Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1899-05-27
Is A TIE THAT BINDS.
~ LONG, Nick; g'long. Seems II Nick
lie showed bis age worse than ever 10
~ day. Well never get home Tess he

And Martha Crockev leaned over and
slapped the reins vigorously. The old horse
jerked forward, sending the wheels Of the
rickcty old express wagon into hole and
out of il with bounce that almost shook
Martha and her sister Jane of the seat.
The day was unusually raw even for New
England November, and the wind stung the
womea's faces till their sallow checks were
feckcd with crimson.
No one could have mistaken the two
for just what they were. The hard. care
worn face Of the elder told more plainly
than words could have done Of a lfe Of
toll and anxiety, that had never been soft
encd by many pleasant incidents or words.
She was plainly the overburdened vile
whose married life had not proven TO be
the blissfu dream she had expected. The
New England farmers wife seldom finds
her hfe a bed Of roses. but the most of them
have more or less of LIES pleasures granted
them in one way or another, but II this
woman had had many such her looks behcd
II.
Her sister on the contrary, while far from
beautiful. the beauty that comes with adj
vanclng years, still had pleasant face, that
hetokcned life OF mental ease. even though
her rough hands did tell of hard manual
labor She was satisfied with the life she
had led. while il was evident the other was
not. Il was of these lives that they talked
as they iounoyed from the village. whore
! thcy had been trading, back to the farm
home and IT'S burdens.
Il gue-s I'm glad I never married" said
Jane. 81 don't know but that I've been
better Oh without a man, they can be such
pcstorin' things when they want to-
1T does seem that way" said her sister.
And then there was silence between them
for long time. Neither seemed 10 have
4 anything in common that they wanted 10
talk about The old horse with its load
logged along at the customary slow pace.
from which 1t was impossible 60 awaken II,
seemingly Indifferent Go both the seedlings
and wAppings that were being showered
f upon him. determined 90 take his own time
- the Journey homcwari. Finally the
driver gave over trying 10 urge mm and SET
Tod back M her seat 90 make the best Of
the situation.
There was one incongruous object. Fast
crcd on top of bundle OF Old gray iaths
in the back of thc wagon was baby s night
chair. IL was a rough, sphutcry chair. but
clumsy and ugly as IL was it told OF new life
in Che midst of age and decay.
At last. with a furtive look at her sister,
Jane broke the silence.
Mother must be getting tired keeping
house alone Guess IN have to 20 back by
Saturday, sure.
Il thought you'd stay tin Thankscivin'.
I All ulNINfI kNNl 10 sINNI r lot LflAN.
well On know. From what she said
IN her last letter, ! guess she aims going
after all. And-weus / b'lieve she'd rather
have me az home"
wow Jane llobson." began Martha, with
some spirit y on know YOU JUST don Z
want TO stay. And it's hard lines If a sister
don't Ike 90 he with her sister
NicS suddenly stopped short with lurch
P that threatened 10 send women, iaths and
chair in a Lcap 60 the ground
Land O. Goshen Guess our dlnnerll be
settled enough 10 make room for supper
, time we get home. Why don't you want to
. STAY with IA for Thanksgivin'
Jane shifted her position uncasi,y and
thcn looked up with a shade Of defiance
n her eyes.
''Weil. / reckon you can guess" she said.
9 glimly I've got tired hearing that ever
Z / lasting grlmbhng and curslng OF Benia-
- min's. / must say / ike 10 listen 20 some
. thing halfway pleasant, once in awhile
! Martha sighed again. you see she be-
. gan. with ala apolose;ic air, "Ben's had hard
lucl. this year. There amt thing gone
right from the cranberry bog 10 the potato
q field. And he amt been able 60 get any
2 thing 90 90 THIS fall. And man don . fee
s. lkc smiling much when things are 80 bad
"Humph' retorted Jane, "this amt the
o. first time I've been 10 your house suce The
% five years YOU We been married. must rdA
he's worse'n ever. but / didn't ever tmnl
benjamin : amiabiity would Guido the sun
shining. For my part, l praise the DAP
@ ! gave Jim Dutton the mitten. lie soeme,
ike a decent enough fellow. but, land. In
D. mighty glad ! didn't run the risk
u Mar,ha's pinchcd face grew more pinche'
and strained as Jane let her rough word
have fun swing. Suddenly, 10 James con
steruation, she covered her face with he
hands and began 10 sob violently.
5 For the land" muttcrcd Jane. Now
T, Marthy. l ought TO be ashamed OF myself
;" Twas al uncalled for, my talk, and cues
/ ain { much pleasanter than other folks.
-" NO. no, Jane 'Tain't your fault.
- don't blame YOU for saying what You did
\: Its been hard enough Tor me not TO say th
same things for going on five years. Nv
kept hoping things would be better. And,
IN with a sob, "they got worse steady. -,t
IA yet, Ben amt ever done what lots of me
NJ do. lie amt ever had anything TO do wit
any other woman, and he don't get drunk
II An that's good deal, Jane Hobson.
Jane, IN spite Of her regret that she Ia
- thus precipi,ated matters, could not refrai
from answering
- 'Humphi Wen, l don't believe he'd haS
ne found any other woman who'd have wante
IN 10 have anything TO do with him. Cues
on a wife's the only person would have stoo
MS uginess."
d. Martha hardly noticed the interruption
q. Certain" she went on. Il knew lore eve
~. I married Ben he wasn't an angel. But
\. never mis.rusted he was rs he t. Som
times j. does seem as if be didn't speak
pleasant word the livelong day. And, an
ed lane | can't stand IL