Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-01-20

70 cut wheat in a field from which every
stone and stump had been carefully
eradicated. The sky was lowering and
ho wished to finish before a storm.
Around and around the field went the
horse, faster and faster fell the grain be.
fore the sickle. Luke's blood was
warming with hope. when suddenly,
h-chuuk--chunk went the ma
chine and the horses we're jerked vio-
lently lack upon their launches. The
big cast iron seat hurled Luke clear
across the sickle bar into the grain.
Scrambling to his feet he found that
a sad accident had happened. A large
stone had been lifted to the surface OF
the ground and left for removal. He
had forgotten all about it, and hence a
serious loss Of time right in the busy
season.
1t took several days to obtain repairs,
and in the meantime the rain came on
apace, levelling the wheat to the ground
and causing great damage. Luke be-
came gloomy, and Sarah could not help
speaking regretfully of the loss her hus-
bands forgetfulness had incurred.
Everything was propitlous for a
quarrel and the quarrel came. Mutual
recriminations became frequent and
seldom did day pass without unlovable
scenes between the two Marpods. The
neighbors began to make comments.
Gossips took occasion to condole with
Mrs. MIarpod respecting the unreason'
ableness of her spouse, and, seeing her
take their sympathy kindly, grew bold
enough to betray all the rash things
Luke had been guilty Of prior to his
marriage, acts which ought to have been
buried long before in the graveyard OF
oblivion, so extremely remote was their
connection with the present.
Poor Mrs. Marpodl She took them
to heart and at the next opportunity
hurled them at the head of the aston.
ished Luke. He owned up to every
thing, not even trying to soften his
wite's too serious Interpretation of his
escapades, as he might easily have done,
for the siufulness was more against con-
ventionalism than morals. He was in
no mood to extenuate, and declared
coldly that he didn't "care cent about
it" and that he "would do the same
thing over again for all of meddling
neighbors and ill-natured wife, Life
gradually lost it charms for the Marpods.
Through perpetual clouds and storms
they pursued their gloomy pathway to
the grave.
Sarah had begun to think seriously OF
preferring charges against Luke for
cruelty and praying for divorce, when
an event happeued that Temporarily dis
missed the idea from her mind and made
Luke more solicitous and tender. A lit
tie girl was born to them, and because
it was in the spring time of the year they
named her Flora. She came like ray
of sunshine to brighten the hearts OF the
parents and show them their dependence
on each other for happiness, but by the
time Flora was able to toddle around by
herself and lisp the names of papa and
mamma the parents had resumed their
old fault finding habits, and having once
resumed them they were not long in re-
gaining their former facility in the use OF
sarcasm and taunts.
Luke in the first place found fault
with the mothers method of nursing and
declared it a miracle if Flora did not
prove weak, sickly child. He was sure
that so much fussing would engender a
fral constitution, yet as she grew older
she seemed as strong and robust as a
child ever is that breathes pure, country
air.
On the other hand, Mrs. Marpod de-
clared that Luke's example was enough
to contaminate the family, and that seeds
sown in so young a mind would some
day bring sorrow upon their heads.
"Mercy on me, mani" she would
shout, "don't touch that child with
those dirty hands of yours. Ifyou don't
know how to be civilized, you had bet
ter not try to bring up children"
One day, after a quarrel had been
brewing between the parents for some
time, they came to an understanding that
something muss be done at once. They
seemed tacitly to agree that the time had
come for them to separate forever. Dis
passionately they sat down to discuss
terms, and TO an outside party all evi-
deuce of ill-temper. had passed away.
There was no question as to the di-
vision of property. Luke was willing tC
do more than Sarah wished, but regard
ing little Flora both were keenly sensi
tive. After discussing the matter fol
some time they agreed to hitch up the
team and drive to town to see Lawyer
Hobbies.
Not wishing to 60 before a court, they
decided that Mr.. Hobbies should draw
up all necessary papers and arbitrate as
to the possession of the child. By this
decision they we're willing to abide. So,
with Flora on the seat between them,
they drove to town.
In sad aud faltering accents they told
Mr.. Hobbies how matters stood. Mr.
Hobbies, benignant gentleman, with
long, white locks that had never been
put to shame by a single mean act In all
his life, and who's heart was as tender as
a child's, tried to demonstrate, but both
Luke and Sarah were sure that the old
life would be revived and that it would
be better to separate kindly; and in thi.
they stood firm; so Mr. Hobbies, much
troubled, entered upon the business
Little Flora listened with open-eyet
wonder throughout the discussion.
|. At last she seemed to comprehend. anc