Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-12-21
SHORT STORY FOR
EVENING HOURS
BEN'S WIFE

tndJ Tue long years OF QuletnesS anu
monotony were soon to be broken by
some uncommon event in the house.
| hold
Early in the morning the green shut
tiers, which had been closed since the
last house cleaning, were opened to ad.
nit the sunshine and the fresh spring
air, laden with the breath of the old
fashioned roses, to purify the musty,
| damp rooms.
Through a wicket gate. opening into
an old.fashioned garden with gravel
patchs. rapidly walked an old lady who
gathered large lunches of dewy flow
ers to place in fancy vases on her par.
| lor mantel. She hummed little tune
now and then, Just to keep her spirits
up" she whispered to herself
| Not a moment did Mother waste
Every hour saw some task finished, un.
! I'll. at last. the busy day was ended;
and everything was neat and in read
! mess when the sweet summer evening
came.
Mrs. Stevens, tanning herself with
| her apron, stepped out on the front
porch to look far down the road, then
| shook her head. mo, they are not
!
long. Guess | might as well rest here
awhile until Father comes in from his
work"
Her thoughts were not in harmony
with the peaceful twilight, for she was
troubled over the one her boy was to
bring with MIN that night, "A stranger
coming into their home" So lost was
she in deep reyerie that the plaintiye
bleat of the sheep for her little ones
in the meadow across the road had no
music for her.
Savory odors from the kitchen made
Farmer Stevens walk little more spry
up the path from the barn as he chuck.
4 led to himself: Mother will do her
best to have a good supper for the lad
when he brings that city gal home"
He walked around the house and
then down to the gate. Pears like
am kind OF uneasy tonight. Maybe 1t
will be as Mother says, there won't be
any peace when the newcomer arrives.
wonder what she looks like; for II
seems so queer that we never have seen
her" There was weary sigh as he
retraCed his steps to the house.
He seated himself in a big armchair
beside his wife and smiled in his good
natured way, as he asked:
DO you think that she will learn to
milk cows, make butter, and cook for
hands, so as TO be a help to your"
Joel Stevens!" the good woman cX
claimed, in a disguised tone, can you
imagine Banker Hollis only daughter
knowing anything about work? No!
she will do the bossing and try to teach
| al, t. N Al, =
She carelessly smoothed back her silv
cry hair and her features became more
stern.
Don't think so hard of her. Mother
she Is young yet, and will be company
Tor you. Perhaps, after awhile, sh,
will fill our Bessie's place" Here tn,
old wrinkled hand wiped away tear
but he turned his head so Mother would
not see.
She noted the huskiness in his voice
and looked up with a sad yearning in
her eyes. She can't be anything like
the romping girl we lost so many years
ago, Joel, for Mrs. Perkins, who just
moved on John Masons farm says she
is proud and over-bearing."
I'VE mustn't listen to so much Cos.
sip, Mother; we will decide that for
ourselves"
VERY likely" resumed the old lady,
she will call you Mr.. Stevens and me
Mrs. Stevens. How in creation shall
ever get along with so much stiffness? p
Poor Benz" his father replied I've
must be cheerful and keep peace for
his sake. He is our only child. and
some way or other | feel that he has
enough Of his old dad in him to make
a good choice for a wife"
That last remark brought smile to
the Mothers face. Then, a keen OBJ.
server would have detected trace OF
past beauty In the wrinkled careworn
happy long ago.
Here they come, at last" cried Mr..
Stevens, as he arose from his chair.
What makes you say so? | can't
see them" replied Mrs. Stevens.
Il heard Ben's voice. There, don't
you hear It? How happy they must
be! Just like we were on certain
day. once upon time, eh, wife,"
They are turning into the lane, Fa'
Their"
Yes, and just listen to her clear,
ringing laugh, Mother. There must be
something good about her"
lie me, Joe! never expected Ia
see any one so handsome" the old lady
whispered, as Ben helped the girl out
of the buggy. She is mighty stylish
too, and look how trim she looks in
that blue suit"
The old gentleman apparently did
not hear He had caught his daugh.
ter's radiant smile and hurried down
the path to meet them.
Mrs. Stevens smiled sarcastically ut
her husband. "Well, I'll not be the
first to make fuss over her. I'll stand
my ground until she comes to me-"
But what was her establishment
when she saw Ben's wife drop his arm
lift up her long skirts and run to meet
her new Father!
After giving the kind old man q
coed lug, she bounced mp the STEPS,
two at a time, and treated his wife to
a similar embrace.
Mother speak to mel" the new
daughter cried, as she kissed the dear
|, lnt1 hat La.