Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1899-12-27
HESIOP'S WIFE
-~c-~
She Started Out TO Reform the
World, but Became the Wife
of 4 Simple Farmer.


"Heaven knows where he picked her
up, with her fine clothes and her fine
manners. nice farmers wife truly"
"You think he's really married to her.
JaneT'
Married or 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, l hear
say" put in Mrs. Bissop mildly.
Jane. who was not book learnt" turn
Cd crimson. Aye, It's said SOL
"She's well lookin anyhow. My man
saw her Friday-and it's a week since
comm home from market, and he says
there's never been a 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 learnable and so
carrying that take it she's seen more Of
the world than she ought"
'Lor', Janey. You don't mean to say
she lords il over you?'
over me? What are you thinking
about? There's no one in the country
could do that. Oh, no; my lady is as soft
~ wax and asks to be shown that and
70 be told this, and is mighty civil spoken.
All put on
"She amt said anything about your
goin yet
My whatT'
"4our leaYin the farm? You know
shes missus now.
Not word Id like 10 see her turn
me out. Jane Snorted. but privately she
wondered why the young woman didn't
Don't ee really know where she halls
from? ?
No, l don't. And, more than that.
tother night | made Joe SO mad over
one thing and another that he owned
up and said he dnn't know himself. Its
hard on us-deo>nt farmer folk for nigh
on 100 years-to have to put up with
some rubbish =
Enough Of that talk, Jane IIeslop
II you can't speak fair of your own,
don't speak foul Martha Bissop, you
know my sister; she wouldn't speak fair
of her own BARN. Let me tell you-my
wife's as honest woman as any of you.
You can make that known about the
place"
The two women went off in different
directions without another word. They
lived in country where man still has
some little authority.
At the dairy door Joe Heslop brought
himself up, looked down on his shapely
limbs, clothed in well made cords, seem
ed pleased. pulled his coat together.
wiped his face and smoothed his hair
down with his hand.
Come in, Joseph; you're just in time
to help turn this lot Of milk
She was beautiful. and especially SO
with the glow and CLEAN of genial work
upon her-a graceful figure. shapely
hands and arms. well cut features. large,
calm, wide apart gray eyes and glossy
hair, which hung in a big knob at the
hack Of her head.
Joseph" she said solemnly, Il do
Wish l could get hold of some technical
farming terms. / really think We had
better not butter make together again.
Don't. Oh. don't. Leave off! Wait a
moment" And she went and fetched the
wet molds, put them in a heap. jumped
upon the table near him and began to
wipe them.
I'm sorry your sister doesn't like me.
like her"
We'll, you see lane is an odd woman
"a very odd woman"
"Not at all. Jane is sensible crea-
ture. Why doesn't she like meT'
'She doesn't object TO you personally"
"Then she dislikes me theoretically
IF You mean lists because she
didn't know you before we were married
and because she doesn't know your
maiden name, maybe you're right"
Would that weigh with woman like