The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-02-18
HesloP's Wife

hIIEAvEN knows where he picked
her up, with her fine clothes and
her fine manners; a nice farmers wife,
trulyi"
"You think he's really married to her,
Jane?"
"Married!-of course he is, Mrs. Bis
sop. You don't suppose he'd bring any
lass about this place-his mothers old
home--with lie upon his lips? My
brother Joe's born fool, but he's no
liar" and the speaker painted.
"And she's book learnt. too. hear
say" put in Mrs. Bissop, mildly.
Jane, who was not book learnt"
turned crimson. "Aye; It's said so.''
"She's well lookin' anyhow. My man
saw her Friday-and it's q week since
coming home from market, and he says
there's never been comelier seen in the
parish for hundreds of years."
"Fine looks is as good as they goes.
She's my brothers wife, and oughtn't
to speak against her. But she's so
sleek, and SO composed, and SO learna-
BILE, and SO carrying, that take it she's
seen more of the world than she ought.
She never got that straight look, and
all that high and mightiness, in any
decent family. No; take my word for
it, she's seen the world"
"Lor', Janey! You don't mean to say
she lords it over you"
"Over me? What are you thinking
about? There's no one in the county
could do that. Oh, no; my lady is as
soft ms wax, and asks to be shown that,
and to be told this; and is mighty civil
spoken. All put on. Even Joe seems
bewiIdered at, her, though it's easy to
see he's ready to eat her. The great
ninny!"
.She amt said anything about your
going yet-?
MY what?"
"your leaving the farm? You know
she's missus now"
mot word. I'd like to see her turn
me out" Jane snorted; but, privately,
she wondered why the young woman
didn't.
Don't zee really know where she
halls from?"
mo, 1 don't: and more than that,
t'other night made Joe so mad over
one thing and another that he owned
up and said he didn't know himself. It's
hard on us-deceEt farmer folk for nigh
on hundred years-to have to put up
with some rubbish"
Enough of that talk, Jane Heslop
If you can't speak fair of our own
don't speak foul. Go; work with your
hands, woman, and give your tongue 9
rest. Martha Biss6p, you know my sis.
ter, she wouldn't speak fair her OWL
BARN. Let me tell you-my wife's az
honest a woman as any of YOU. You car
make that known about ths place."
The two women went off in differen'
directions without another word. They
lived in county where man still ha.
some little authority.
At the dairy door Joe Heslop brough1
himself up, looked down on his SHAPED,
limbs, clothed in well-made cords
seemed pleased; pulled his coat to
gether-wiped his face, and smoothet
his hair down with his hand.
"Come in, Joseph; you re just in tim
to help turn this lot Of milk"
A tail, straight girl, with her bacl
towards him, stood at a churn.
go on with exactly the same move
ment, or the butter viii never come,
she said, as If repeating a pleasing
lesson.
He went to her-slipped his hand
down to hers-imprisoning them on tn
handle, and he looked at her with adol
ing, breathless admiration.
Joseph" she said with curious in
tonation, as though she were not quit
used to the name; ut will be utterl
ruined. You've quite stopped it,"
He made an awkward peck at her
which she avoided; and leaving hin
there, she went over to the tap and b.
gan to scrub some molds. She was bea,
tiful. and especially so with the glo
and CLEAN of genial work upon her.
graceful figure, shapely hands an
arms, well-cut features, large, calr
wide-apart, gray eyes, and glossy hal
which hung in big knob at the back
her head. She had not been at the ia
for more than three minutes when 81
left II, and came across to him, wipir
her hands, and kissed him tenderly {
the brow.
He let the handle 60. and made a
other peck at her.
Joseph" she said, solemnly, her ey
laughing all the while, this will be
spoilt lot of butter. do wish cou
get hold of some technical farmil
terms. / really think we had bett
not butter make together aga
Don't, oh! cont; leave of! Wait o m
meut," and she went and fetched
wet molds, put them in heap. Jump
upon the table nesy him and began
yiae theM