The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-03-03
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Exception.
~ MAY BELLEvILLE BROWN.
Copyright 1919, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)

IN HE black dog reared his bear.ltRe
bulk and bafked deeply as man
came tagging up the slope to-
ward the house-a lank man with mild
blue eyes and a kind mouth
Aunt, Martndy-" the man fall
tered.
For PHYS sake, Tink Wllhite!" ex-
claimed Marindy Hart. "Whatever's
the matter? Set down"
Her visitor occupied a chair by a
gradual retaliation Of his Joints.
Tayy's left met" he announced
briefly.
The woman lookedat him. She was
Q sympathetic soul and neighborhood
TROUBLES, gravitated to her as the
ReatherVane swings to the wind.
"Tayy's left you, eh? Where is
she@
cover home" The mans voice was
@And you're here. Looks like you
left her"
"No, she was going to town to look
for job" answered the man, "but l
couldn't let her etake Thad so ia,
away, and 1t coming summer, SO told
her to sta ythere, and If so be she
wouldn't live with me I'd go away my.
self"
II always thought, Tlnk White"
she shook her finger impressively,
"that you was throw'd away as man.
You'd orto been woman. Think what
a satissyin' wife you'd make for an
oyer-bearing man. Whose fault was
it,"
.'Tayy says It's mine. You see,
loaned Cousin Jeb, down at Halfway,
$50 that time the river rose and he
broke his leg trying to save his hogs.
Tayy said I'd no right to help my kin:
that I'd orto give the money to her il
didn't need 1t. Lord knows need.
ed Il, but Jeb and me'Ve been like
brothers, and jest had to help him."
well, ! amt one to raise ructions
IN families, nor to set man against
wife; but l do say that II you loaned
Jeb White $50, you was doing q
Christian act, and he'll pay it back, for
he's straight. Besides, didn't you
have to pay a fine to keep Tayy's
worthless brother out Of jail last win.
ter7 guess she's never counted that,
WI, what do you want me to dog"
That's what / come for, Aunt Mar
rindy," the man replied helplessly. II
lowed you'd tell me"
'Lord!" calculated the woman. II
don't want the Job OF handling Tayy
White, especially when I'm backing
such a poor bet as you are, A man
that's cruel to his wife orto be shot.
But it's every mans right-apd some
times his neecssity-to stamp around,
pun out his chest and talk about be-
ing master in his own house. He may
eat out Of her hand for twenty.nine
days, but he'd better put up big
blur on the thirtieth. But might put
the words in your mouth, and the min
ute Tayy'd get in eye-shot of you you'd
get limp, drop your chin and put on
that aggrayating humble look of yours.
and then, Of course, any woman'd
tramp on yoI-let along Tavy."
Il reckon you're right, Aunt Ma.
rindy," assented Tink, with an air OF
dependency. I'm a poor critter,
compared to Tavy. But couldn't you
reason with her little?"
"Bosh, Tink White! Did you ever
try to reason with balky mule?
have, and a balky man or woman is
about the same. Why, Tayy is put.
ting in full working hours right now,
thinking up arguments against the
time she's going to be reasoned with.
The best way for you to cure her tan
trums would be to stamp your foot
and roar that you are the boss, but
you'eF too GRUMPY for that, so you'd
better stay here a few days and let her
get good and lonesome, so she'd take
you back. The hired man needs help
on the north eighty. anyway, so thatll
make It all right with the neighbors."
Tink could sink no further in his
chair but he gave the impression of
one whose skeleton no longer upheld
his flesh.
"Tayy'n never do that" he groaned.
Well, I've advised lot Of folks"
she began, "but heard once that a
man and wife are like pair Of shears
cutting at each other all the time,
and hitting everything that comes be-
tween. believe 1t, and believe, too,
that the reason have so many friends
Is that have kept out Of married
folks rows. But I'll do this-if you
stay here coupel Of days. keeping
close to the hired mans shack, so no
one gets wind you're here, Tavy'll be
ready, say about Thursday evening.
for me to have little talk with her"
The mans flesh seemed, suddenly,
TO possess a skeleton. One Of the
many wells Of gloom which shrouded
his features was lifted.
Thank you, Aunt Marindy." His
voice was humbly grateful. Il haven't
much hope, but you can fetch her IL
any one can"
We'll, it's an exception to my rule,
andsI wouldn't make 1t except for you
me remembered how you helped me
when you were only boy, and was
astranGer here, with himself sick and
dying. Now you go out to the shack
and don't lie awake worrying. 'Twon't
be aweek till you are back home, rid.
ing Thad on your back and taking
Tayy,,s DOSING"
Twas early dusk on Thursday when
she stopped her blackboard at the cor.
ner Of the White farm nearest the
house and let Tink out.
You stroll across lots" she direct.
ed. It's getting so dark she won't see
you, and you wait till I'm inside. Get
whore you can hear, and when she
bursts out crying rush in and grab
her. I'm calculating, by the color Of
her, that you won't have to wait long"
limit Mari1du kfad hoy. karsa Ir,,nat.