The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1904-09-08
The seperato Maintenance.

! The Separate Maintenance.
Elias, what does this meanf MarIi
Mann's portly fame shook aud her voic,
shock with anger. Seth Peterby is measur
Ing out in the pile grove, and he says b,
calculates TO begin to cut II down mex
' Monday morning, Cut down the pin,
grove,
Elias Mann. smaller than lis wife, heavy
? ard 50 iarC .hlnned, turned his head away
as he answered;
I'm goi1g to have every stick OF 1t Gu,
down before next Saturday night There's
masts and spars there that'll be worth nigh
upon a thousand dollars to the firm Of Dol.
liver u Mann. AnG--Elas had east swift
glance at bis wifi. and become wrathful at
sight OF the tears that were rolling down
her eheeks-l calculate man had right
to do as he's mi1d to with his own trees.
As he walked away there came into the
mild eyes OF tis wife spark that diied
their tears.
Twas the last straw that broke the
camei's back, she inurmured, as she drop
ped into the sittug-room rocking chair.
While we were struggling so couldn't
leave him because wouldn't be beholden
to my folks, but now that he's doing so
we'll he can give q seperate maintenance,
and he's 60. to At home was the smart
managin ono that everyb body heard to, and
for thirty years I've been tired under foot
by that little might Of a snsppin eyed man
Now the way is open at last, and It's come
to an end
So suddenly altered was life that the
familiar sights ard sounds, the Agricultur.
ist and the cardle upon the light stand
where Elias had left them the night before
the cats pur ing and the canary's shiill
singing seen d strange and unfamiliar.
She bestrrtd hvlse.i to SIT her house In
order and pack her trunk. When 1t came
to putting + lss's clothes in order the
wrinkles deepened In her worn face.
He'll get old Ssbry Gould to do for him,
and she's terrible slack, she said to her
self, and then scorned herself for her soft.
ness and hardened her heart.
DE knows as well as | do that Ruthy g
playhouse was In that biggest pine tree,
she murmured as she worked. He knows
tis her green moss carpet, that I've always
swept with broom, that he's goln' to have
trampled on and tore up and ruined. He
knows what comfort I've took goin' out
there to sit 10 the cool Of the day, feeling
most as IL was In meetin. Ruthy was |
the daughter who had died when she was
six.
1t was not until the next morning at |
breakfast that Mrs. Mann declared her in
tention to Elias. She had before threaten
ed separation, and had weakened In her re-
solve. Now she meant to be sure that che
should not.
I'm goin' to leave yon, 'Lias, she said as
she passed him bis second cup Of coffee.
I'm going to live with my sister Aurrilly,
and you've got to give me seperate main
tenance. You ought to give me as much
as four dollars week.
III give you five said Films, cheerfully.
lwant you to carry me up to Hermon
Saturday monring, went on Maria, In
firm voice. Iexpect you can get old Sabry
Gould to do for you
don't want Sibra Gould nor anybody
else, sail Elias calmly. Women-folks amt {
30 indispensable as they think.
MS. Mann rose and left the room. {
There's been bickerin' and bitter words I
enough between him and me, she said to I
herself. It's comfort TO think there won't c
ever he any more.
When she called to him Saturday morn :
ng, to help her biiag down her trunk. she ,
Jaw in his face 40 incredulous wonder, not
Without shade Of dismsy.
1t puts me out come to 80 to Hebron to-
lay, tu. ] expect It's worth the trouble, he
laid, as he hoisted her tlunk into the high Il
wagon. She waited for him to put on his
sunday coat, while the cat upon the porch
ri,d with keen feline feelings. She re- y
nemberod that the had left pan Of milk
where 1t might sour. Elias called to her b
ha. he could not f1d the clothesbrush ii
ie never could fad things. She wonder.
d what the nelgbbors would tay, and the
Minister.
He never gave In TO me In all these thir.
y years--not the least mite, she said to
erself. EiIas's look Of dlsmsy had Deeper 81
a when he came out there was unwonted X
olor on his rugged cheeks. II
They drove down through the village, al
'blch preserved I,s every day aspect AZ
,tishlr gly 10 the new world upon which 81
Isria Mann had entered, and 90 out upon II
le Hermon road, woods. ordered aud frsg- d'
INT with spring.
liz considerable mild for April. ought th
, be tending TO the plowin, remarked 90
Lac, Ia q somewhat aggrieyed tone. ly
/ thAn't mske you any more trouble, 90
Las, said his wife. an
You'll get your maintenance STEADY ard be
g'lar, fald kllas. And then there was IN
fence on the long, up bin road. W
At las, Elias drove little way toto
oods road. for the noon sun was grow H.
z bot upon The hill, and Maria spread ous bo
,e luncheon she had brought.
Bey Dad then, In clearing, stood tie ne
.lns Of house, stark ike a eorpge, With Nj
airing windos sraces and fallen doors. sin
ear By was gspIsg cellar where smother lie
,ufe had stood.
Tha, house don'E sppesr ever 70 baye th'
en- aaishe,, remarked Elias, eurIoasly q I