The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-08

Mr.. Wilson, do believe in my soul
them beans have boiled dry and ruined
the children's dinneri'
Thus dismissed, the lawyer walked
and would never have stopped to play
upon a woman's sympathies with the
sensational wooing by which men OF
smaller caliber gain access to women'S
hearts. Besides, he realized that Anna
ryllis was one of those rare women who
mean exactly. what they say, and that
back of her determination was some
thing. unrecognized perhaps by her, and
certainly unknown to the majority Of the
male sex, the natural monogamy that
appears innate in the highest species
of the mammal man.
AS the days of the widowhood OF Anna
ryllis passed away there came
the community towards her. Peo-
pie began to wonder why a
woman with her violent temper
remained upon amicable terms with
everyone with whom she had dealings.
Some said her troubles had chastened
her spirit others, giving ear to certain
rumors, held that perhaps after all ANA
rylliS had had prOvocation from Robert
of a nature more serious than had been
popularity believed. Amaryllis, for her
part, held her peace, working with might
and main to rear the children, who were
growing tall and pretty, and 1T was said
she made them stand around in good
natured way, especially little Tom, who
was like his father.
One morning, about two years after
the departure Of her husband. Amaryllis
was hoeing in the garden. She used the
hoe in the same manner as 1t had once
been believed she used her tongue---vig-
orously. 1t was very early, and she had
slipped out, with characteristic energy,
n hra foxrr 1.fI fI,n hrno lxf o
was cooking, for little Milly, who was
the image of her mother, now rose and
cooked the breakfast while the mother
MIXED or worked in the garden. AS she
hoed man came walking along the vii
lage street, and it was with an annoyed
surprise that Amaryllis felt, rather than
saw, that he had paused by the fence
and was looking at her. She dropped the
hoe and turned with some asperity upon
HINT was Robert Crane.
Amaryllis pushed back her bonnet and
stood regarding him with a scathing
precision that seemed to take in at once
the sheepishness Of his demeanor and
dent that in his new place of abode no
busy womans hand had smoothed
and mended his linen, no scold-
ing tongue admonished him to
"go get shaved and look like a
human, and take that miserable chew
Dl lODdccO OUT Oh his ne was
by this time in a tremble Of excitement
and misery, but he managed to hold out
his hand toward her and falter, ANA
ryllis." The pent-up emotion OF two
years broke the flood-gates Of Amaryl-
liss silence, and, impaling him with a
piercing glance. she broke out:
You look as If you'd been living in a
hog penl There's a clean shirt in the
drawer I've kept ready for you these
two years! Go and put it on-and / bet
you haven't had a bite of breakfast,
nor anything else decent to eat for some
time; loafing around Benton pretending
to practice law and sitting around on
goods boxes chewing tobacco and talk
ing politics while your wife was work
ing herself to death taking care of your
children and keeping the place In
orderv'
BY this time the man had opened the
gate with trembling fingers, and when
she paused for breath he came to her
side
ooh! Amaryllis," he said miserably,
won't you overlook the past and marry
ne over again? I've been so wretched.
well, you look wretched," she said.
with a snort of compassionate disdain.
II reckon you don't want to marry me.
You'd have to be run through a washing
machine first, / can tell YOU Besides,
[ might get mad at some Of your nat
ural-born orner.ness and slap you
again"
"I don't care If you do, Amaryl. If
you will take me back you may slap me
whenever you want to-"
Forgetful of the slovenly attire and
visible evidence of the indolent nature
which she loathed Amaryllis suddenly
drew the man she loved into her arms
and covered the unshaven face with
kisses. Then, thrusting him sharply
from her, she cried out:
You go into the house and get
cleaned UP fit to sit down to white
persons table, and after the children
are gone to school we will step over to
Mr.. Dickerson's and get that divorce
of yours set aside!'