q shrill staccato, as she flung the
Ratchet vindietively from her, ard rising tc
her feet she danced about in "a vivacou<
manner without time or tune, with both
hands held to her bruised and disfgured
face. When the first pain and smart had
abated little, she made her way into the
house and sat down in n rocking chair the
very picture of disconsolate woe. After
awhile she summoned up courage to go tt
the cupboard and hunt for her bottle oil
arnica and opedeldoc, and when found she
rubbed the hurt with the lotion. The teal.
were running down copiously. Mrs. Goble
was plying herself
1t was certainly very hard that a woman
of her age and no stronger than she was
should have everything to do for herself III
addition to the quilts which she quilted nj
so much per spool for other people And
when she was too tired to work any longer
and her eyes were too weak and weary tc
read, or she fell asleep over the most thrill
ing story, there was nobody at hand tc
soothe and cheer and pet her. to agree with
Mrs. Goble that it was ''too bad' and a
burning shame" for her to have to live a
life like this.
She couldn't take any pride in her house
work because there was nobody to whom it
would make any difference how many
times over she swept before she busted
nor in her cooking, for there wasn't a soul
to eat it and say it was delicious and ask
where the recipe came from. There were
great many little comforts about her small
house, for she had the knack of making
surroundings comfortable; but, as she was
accustomed to say, with sigh: ''Things
can't make home. There must be PEG
ple."
Mrs. Goble continued to battle her cheek
and wipe her eyes alternately. Time was
when the kindling basket was always full
behind the kitchen stove; when the shed
sheltered pile of dry wood, split and sea
soned, that was always replenished before
it had time to disappear; when everything
within and without had been kept in apple
pie order. Don't get up too early, DEAR"
her husband would say. There isn't any
occasion for it," And then, when she came
down stairs after long morning nap, the
kitchen fire was burning brightly, the tea
kettle singing, and delicious aroma OF
boiling coffee perfumed the air. Oftenel
than otherwise the table was all set, and
in summer time there was bunch of flow
ers in pretty vase in the middle of it,
Then, when breakfast was overland 1t
never took much trouble to please Jerry
he made great frolio of wiping the dishes
after they were scalded and drained before
kissing her tender goodby and going of
brightly to his mornings work.
Jerry, of course, was not altogether a
paragon of perfection. The gods love those
who are, and they die young. He had a
temper, and so had she. 1t took his long
time to become aroused, but when it final
ly woke up it was like cyclone and dew
astated all that stood in the way of it
As for her, she was querulous, and she
s'nagged" him more and more as the years
went by. Then the children came, and az
they grew older quarrels that related tt
them grew frequent and increased in fury
What the last quarrel had started about
Mrs. Goble tried in vain to remember. II
ended in divorce. She had been given the
children. One of them had since died; tht
other had run away and gone to sea. She
was lonesome; she was losing her good
looks; she was growing old. And only yes
terday she had seen that gay young hussy
Lucia Myers, making eyes at Jerry as he
drove past in his buggy. Making eyes at
her Well, he wasn't her husband ex
actly, but he shouldn't be anybody's else
And Mrs. Goble bristled up Indignantly at
the bare idea.
When they had parted, Jerry had paid
her quite little sum as alimony, but a
woman who has been shielded from care
doesn't always know the best way to man.
age money. She tried to be economical
but somehow the money seemed to fly
From the time of their divorce to that OF
Cora's sickness and death they had met
only as strangers-for five long years. AT
this time, however, he came every day and
helped to nurse the little girl. When she
died. he had seemed almost heartbroken.
After that he fell into a way of calling oc
casionally-just in a friendly way. They
never talked about the divorce, but some
times they reminisced over old times until
they found themselves getting up on dan
gerous ground.
1t lad been 10 years since they had gone
their separate ways. Jerry had prospered
He now had business of his own and a
smart little house where he lived alone with
only man to cook for him and take care
of his horse 'If it were woman
thought Mrs. Goble, I'll think I'd throw
vitriol in her eyes" And her own eyes
snapped wickedly. mot that I care tn
snap of my finger for Jerry Goble himself
only I suspect the inside Of that house is
sight to see."
There came sudden rap at the door, ant
Mrs. Goble opened it with her handkerchie,
at her eye When Jerry walked in, she felt
the need of sympathy and broke out crying
"Why, what it is, Nellie?" asked he Sh.