The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-05-23
JAMES VESTS AWAKENING.

HdNo udppeuou. DuC JduloS " cSI anu
his friend were both ''market-merry,"
and upon this occasion the special prov
ldence that usually attended them was
absent, for, after ''lumpering" the horse
started off, leaving the two to pick
best they could.
James West, as proprietor of the
rapidly vanishing horse and trap, was
first on his feet.
'Palk! Where be you to? We must
broken shoulder
But Palk, having less at stake, was
more bewildered.
and here's me with me brains beat
OUT l be goin' to sit in t. hedge"
But the meare be gone along. l tell
you, she'll be doing herself or some one
else mischief. Pick up this cushion
and come along"
Now, Henry Palk was the last man to
leave his friend in the lurch, and, as his
senses cleared, his wonted energy and
goodwill returned.
Come along, then: It's you be biden
about. AS to the meare, she knows her
way home well enough
Pm none SO sure about that; she has
not changed hands very long, and her
old home is handy from here"
They trudged along silently, both
sobered by their tumble, and both feel
ing stiff and sore. The road was lone
ly, save for small wayside inn, and
there they inquired if anything had
been seen OF a mare and the cart that
she had ligntened of its load. Without
the least appearance of sympathetic
excitement the landlord scratched his
head
Il iced harse go by, with marry a
one up in the trap. l thought some
thing med Of happened"
And couldn't you have come down
the road bit of ways to see?" inquired
Palk, hotly; you're nice sort of a
chap? Couldn't you SO much as stop
the harse?"
81 did only hear Glitter, clatter, and
she was past. The meare was layin'
legs to groun, my word"'
James West laughed carelessly.
AYE, she is fast, and will keep run
ming until she drops. Well have pint,
Palk, and then follow on
But Palk, save for one weakness,
was man Of action and different from
his companion.
Have done with your nonsense,
West. Think of your poor wife if that
meare do get home avore ee."
For several miles they walked silent
ly along the lonely road, and then Palk
indicated some Wheel-markS to his COM
panion.
''See, she stopped to have feed here
off the bit of grass, SO she is going
steady
Presently the road began to descend
into the river valley, and then they
soon reached Vests farm. 1t was
beautifully situated, but very isolated,
and, saving couple of cottages and
the little jetty below, where the ferry
man could be rung for over the water,
no other dwellings were near.
Above all the winding river silver
mist was rising, which showed its
course for miles, and the autumn air
bit keenly. In the yard stood the mare,
already half embarrassed, and a woman
was doing the work. At the sight of
the two the blood rushed back into her
pale face, and her strained lips broke
into smile of relief.
She was a young, good-looking wo-
man, as little like the typical wife of
yeoman farmer as could well be imagin-
ed. 4 black dress showed off her daz-
zling fairness, and her hair was plenti-
full and golden. Her face was refined
by certain delicacy, although the fea-
lures were rather sharp, and people
said that James West had nagging
wife.
Perhaps this was so when she was out
of all patience with those habits of his
which were running their home and
their business, but her pleading was
often gentle, hoping even against hope;
for he loved her.
In his weakest moments he thought
there was no one like his wife; no one
so neat so Industrious, SO untiring in
well doing. 1t was she who kept things
going, and ordered so much in the house,
and out of it, that the surface of affairs
looked almost thriving, although all the
farmers were complaining of bad times.
She made all her own clothes and her
little girls, and her white cuffs against
the mares black sides looked spotless.
''Out of the way, Mile. Well take
the meare out. For a wonder, she
lumpered coming up hill, and threw us
both out"
To her he spoke much more like
gentleman he had almost seemed one
to her before she married him. She
may have had her doubts about the real
cause of the accident, but she express
ed her great relief at finding them both
unhurt. Her manner was quiet and re-
pressed, but she had been bright girl.
''She lumpered, sure enough cried
Palk, leading the mare deftly from the
shafts, ''and tbs mercy that you were
not along of we, or | might have squat.
ted ee in vallin out Pm no light
weight
She smiled her anxious careworn
smile, and asked him inside, for James
always came home more sober in his
company. Palk had a chivalrous pity
and care for the wife and mother wait
ing anxiously at home. In his honest
heart he despised West, and thought
his wife much too good for him
The next morning Mrs. West brought
a bill that was owing to her husband,
asking him for the money that she
might pay it. He glanced impatiently
at the amount, and then tossed it care
lessly on one side.
Let it be, Mile, for the present;
they are owing me for hay and corn
But they have allowed for that, and
the bill has been due so long"
Il can't help it. Times are bad with
us farmers, Mile; you know it,
ut is not the times" she answered,
goaded into sharpness. eff only you
would let me have what goes in other