Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-10-12
THEIR
HONEYMOON
BY Harriet G.. Garfield
Copyright, 1895, by Harriet G. Garfield

III
Jack, dear, wasn't it awful?' she
whispered,
"Why, no. Beth, 1 rather liked it,
"'Liked it, My hat is full of rice
and your shoulders are simply covered
with it. The publicity of it. Jack. If
they'd only let us slip off quietly! Now
every one will know that were just
married. You mustn't pay any atten-
ton to me, You must read your paper,
and them
"'And then?'" smiling whimsically.
why, then you must so into the
smoking car, dear"
When Jack abandoned his paper for
a cigar the old lady behind Beth leaned
forward Excuse me-" she said, ''but
are you going far?"
"Yes. a long distance" Then the
kind old face Won her confidence. and
she added volubly: "My husband has
farm out west. We are going there
now. but we intend to stop at several
places ON the way"
II was thinking" the old lady said,
"of the many bridal couples that have
passed over this road. How many of
them, wonder. are as happy now as
they dreamt they'd be?''
ooh, many, l hope" said the little
bride wistfully. Don't you think so?'
ut all depends OF course the honey
moon can't last forever. A man may
love his wife better every day-he prob
ably does-but he forgets to tell her so,
and woman's heart is a curious thing.
She can't live on faith and apple dump
lings." Then she added, My dear, if
your husband ever forgets to show you
any OF the little signs of affection /
want you to remember that he loves
you just the same and believes in your
love for him, but, being a man, he isn't
continually looking for a sign"
"Thank you," Beth whispered CRATE
fully, "and I'll remember"
The old lady left the car at the next
station, and Jack returned.
In less than two months Beth was
the established mistress of the farm
house, though Jacks Aunt Mehitabel,
who had ruled there so long, was loath
10 TellHQulSD HeT sccpleI
In Aunt Hitty's presence Beths spir-
its were strangely subdued Even the
Swedish girl in the kitchen felt the de-
pressing influence and hummed a
dirge whenever Aunt Hitty entered
her domain.
The weeks went by, and the little
wife's happiness was seriously in dan
OF ixn.n hl1f
Jacks aunt opposed her every effort
to be useful When alone with her
husband Beth was happy; their honey
moon had not waned. She longed to
tell the kind old lady so. But Jack
could not often be with her. The farm
work demanded his attention. Once,
when she supposed Aunt Hitty was
taking her afternoon nap, Beth gave
way to her feelings, and, burying her
face in Jacks old coat, she cried as
IL her heart would break.
That evening, as she sat on the wide
porch, waiting for Jack to join her, she
overheard Aunt Hitty talking to him.
"She is SO utterly incompetent"
Aunt Hitty was saying, 'and so child
ish, This afternoon / heard her cry
ing-actually crying! | often wonder
why you married her, John"
Because / loved her-that Is suf-
ncient, think" Jack answered. Poor
little girl-crying, was shef"
Then he came out and found Beth,
standing white and still in the moon
light.
"This Is lonesome place, isn't 1t,
dear?' he said, very gently. II think
1t would do you good to return Mrs.
Lennox's call tomorrow. 1t will cheer
her up, and Tom too"
Mrs Lennox and son seemed glad to
see them and insisted upon keeping
Beth until after tea You needn't
come for her, Mr.. Bradley" Toms
mother said. "My son will take her
home"
This was the beginning of the great
intimacy between the two families.
Jack was very busy on the farm, but
young Lennox had more time at his
disposal He frequently drove over for
Beth and brought her home in the
moonlight. Jack reJoiced In their
friendship and had no thought Of jeal-
ousy until Aunt Hitty said:
"Beth is never happy unless she Is
with Mr.. Lennox. I'm sure it doesn't
look well for her to ride with him as
often as she does" Jack laughed at
the idea, but it,came again and again
until he imagined that Beth shrank
from his caresses, and lie resolved not
to annoy her in the future. His wife
felt that the honeymoon was waning
at last and brayely tried to follow the
old lady's advice and believe that Jack
still loved her.
BY and by the grain rose and fell In
rolden waves and the sun beat pltiless-
~ down on the tired men toiling In the
harvest fields. In the midst of 1t all
Jack succumbed to the heat and had
to be helped TO the house. Aunt Hitty
took immediate possession Of him and
prescribed rest in a darkened room.
He slept heavily for some time, and
when he opened his eyes Beth was
bending over him.
"Jack, DEAR" she said. sis there moth
ing l can do for your
Nothing" he answered stifiy. 81
hall be all right In a day or two. All
that worries me Is the wheat. It's sure
TO rain before long, and there's no one
to take my place in the field. Tom
Lennox can't spare one OF his men, and
I wouldn't ask him to-"
Beth waited until his tired eyes clos
ed again and then stole from the room.
An hour later Mrs. LeEnox welcomed
her In astonishment.
"What brought you out in this fear
ful heatP she asked.
Beth told of Jacks sudden Illness
and the great need of help.
"And now," she said, II want to hire
out to Jack, and ! want you TO help
me-"
You want TO hire outr Mrs. Len
nox gasped "What do you mean,
chlld?"
II know there's not much | can do"
she said humbly, but | found some
boys clothes hanging in the wash
house, and If you will help me take
them up a little I'm sure we can make
them fit Don't say you won't help
me, for there's nothing | can do for
Jack If | stay home" And In spite
Of Mrs. Lennox's objections Beth Won
her consent
After dinner, while Aunt Hitty rest