The Abandoned Farmer

hat had previously fallen to my lot, but he lightened Marion's household labors by his readiness to churn, was

uantity of the dessert were not to his liking his movements became languid and his cheerfulness fled. His own theory, he told me in confidence, was that the dessert compartment of his stomach was so arranged

steal out with the axe at night after Paul was asleep and rouse a horrid clamor among the innocent victims that I tremblingly clutched by the legs. How William did it we never inquired. Indeed, we preferred to think that he didn't, but

shown myself to be a masterful man by insisting upon the purchase of a plough to add to our three primitive implements, and when I contended that a plough would have been useless without a horse, she declared that a horse would have been provided if we had needed one, and if we made up our minds to buy the place we would find a means of raising the money. But in this case I was not as sanguine as Marion, for I knew that Peter would hold out for a price far in excess of the value of the property if he knew we thought of buying, and that my present income would only allow us to put away a small sum each year toward the purchase. However, the idea

e that had I resembled her late husband in temperament she would have advised Marion differently, but considering the wonderful talent I had shown

g

it meant the end of dear Aunt Sophy. But in addition to the sorrow that welled up in me, the appalling thought seized me that it was now too late to atone for having allowed her to cherish the innocent belief that the fowls she had helped us to eat were of our own raising. I could no longer hope that the memory of the vicarious chick

g

," I gasped penitently.

t dreadful word? Of course, it was your fault,—but will that k

ght at least have said that it wasn't my fault. Some people can perform a kindly act, and then pass on the

d expense, I had procured plumper and juicier ones than the best of Paul's; that any [Pg 152]person who would think of disturbing, at such a time, the settled convictions of a dying aunt, was heartless and cruel; that I did not purpose standing quietly by to have my reputation blasted, when I merely needed to tap my head and whisper to Aunt Sophy that my wife'

my senses. Marion had fled from th

to understand how I could have behaved in such a base and brutal manner; but only once in years am I obliged to collapse dejectedly, my face [Pg 153]expressing horror and revu

s ready to start for the train before I had made my case really convincing. She relented sufficiently, however, on the score of parting, to forgive me provisionally, but she hinted that she was taking Paul with her so that if I had another seizure I might enjoy it alon

n lately dispossessed, and my demeanor had such an effect upon Marion that she bade me good-by with t

—although I could think of no other reason for her sudden change of plans and her summons to Marion, but I was not left long in doubt

nd impatience, and I was mystified to see he

no further information could I extract until we reached the house and Paul went off to loo

esitancy, "I—I didn't. Auntie's mind

e listened to my shortcomings was intolerable. Besides, in weakening on her determination to confess, Marion had departed from the line of strict moral rectitude that she was continually tracin

, "what's up—what d

spread over her face. For a moment I imagined, if such a thin

g

dvice," she replied, wi

f laughter. "Christopher Colum—Oh!—I—I b

to give advice, when, as a matter of fact, I considered her an adept in that accomplishment. I had the painful task of explaining in deta

ecurring indignation, "she isn't r

th excessive surprise. "Why,

n, with approving enthusiasm. "I said s

g

agreed. "And what did sh

its like before, but somehow I recognized a spiritual inner consciousness made visible; an intangible somethin

her gaze directed through and far beyond me, in a way that ma

mbered, years before, in a lecture on mental phenomena, hearing the difference between perception and apperception explained so minutely that my brain swiftly convoluted whenever I tried to[Pg 158] recall the distinction; now it

I suggested, in

she repli

rusive suggestion of coffee, plainly absurd, y

ling to—to—?

though she didn't know it. I could see that although she thought she wanted my advice she would have been h

r," I cried, with

g

just threw her arms about me and—" Marion choked wit

d on the main point, setting aside as unimportant a doubt as to

mind before you se

—that people might thi

believe that she w

o live so that—that they would enjoy the companionship of suitable companions when—they g

se Marion, as it usually did, to worry a weak argument to tatters; an operation which I enjoyed for the sake of seeing her eyes flash and the becoming color that mounted to her cheeks. But when, amid a torrent of tears, she accused me of being just like other men, and of planning to marry another wife, I was struck dumb with horror. It was painful enough to be brought face to face with the thought of her dying first, but to be branded as a probably faithless wretch was agony. I can try to justify myself for wrong-doing; I

well. My wife had apparently told her aunt of my supposititious inclinations; they had wept

ipping her arm, yet careful to press only hard enough for a grip—she was such a tender little thing, though so cruel. I had intended to say more, but the one word seemed so full of meaning that I stopped to let

"Good gracious, Henry!" she cried,

y teeth gleam back at me wolfishly from the wall-cabinet. "Matter enough! Y

tly. "Do you think I could bear t

reasoning. "Do you mean," I asked cautiously, "that you could

d, with a peal of laughter, covering h

why," I asked helplessly,[Pg 163] mopping my brow,

to fix your mind on this. I explained to you that your opinion was the greatest co

t way because she was old and foolish." I nodd

cause she was old and foolish, for she wasn't," she said helple

long and straightened things out. Now," I added,

ackwards. When I opened them again she[Pg 164] was standing behind my chair shaking me with all her might. A fog seeme

ry—Mr.

, leaping to my fe

tie left all the arrangements to me, and she was delighted at the idea of being marr

ome in?" I asked,

you to give her away if we decide to have anyone do

e when the fit seizes me. I care not[Pg 165] for reason, threats or chastisement; hope, fear, love and all else are encased in the one instinct to stand rigid, with my ears

ind," I said, with a quic

," she said, sweetly, "I know you must have a good re

got to take notice, or feel like a boor. "It would

a and tell me all about it. It's awfully good

ofa, and stared into futurity; Marion t

g

ember him only as a well-dressed, respectable-looking old codger, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, a stubby grey beard a

er, though, she knew I would be relieved to hear, I was under no responsibility in the matter. Anyway, it was only a form, and

he first Mrs. Fairman. After that, there was one

sider whether he'd give his [Pg 167]consent, if he had a chance." Marion stared at me stup

ested it. Nor could I see that I should withdraw my objection because, as Marion averred, Uncle Philip would have remarried in a yea

s, in the abstract,

ges are, occasion

NCONCEIVABLE.<