The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-01-19
HesIoP's Wife

EANEN knows where he picked
her up, with her fine clothes and
her fine manners; a nice farmers wife,
truly"
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 a 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; lis said So"
shes well looltin anyhow. My mar,
saw her Friday-and it's week since
coming home from market and he says
there 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 learna-
BILE, and SO carrying, that l 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
che lords it over you?"
Over me? What are you thinking
about? There's no one in the county
10 10 l., T..
soft as wax, and asks to be shown that
and to be told this; and is mighty civil
spoken. All put on. Even Joe seems
bewildered 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"
Not word. I'd like to see her turr
me out" Jane snorted; but, privately
she wondered why the young woman
didn't.
Don't zee really know where she
halls FROM"
NO. | don't; and more than that,
t'Other night | made Joe so mac over
one thing and another that he owned
up and said he didn't know himself. It's
hard on us-deceLt 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 a
rest. Martha Bissop. you know my sis
ter, she wouldn't speak fair to 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 a county 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,
seemed pleased; pulled his coat to-
gether-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"
tall straight girl, with her back
towards him, stood at churn.
go on with exactly the same move
ment, or the butter will never come, ~
she said, as if repeating a pleasing
lesson.
He went to her-slipped his hands
down to hers--imprisoning them on the
handle, and he looked at her with ador
ing. breathless admiration.
Joseph she said with a curious in
tonation, as though she were not quite
used to the name; lit will be utterly
ruined. You've quite stopped it."
He made an awkward peck at her
which she avoided and leaving him
there. she went over to the tap and be
gan to scrub some molds. She was beau
tiful, and especially so with the glow
and CLEAN of genial work upon her. \
graceful figure. shapely hands and
arms, well-cut features, large, calm,
wide-apart, gray eyes, and glossy hair,
which hung in big knob at the back of
her head. She had not been at the tap
for more than three minutes when she
left it, and came across to him, wiping
her hands, and kissed him tenderly or
the brow
lie let the handle go, and made an
other peck at her.
Joseph she said, solemnly her eyes
laughing all the while, this will he "A
Spoilt lot of butter. | do wish | could
get hold of some technical farming
terms. | really think We had better
not butter make together again
Don't. OH Cont; leave eff! Wait mo-
ment." and she went and fetched the
wet molds, put them in heap, jumpeO
upon the table near him and began 20
wipe them.