Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1919-12-10
A
Passing Cloud
BY VICTOR REDcIIrFE
Copyright. 1918. western Newspaper unsos.l

nave my EedSohsi snappiShly pro
nounced Mrs. Hardy, irritated and ir.
rational female, and declined further
disclosures.
"And l have no desire to pry into
the same" said Judge Ashton. sYour
husband feels that he was rash and
unwise In leaving you as he did. and
wishes to make peace with you"
! "Ohi does he, indeed?" observed
! Mrs. Hardy. How contrite, humble
! and accommodating, after practically
deserving me for week, creating spec
ulation and gossip and smotherine
half-sob, repressed with difficulty
showing that he has no respect or
no-regard for me-"
Don't say that, Mrs. Hardy" plead
ed the judge soothingly. 81 happen to
know that Mr.. Hardy depIores the i'm.
pulse that led him to leave you for
visit to his sister. He wishes to return
and let bygones be bygones."
The face of his auditor was set stern
and uncompromising. Finally she
said: This is his home; no one has
turned MIN out or it
Then you forgive and forget, and
the dove of peace
81 shall never forget" interrupted
Mrs, Hardy bitterly. He has af-
fronted me. but shall try to Danish
his misdoings from my mind"
Tell you, Mrs. Hardy" spoke the
peacemaker briskly, wen call It an
armistice, Ell? Try out really good
man and make him better; don't be
too hard on him, after ten years of
happy married life"
Mary Hardy looked unrelenting. but
she did not dissent to the suggestion
made.
She had not always been thus. At
ter a full decade of comfort and con-
tent, John Hardy had seen grow upon
his wife spirit of carping criticism,
apparent jealousy and whimsical I'M
steadiness of temper. He felt that he
was being watched, under suspicion,
with no reason for the same. She
grew peevish. irrational, seeming al
most TO hate him at times. Then came
the crisis-rebellion on his part, sting
ing destinations on hers. He had
swung out Of the house in a fury one
day, and the next she learned that he
was at the home of relatives in an
other town.
As they both were seated in the lit
tie parlor of their home Mrs. Hardy
noticed for the first time that a space
behind his ears was shaven clean of
hair and bore two plasters. what is
the trouble?" she asked involuntarily,
pointing to them. Immediately John,
noting the movement of her lips, hol-
lowed his hand to one ear and said
gravely: You will have to speak very
loud TO me, Mary, as I am quite deaf.
fell off a wagon at my sisters farm
and have not heard distinctly since.
The doctor says it may pass away In
time, but for the present 1 can hear
almost nothing"
"Can-can | do anything to aid
you?" she inquired, and then masked
the sympathetic impulse expressed In
her face.
Il think not, only by being patient
with me. The plasters will gradually
restore my hearing. the doctor says.
Until they do, shall be a trial to you"
Mrs. Hardy bit her lip. If her hus-
band could not hear, she was deprived
of the privilege of giving him a piece
of her mind when the mood swayed
her After week of the new condi-
tons, however, except for unsociabiI-
ity, the process of silence had tanned
down the scolding qualities of Mrs.
Hardy considerably.
One day cousin Of Mrs. Hardy.
whom she had not seen for some years.
came to pay her visit. The follow
ing afternoon John was asleep on a
couch in the sitting room, when he
was aroused by the sound of voices In
the parlor adjoining.
81 am so glad you have come, his
wife was saying. 81 shall go wild If
do not find relief In speaking out
my troubles. Oh, Laura my husband
is so changed during the last six
| months"
HE is in the next ROOM" spoke the
visitor.
Probably asleep, and, II not, una
Bile to overhear US. 1t all came from
the time he said he was away on busi-
ness in the city for a week. Oh, the
| burden of misery / have borne since
then!" and Mrs. Hardy broke down
| weeping.
Tell me all about 1t, dear, and let
me console you, If can"
swell. when he came home found a
lady's fine lace handkerchief In one
pocket and in another a jewelers. re-
ceipt for fifty-dollar bracelet marked
| Oracle"
The sound Of John Hardy coming to
his feet with a tremendous slam, his
hearty "Ha ha Oh, the folly of it 7"
roared out excitedly, startled the two
women, and he stood before them In a
4 Vivid faruoncu 80 oy,1%fa-