The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-08
Cwritten for the Sunday Journal.)
THE TANNING OF THE SHREW



ginning to cast a substantial shadow.
She held the newspaper a triie listlessly
in her hand: she was not looking at 1t
now. Her eyes. were moving without in
terest along the line OF woods pasture
visible from the rear OF the house. They
were full Of trouble. though her mouth
was set and she had the look Of a woman
who was determined not to cry. She
had just reread for the twentieth time
the divorce notice; now 1t seemed to her
1T was not necessary to read It again.
the words were burned upon her brain
in letters Of fire and kept repeating
themselves to her inner consciousness
"Crane, Robert S., VS.. Amaryilis; COM
plant, cruelty and hopeless incompati-
bility Of temper"
A smile, as fantastic upon her sad
countenance as such grimace can well
be, distorted her lips for an instant then
she crumpled the paper in her hands
and, turning sharply about, went into
the kitchen, where she busted herself
lighting the fire with It. The kitchen
was clean to a fault and pretty beyond
lis herself was pretty, albeit her face was
somewhat worn and her big eyes a trifie
hollow. She wore a blue gingham frock
that swished as she walked, and as she
began preparations for cooking a meal
she set things on the table with a trifie
more emphasis than was necessary.
Energy was noticeable in all her move
ments. and there was method and fore
thought in the least important Of her
doings.
A woman's figure appeared in the yard
coming hurriedly up the path from the
gate. Amaryllis went to the door with
flour on her hands and stood waiting to
receive her visitor. The newcomer was
a younger woman than Amaryllis, and
she looked quite pale as she threw back
her sunbonnet and glanced into her
friends face
"Well, never" she exclaimed. Are
you getting dinner?"
"Why. of course am" replied Amaryl-
lis. What you reckon those young ones
d have to eat If didn't?"
Law! 1 supposed you'd be feeling so
bad you couldn't, and just run over to
tell you I'd take them home with me,
though goodness knows we've not got a
bite fit to eat in the house! John says
I'll never learn to cook, let alone keep a
nice house like you, and 1 guess it's sor'
The two entered the kitchen together
and Amaryllis returned to the pie she
was baking.
Don't you feel awful bad. Amaryl?"
asked her friend, cycling somewhat en-
viously the ambidexterous rapidity with
which her friend put the pie together.
YES" replied Amaryllis. ct do"
well. It's just too mean." broke out
the visitor; what shall you do? Do you
mean to appear against him?"
st don't know; not unless he tries to
take the children. I see nothing's said
about that. If he lets them alone I
sha'n't do thing; If he wants to divorce
me. let him do it. 1 guess treated him
pretty mean
"Well, guess he treated you pretty
mean," said her friend; I've seen you
milking the cow and tending the garden,
and guess sha'n't forget the morning
1 came over here early to see how Milly
was gettin' with her throat, and you was
carryin' in coal to mend the fire for him
to get up by, and you all worn out with
sittin up and the tears runnin' over
your facev'
"Well, Min, guess such as that don't
count much. Bob's well thought of and
everybody likes him; you know he's such
whole-souled, church-going man, and
can make such a pretty talk. and all.
/ guess most of folks are against me.
Besides, / did an awful thing to him.
1 guess 1 gave him cause for divorce
and talk 1 raised him around here,
1 tell you, Min. / just preached to him,
but I couldn't help it. 1 am willing to
work till 1 drop for the children. and
him, too. provided 1 can let out when 1
feel it's needed. But oughtn't to have
done what did, 1 guess
What on earth did you do to him ?''
asked her friend, with excited interest.
well, the truth is. Min, hate to own it
but some way can't help but feel
! he needed i'll slapped him.
slapped him. exclaimed the other in
a Mortified tone; "Oi Amaryl, you
never!'
"wel, just didl' said Amaryllis.
what possessed you to do that? What
did he do?'
WELL" replied Amaryllis. shamefaced-
ly. You know. or I'd never mention it.
how he does about lying a-bed of morn
ings. You see, he stays up town late of
a night; he's an Odd-fellow, and a
Mason, and a knight, and a Red Man,
| and heaven knows what else, and he's al
ways away. Bob's a popular fellow, al
ways in demand. 1 get awfully lonely
| Of an evening. but the work keeps me
| too busy to fret much. You see. Bob is
| poor; of course. with opr income, some
| body has got to work and scheme to
| get along If things are kept in order and
| the children looking right. Bob says
am too ambitions for them, and maybe
/ am. But / was going TO tell you: The
| day he left home about two weeks ago
| / got up very early in the morning to
get the washing out. He'd been to an in
| stallation the night before, and i suppose
| he was tired, though / was sitting w
| sewing when he came home. and even
| finished button-hole after he was snor-
| ing. But, as 1 say, L got UP very early
| and got the washing out and gave the
| children their breakfast, and after q
while he came poking out. 1 was very