Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1901-04-18

wasted.
>They aint as good, aigh? Well. the
reason they aint as good g just because
they aint expected to be. That's just
the reason. You can't get around that
can you, fatherT
Evidently he could not.
AN now,' continued Mrs. Sybert,
THAT she's up an married Mr.. Nesley,
an wants to live right life, I'm goin,
to see her.
How d. you know she wants to live a
right life?
u don't know It, father. lust reck-
on she does. So I'm goin. Let me by,
father. I've fooled half N hour away
now, when Id orter to BEN on the
road there
Now, see here. mother. You amt
goin a step. The whole town is excited
over a nice man like Mr.. Neslev athrow.
in hisself away on no account woman
like her, an you sha'nt be seen agon'
there an upholdin her.
Mrs. Sybert looked long and steadily
into her husbands eyes. 1t was her pol.
icy to fight until she began to lose
ground, and then she quietly turned
her forces to manoeuvering. Ireckon'
she was now rejecting, it's about time
to begin manoeuv'rin'.
We'll, father she said mildly; T'ye
made up my mind to 60 an see Mis-
Nesley an encourage her same's | w'u'd
any man that wanter to live better. An
I'm a gon.'
YOU amt a.goinv thundered Mr.. Sy-
bert. u forbid you to bulge step.
You shan't disgrace yourself, Mrs. Sy-
bert, if you want to. while you're my
wifeP
Mrs. Sybert united her bonnet strings
and laid her bag on the foot of the bed.
All right, father she said, Y won't
go till you tell me can. lalways hev
tried to do Just g you wanted | sh'u'd.'
She went into anothe room to take off
her best dress. Mr.. Sybert stood star =
Ing after her, speechless. He had the
dazed look of cat that falls from a
great height and alights, uninlured,
upon its feet. The manoeuvering had
commenced.
Mr.. Sybert spent the afternoon at the
postofice grocery store. 1t was a pleas
ant place to sit. There was always a
cheerful fire in the rusty box stove in
the back room, and there were barrels
and odds and ends Of chairs scattered
around, whereon men who hDd an hour
to squander might SIT and talk over the
latest scandal.
Men, as it is well known. are aboYe
the petty gossip rs to servants and best
gowns which women en- joy, but, without
scruple or conscience, they will talk
away a woman's character, even when
they see her struggling to live down a
misfortune or sin and begin II new life
There are many characters talked away
in the back rooms of grocery stores.
1t was o'clock when he went home
AS he went along the narrow plank walk
, he thought of the good supper that
would be awaiting him, and his hear
softened to mother.
u reckon l was too set,' he reflected
There amt many women's good an
, faithful 3 mother. / don't see wha'
got it into her head to 90 to see thai
Mis- Nesley-an' to talk up SO to me
She never done that atore.'
The door was locked. In surprise ht
fumbled about in the dark for the sey-
enth flower pot in the third row, where
mother always bid the key Yes, i
was there. But his knees shook lit
tie as he entered the house. He coulC
| not remember that he had ever fount
1 her absent at supper time since th'
children we're married. In that cast
; she would have left note; and h'
lighted the kitchen candle and searched
r for it. 1t was pinned to cushion OF
t the bureau In the bedroom,
e The house was cold, but he did no
wait to klndle fire. He sat down b,
the bureau, and, with fingers some
. what clumsier than usual, adjusted hi
8 spectacles over his high, thin hose. Thel
', leaning close to the candle, he read tn
p letter, the composition of which mus
Y have given mother some anxious hours
{ 1t was written with painful precision.
Dear Father: You will find the coll
Y meat in the safe out on the back pore
in the stun crock covered up with pi
pan. The apple butter is in the bi
8 peory jar down in the seller with aplat
and napkin tied over it. Put them bac
t On when you get some out 80 the ant
u won't get into it.
J. There's a punkin pie on the bottom
n shelf of the pantree to the right side c