Year: 1873

but there are some words that seem to me
to carry an especial grain of gunpowder in
them, and the above is one o. the sort.
To have a person, after you've been
through long explanation, put his fingers
to his mental ears and query you thus, or
worse still, "Haow ?" is too exasperating
for human nature to bear. But that Is
what John Stringer did to me, bending
his head little nearer, ar d speak 'ny in an
absent, aggravating manner that tanta.
lized me beyond words. ra


You see John Stringer and were en-
gagged; we'd been engaged for long
time, and perhaps had got to be little too
matter o. course to each other.


We were sitting there over the fire, at
ter the old folks had gone to bed, and !
fell to telling him about Sophie Mill's we'd
ding-her white silk dress, her bride-cake,
and her bridesmaids frosted over to match
it, and ended this way: ..4....


'But it don't make any difference, John,
to people that love each other; that's O.
no more account than last years snow
drift. They could be married In calico
and homespun with their feet on q rag car
pet like this, and love each other just as
we'll"


"How?" said John, absently. He was
watching the GOALS flicker up and die out
again, and picking up stray chip now
and then to fling on the embers-a fash
ion he had when he was thinking.


Now had had the headache all day.
and l guess was rather more tindery than
usual, though didn't think 50 then; but
when John bent his great broad shoulders
over, as If he hadn't heard word il said,
and in fact, had something better to oc-
cupy his mind, just fired up, first, and
then the blaze died down into sulks, and
when we parted that night John and had
our first and last quarrel.


My heart did not misgive me that when
saw Johns great tall figure going out
the door, it was the last time he'd lift the
latch for many year; but it was.


You see, held my head pretty high in
those days, and wouldn't show that
was bit cut up about it, so paired off
with Mrs. Plumbers Jesse. a likely,
spruce young fellow enough, but no more
shell is to a brigantine. 8a@


oh, well, mother sighed, and tried right
hard to bring US together again. but it
wasn't to be.


John was a powerful, muscular man,
and l used to see him 60 up the road many
a time when was out in the shed milk
ing, and, peeping out at him through the
chinks, l thought his broad shoulders
stopped more than ever, and his figure
was growing more stalky-like. Such an
awkward fellow as John was! / came
near rushing out on him once, with my
sun-bonnet, and with my sleeves. rolled
up, and flinging my arms around his neck.
but John liked to see folks tidy, and I
never did it.


Jesse Plumber was the beau o. the viii
lage-dapper. neat and dainty as you
please; and all the girls thought had
come to my senses when ousted 'em o.
Jess. And by-and-by it was Jess that
came sparkin' o nights, and sat o. winter
evenings over the embers, and he was SO
soft spoken and pleasant that even mother
forgot her vexation. (She always set
store by John, mother did, Well in the
spring we were married, and / had
string O pearls and real silk bridal dress
and felt kind O. lifted like when the girls
crowded round me and hoped I'd be hap
py. Ihoped so too; wasn't sure of it.


Remembering the days that came after.
l can't recall one hard word ever heard
from Jess. We weren't near enough to
each other to quarrel; we just laid apart
like two odd volumes; there wasn't any
fire 'twixt us, nor anything 'twixt us,
either love or laughing, whereas John
and had always been bubbling over one
way and another.


worked hard, for my silk dress and
necklace were all had of riches; and l
cut up my gown one day to make cloak
for the baby. You see, l couldn't give
up my pride, and was just as high spirited
as ever. But our farm didn't prosper,
and Jess didn't prosper; and Mrs. Plum
Der came to live with us, to look after
things. she said; and she got to plying
him every now and then for marrying =
poor wife, and oh, well. what's the use
o talking P-sometimes l couldn't help
wishing John Stringer's strong shoulders
were at the wheel, when was working
myself to death morning and night for
nothing. 3a


Then when the baby grew bigger took
to teaching an A B c class as used to
before l was married: but what little I
knew had run wild since then, and /
couldn't keep the boys straight somehow;
and the girls didn't care about samplers,
for the sewing machine had ridden right
over everything. Then Jesse fell i'll Of
the fever, and with all the fuming and
fretting and nursing of his mother, and
with all my watching day and night. some
how he slipped off between us. And l
found myself widow with the ill-fared,
wasted farm on my hands, and Mother
Plumber drizzlng and Numbering after
Jesse in way to break my heart.


But kcl my spirits up yet, and ad-
vertised half the place Tor sale at the court
house; for if could sell it we should skin
through somehow on an acre or two,
thought. ta E


Well, who do you suppose came over
one sunny afternoon as l was standing in
the kitchen? Who, to be sure, but John
Stringer, large as life-a little gray, may
hap, and little more angular, but keen
and strong as ever. He'd use for that
bit O. land, it seemed, and had his eve on
it along back. always was wanting
what wasn't his" Mother Plumber said.
She owed him grudge for being more
forehanded than Jess. It took deal Of
looking after. and lawyering, and survey.
ing. and the Lord knows what to settle il ;
and l used to see John S,ringer's STOPPING
shoulders and broad felt hat down lust be-
yOnl the rise of tho mao do,v t;,,~a scud