The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-02-27

see you again until he comes after
you." 1 had determined to be just
as cordial as if she had been the per-
soni6cation of daintiness.
"You needn't worry on that score.
When-I packed my traps 1 told your
grandfather that mabbe he'd see me
fore spring, but most likely he would
not"
1t was now September. I looked
out of the window at the peaceful
scene and wished it would rain and
be sleety. 1t seemed as if nature had
no business to be so gay. I recalled
the first two stanzas of the Rainy
Day."
'Is grandpa well?'
She hitched herself into a more
confidential position and said impress
sively:
"Your grandfather would be toler.
ably we'll if he'd let old cider alone.
But when man betwixt and between
drinks bout TWO gallons of old cider
every day it tends to make him feel
outer sorts. think that's what at
tracted Henery to your wife. He
thought he could live on Durgin Hill,
keep filled with old cider, and have
good time generally. He was work.
in there in hayin' when he fust met
Eliza's gal. She was UP for the sum-
mer. But when he an your grand
father went off fshin' and fell into
the crick, put my foot down and be
gut. Your wife never said nothin'
bout him, I take it"
mo-" I answered.
"Nat'rel, 'nough, too. Let bygones
be bygones, sez I. We've gut to
make tn best of the futer. Do you
drink?"
"Never !"
"What church do you attend?"
"I-I 60 to the Universalist."
"The idee! An our hull family
have been Baptists for ten gen rations.
Why, your grandfather, when he's
filled to the nozzle with cider, will
cuss a Universalist on sight. That's
his one good point; he don's go back
on his religion. An tell you, young
man, that In the futer you an Eliza's
gal will tend out on the Baptists'
meetin'
1 shuddered as 1 thought of her
declaration to grandpa, 'Mebbe you'll
see me fore spring, an mebbe you
won't"
"What do you do with your even
ings? 7" she asked, adjusting her spec
tacles.
"Oh, always stay at home even
ings," replied, glad of a chance to
appear in a favorable light. eve
have quiet game of euchre, or in-
vite in some of the neighbors and play
whist, you know"
"Them's games you play with
keerds, eh?" she asked gloomily.
I saw my finish as weakly an
swered Eyes"
"Oh, the sorrer of it !! Eliza's gal
playin' at keerds Never in Henery's
day did she do that But jest wait |!
Well see if little moral influence
can't stop sich didoes jest as soon as
1 get settled" and the light of con-
quest flashed from her cold, gray
eyes.
With sigh of relief I helped her
into cab when we reached the sta
ton, and told the driver my number.
To my surprise no bright-eyed wife
bounded down the steps to meet us;
instead, the house was gloomy and
dark. And what's more, when /
mounted the stairs found the door
locked. I could appreciate the spirit
that prompted my wife to keep the
grandmother out, but / thought it
was rather hard on the husband.
However, l used my latchkey and
ushered grandma in. I was pleased
to note that the lighting Of the gas
impressed my relative quite deal.
"Hain't there no danger of that
Dustin? Hain't kerisine lie safer 7"
l quieted her bit, and then snap
ped few parlor matches to complete
the effect. Then I set out to find my
wife. She was not in the house. l
returned to the sitting room and found
grandma hanging the bird cage to
hook, while the inmate croaked
feebly.
"Where's Eliza's gal?"
"She must have stepped out to the
neighbor' / explained, ''but make
yourself at home and will look her
up"
My head was in a whirl. My wife's
desertion, the question of "Henery
the fust," were problems l could not
solve. There was no doubt in my
mind but that my wife was the sweet
est little woman in the world, but 1
wished she had been at home. Of
course my grandma was crazy, and
yet felt badly to think of 'Hene-
ry's kitin' round over the country"
He ought, even In hallucinations, to
be dead.
On inquiring, Mrs. Engels inform
ed me that my wife had gone to spend
the night with our old friends, the
Atelys. This was little too much.
Did she fear to face me, now that I
had learned the truth?
A hanson quickly took me to the
Atelys', and I brusquely asked for
my wife.
"Why, James, dear, back? Didn't
you get my telegram at Isworth ?"
81 did not" replied, not noticing
her advances to give me caress.
why, I wired that grandma was
not coming uutil tomorrow morning,
and that you were to stay over and
wait for her. But I'll put on my
things and come home"
Once we were inside the carriage I
asked:
"How much logger is this farce to
continue? Do you think I am of the
same calibre as 'Henery'1"
She began to cry softly.
Perhaps you imagine that the oc-
cult influence of Durgin Hill has cap
tivated me-" suggested. She was
now weeping violently.
| cor n0sSih1v fhe fact that Crardma