Smyrna times., 1908-06-10

OAfA Il 4bAN "A 4 IVA I1ACS w -
little talk with Ezra. He was greeted
with the greatest pleasure, but as sOor
as they had shaken hands the farmer
began:
Did Martha tell you that l threat
ened to choke her to death last night?'
Il hope you didn't make use of any |
such language"
But l did though of course it was |
all in fun. What do you think that |
empty headed idiot did yesterday aft
ernoon? Because a bee stung her she
went at it and kicked over a whole
hive, and the old horse was stung in
thirty-seven different places.
Il s'pOse l could push her into the
goose pond in such a way that people
would call it case of suicide. but
shant do it. We love each other aid
don't mean nothing by our talk. You
have probably heard a great lot, but
you mustn't pay any attention to it."
The good man went away puzzled
and unSatis6ed. but resolved to let the
case alone. He told Deacons Harrow
and Swift so when they dropped in to
talk matters over. but they went away
to do a little plotting and planning on
their own account. They agreed that
| it was scandalous case and called for
heroic treatment
A week passed away. and then one
forenoon Deacon Swift dropped in tc
! inquire where Ezra was. He knew
well enough that he was down in the
woods chopping and that Deacon Har-
row was taking care of that end of the
line
"Ezrar' queried Martha in reply
"Why, the blamed skunk is down In
the woods cbopping! | told him this
morning that he wasn't worth the pow
der to blow him to Goshen | don't
see why he don't die and let me mar,
ry a sensible man."
''Mrs. Billings. what if you should
hear that Ezra was dead?" asked the
deacon in a solemn voice.
ooh. quit your foolingw
'What if his dead body. mangled out
of shape by falling tree should be
borne into this house within the next
ten minutes?"
isis anything the matter with
Ezra?'
You have called him names. YOU
have wished him dead You have
tempted and deied Providence. Oh,
woman
She didn't wait to hear anything fur.
ther; but hatless and with skirts fly,
ing. she took across the fields for the
woods. Deacon Harrow. who had
Ezra to handle, had indulged in few
casual observations and then asked if
Martha was we'll
"She was all right when | left the
house." was the reply. but there's nc
telling what an idiot of a woman may
do. She may have gone into the well
head first for all know"
Ezra Billings. you have been heard
to threaten to brain your wife"
That's just my way
You have been heard to wish tha
she was dead"
That was just Il joke, deacon"
Joke! Man. if Martha is found deaC
in the house with her head all batter
ed in. don't you know
But Ezra had dropped his ak ant
started for the house Oh a run. Hus
band and wife met halfway, with
deacon behind either to point the moral
/ There was no moral to point
: You lOp shOuldered. knOckkneeC
l old camel. but what do you meanT
: demanded the wife as she saw her hus
band was all right
"And what do you mean?" demandet
5 the husband as he looked her over
Say, Martha. you don't know huff t
a lift them big feet of yours when wad
e ing through u mudhole."
( Ezra, you are Il gosh hanged liar!'
= Martha, you deserve killing!"
t And as they turned their backs o
each other and walked away the tw
t deacons locked arms and headed fo
y the road. Not a word was said unit
d they had climbed the fence, and the
e Deacon Swift observed, Would 20
t call it a failure, deacon-a failure o
e our part?"
s IL certainly should. deacon, and
e should further say that we hadn't be
It ter say anything about it"