| Show sir sla ivac A ALMOST L at DIVORCED vo 0 being ej D then socially impelled by quite the usual warmth of affectionate feeling toward her husband and conscious 0 also that she had already said too much mistress iii Ali stress puffer entered here upon a ion lon long iong projected and often attempted reform she did not talk much for two days and the partner of her ber sorrows inferring that she was halkiu sulking upon one of the rare occasions when he waxed confidential told her so this misconception did not tend to a healthy healing 0 of or the wound and long iong 0 after it was apparently closed and fo forgotten r 11 0 aten there remained a pain and sensitiveness siti fitl reness veness where it had been eavin havin having 0 shown you whence the cloud arose arm and in what manner the first rain fell you can imagine how the first rain pattered down drop by drop into the pelting comfortless shower ive been thinking perhaps you would b fuli full as happy by yourself you with jour your r things ainas and I 1 with mine I 1 cant seem to please yon said mr fer at last in a passionless tone justas jus as if he had ever tried to please herl as though 0 he had bad ever had any tiou thou thought 0 bt excepting 0 to mould her herl and everybody else with whom he came it in con coli tact into a fac simile of him nim himself self seif angle anglo for angle n hump for hamp and wrinkle for wrinkle though as for that this is only what that we are arc all continually trying to do more or less to our fellows and joy to us that we do not spoil the tho world by succeeding inal 1 0 these cold blooded words from which aery every drop of manifest feeling had been carefully wrung D before leaving the heart fell with a sickening paralyzing re welo weight upon mistress puffers brain but in the midst of dumb despair and self reproach fui ful misgiving she was almost frightened to feel a A certain relief now they were likely to be loosened she perceived how heavy and galling they had been those chains which are of roses and lillies while they are welcome and of unwrought 9 iron as soon as we are arc weary of them 1 I think you yu are right I 1 think we shall be happier apart replied mrs puffer after ten minutes silence this was the first time in a year the husband and wife had bad been fully a agreed a reed and it was the beginning a of better days Cou courage ramel 0 1 the sunshine is is comin coming 0 f but before we see the bow of promise there nast mast be to bring out its vivid brightness a cloud of exceeding blackness the day wore on he husked corn and the wife darned his stockings s and put dew new sleeves into his old shirts because poor mani there would be no one to do these things thinas b for him by and bye byc at evening in when the fire was crackling up the broad black chimney and a blazing pine knot was hooding the low wainscoted kitchen hith with hog hom homely ely cheerfulness throwing off sparkles of light from piled up pans upon the dresser shelves and making the dustpan hanging 0 0 on its nail behind the pantry door shine like first class koh kohl i noor when the dog lay curled upon the hearth a brindled brind iea leA mass of embodied comfort mr puffer sat mending a harness at one side of the pine knot and dog and mrs puffer sat at the other knitting a new heel beel upon a defee defective detective ulve five sock there was an appropriateness in the accident of sitt litt sitting g separated by tle te brindle bose for the dog family had been indeed one of 0 the chief promoters of domestic schism mistress puffer as it happened doted on cats add aad detested dogs dop a while master app approved royed of dogs dop and despised cate cafe so is always fell out tha the playful purring kittens which mistress possessed herself of and loved with all her heart invariably disappeared suddenly and untimely timely like bluebeards Blue beards wives while a great lazy blut glutton of a do dog perpetually fattened and grown insolent and without let or hindrance being always eating always underfoot and always barkin barking 3 distracted distractedly y at passing C travelers the group sat thus upon the evening 0 of that fateful day making a pleasant picture of domestic happiness but one alas aias which was not founded upon fact ive been chinkin thinking whether aether or no lawyer sabin t be as good a hand liand as we can get to lo help dividing up the stuff said sald saidA mr fr puffer trying bryin 1 to put hixt a waxed end through an awl ho hole 1 e yes I 1 Y should call him as good 9 a choice as any ile he is a man of excellent judgment and prudence and he be of the telling 0 kind who would be likely to t 0 blab all the particulars to everybody replied mistress puffer continued on page pago 63 B j r continued from pago page 61 gi this tei was the second point of agree lip lit nent ment e n 1 T then h e n followed a long iong on C silence filled only by the tie crac crackling klinc of the fire the heavy ticking of f the gaunt gannt eight day clock and the snowing of bose it was not until the dock elock had bad ticked half all an hour from time into efer eternity pity that the goodman good man spoke again ie 0 iri III 1 I calculate it will be your best way to take your part and go up to your brothers william will bo be glad enough of you for a housekeeper for he has had to get along most ady any way since his wife died ses yes I 1 expect I 1 can be a help to wil mrs P for the third time harmonizing g but what do you lay out to do for a housekeeper fe fell well weil I 1 am coun counting on mahln mahin mak mah making in a drift somehow with ma mothers help returned mr P drawing a up his waxed thread yo nto 7 iv the the mother was an infirm old odan oman not ove rne or ener energetic at th the e oest and mrs P s heart began to swell nth lith pity but of course it was not for her to 10 objector object or dictate so she only knit the uter aster knowing well there would be sore leed deed 1 I want to finish out my corn tomorrow to morrow supposing 0 we ride u up p to sabins lie jie day after and settle up the matter q rested ested mr puffer when the clock nook rock nine nide two four six eight ten ten teu responded ae dame counting her stitches I 1 dont low lot now but that time will suit me as swe well weli sany cany I 1 have been laying D out to na make itle itie quinces tomorrow to morrow and then you eed teeda leeda new frock you know but I 1 guess ican scan fetch them both tomorrow to morrow there was a shade of sadness in her one for she was morally sure that lotier mother puffer would let the preserves mad nad or ferment or come to ruin rain ruin rain in in ome way and she was khung linking too of the rags to be in the blue roolen frock but then it was not worth llie ilie hile to show w any such feeling 0 so just to tiby her lighthearted light ilat 0 hearted indifference she icban to sing softly to herself while she up the heel meanwhile the hus bus us mid wil alfrom from his side of the dog do 0 could but onless onless the sound of her voice voice was much dore acre riu pau musical than thab his mothers th the e next morning 0 mr and mrs puffer ere tre lere tere astir long bafo before re light for they had day before them mr puffer husa husk husk dout his corn and ate his meals which appended lapp ened eded to ta be of his bis favorite kinds of ill in his usual heavy silence and mrs P well I 1 ani am afraid mrs P though she tattled about with a n great show of cheer al activity mingled a few pitying tears iti ith with the beef brine she was scalding and ten nen went s so far is to pat bose once or twice and aud feela feel i thrill cirill of affection for him in her capacious heart when he looked up hith with ith a wag of delight dat bat the busy hours of the october day hastened to spend themselves and quite 00 oo soon the old sk eliton clock pounded lide nde lne of the evening again ag a in do you lay out to be ready for to go 0 o the squires tomorrow to morrow asked mr fuffer puffer at last finding mrs puffer would aoi lot speak according to her wont and save him the trouble of opening his mouth ye es I 1 suppose so returned that lady reluctantly 1 I rather thought whether or orno no I 1 manage 0 to spin up op that little handful of rolls into stocking ing a yarn then the pickle vinegar needs scalding over and an d I 1 do suppose your winter flannels ou ought lit ait by good rights to have an overhauling 0 but somehow the time has slipped away and I 1 seemed to accomplish half I 1 meant to the fact is there is always something to be done in a house and I 1 dont k know ow but wit I 1 am as ready as I 1 shall shail be your mother will keep up things as best sue ae can ive no doubt but the poor old woman is rather wheezy and shakey and she cant ca nt do as she could abbee once As ts a reply was not strictly necessary of course mr AL ir puffer made none but there was an answering amen deep down in his heart which was the fourth time they two had made a point of oragree agreement TO BE br astin cS Tin ED |
