MRS. DIBBLE.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 754, 17 April 1877, Page 2

MRS. DIBBLE.

A DoyEs^fc ;: &bi#M. (From • the ' *• Danbu«y? Hewsr ) .«■-;• (pQnbiudek ffonvduP last?) > il<J — ' ■• i< <■■' ■■-■••■•*! « ,!it,,f.Vr--*! He found Julia Alnliva'sdarkerieft' parlor 6^od'drolts. with ' fcatrtphor aftd"' aromatic' vinegar ; her loniige, pper, shawl ancl. pillows aLpperta^ping to a .phase^of ill-health tjijjijb. oarect;np't for appearance.. Dibble sat down upon the edge of . a >qhaic .f neai v the door. Julia A-lmira opened *liereyes, then cjosed'thißni reprdaoiifully '-—that kind of reproa6h implying that the shiner must already be coii^ victed but of the : depthi of ' his'k)^; conscience., .^ „ 7 . *-- "How^do you 'doT'. 'faithfully asked Dibble. - : ' :: '•--' s " I am 'Btift alive]" faifftly * from" out the * pillow' and uunderr r the shawl, •" •' ■ ■.. '*■ •:■"•■ r ■> ■?■■ •? '■„ -r "ISTo bdtteff f;' * /T-i.:ir.. .; ;. "I never shall -be any -better m this world, Mr Dibble. , l've-had'a, return of that -dreadful neuralgia,! and the most ■frightfal-^palpitations, and — — •" Here followed a * most

minute account' of * ifxilik Almi*a's physical condition for the last fort-' night, apcompafiiecVwith analyses of her mental ..states. ahd : eirio'tio'hs, and repprts.oi' her experiments with anodyne, tonics, alteratives, • antif spasmodjcs, ,ar\d applications, the particular" effect' of Wch/' and 'thS| general failure of all ito 'afford relief. .... „ *

Dibble sat it. . out " heroically. " Anything I can do; for you ?" . r " I know of nothing-,": closing* her eyes weakly.;:"! thtnk if "I went out mbreancl had more ;to occupy ray mind it would be better for me." . , . • . :

' ' I. think so* to," promptly and unsuspiciously responded Dibble.

"But I liayerit a dresa tit to wear. If you'll leave me, say se^eiity-five dollars, I'll try .and ; get something made up." .. ...... "My dear Julia," began Dibble, with a ghastly smile, üb'tisinessu b'tisiness complications -are.-jiist. now .(^embarrassing-— — "■-.,.. „;:; r .'/, : •" Julia- made an im^ati&nt ' gesture. ; " Here I've /lain J #ts\ after :; day-' suffering as I .htiyej ,and yoUi.nev'er coming near me, and yvheia'you do come .and.;l. ask. for afjittle money^ you begin; about ♦business,' as: \% (t business" was of more consequence^ than a'pooiy sick, suffeiMn'g/^eble^ wife, and I know you think it is. I: knQ : w_ youthink nothing .ails me^ ,;! ne^er- complain, and never intend tty< but I sliduld think : yoii might show a little more feeling, for me ; Mr Dibble." .. , ' . ..;. .

"This isn't just,' Julia."-, "I'm unjust then, am' l? Affcefall ; "I've suffered you come hej.'e and tell me to my face that |' m unjust: Perhaps you think I'm extravagant, too, and unloving, and unfaithful, and everything else that's,; bad ; .but I can bear it,- I have not else' to bear, no pain, no suffering, not' any-.; thing! Oh, Mr Dibble, how cun^yoir talk so!" Here Julia burst into a flood of tsars. " When you know how weak I am, how can- you come' here and get up snch a scene 1/ How can you ! 'Tis too cruel, too cruel. 0, Mr Dibble. Oh-0,0 !" "But, Julia " . "You needn't 'Julia' me. You wish I was dead, I know you do', and just because I asked you for one poor, simple, little dress, -How can you feel so towards me — to wish me dead? VVhab have I done ? oh, what have done? oh-rO^o How can you, I shall die, I shall die.] Oh, lam dying! Oh-o-oi" — ; ■ .. " Heavens !" ejaculated Dibble, Julia forthwith went into that series of emptionaLgy.mnasfcjujs sometimes called hysterics.. Dibble threw an uncounted roll -of bank-notes- on the carpet and fled. i( Mrs Nibble, senior, the wife of his youth, still remained. ,■ The park ncr of his early joys, and sorrows* she would still sympathise with him, He experienced a.. trifling self-re-proach that he had not always shown the highest consideration. ...for her feoliugs, but he now iiitended to ask forgi veness .and pledge himself anew and he anticipated a.tpuching little "'domestic scene. Mrs Dibble, senior, was not beautiful, but she was good; ' Stie was-a stout lady and occupied most of her time m -sitting still. "0, is that you Dibble f'.quothshe, from' but of the depths of a slumberous easy chair,' The tone was .not ecstatic. • "I have come to you with peculiar emotions, Patience .Ann,," began Dibble. "You and I together m. early _ltfb.-— /'.*T ■

*•-"*.*.■• Yes, "" {interrupted Patience Ann; What was it we wero the •other 'day saying we must; get your pa<to !l tW^f'tc^yMSg^ie came arond "4kjjßp^ sfcra( f^%; with cares," Hr/^wl it ; bulppie mortar is rmL S Br tlle e i as l>t all and must • e W?nJJajb bnce, : and IVe spokea -to f^ a^lf-do^n^times about that leak aa-buud the chimney. 1 am neavijg^tout] of groceries, and if you jlon^border a better quality of tea '^B&f*MßGrTirVfcow it into the .gutter,. I don't know what you thinfc--I drink tea for.. I've been ill asthma the \yorst way. T don't suppose you'd cpmeaTOund^if ! I f d'Bied ; bat you've g° fc Mn&hjJi isritin^ with me next fweek. X**&¥fi&t' my brother since iheV •bee'h 1 married the last three timds; !t ah'a M ili J s;'a shame, and— Oh !• '{nftPlffiojps- on my vinegar keg •areToose, and tHat last tub of butter .is,jfiofc"!U' tft fiise," ! I want you to take it back'Ufd " f Dibble graaed.v : . \ "And change it. I'm not going to do my work alone much longer be obtained m the city I want yoa- ' tb^ IfeCOHett *Affdy there's «B»tiie^ thingj Mr Dibble, Tm going to have WetteY jclothes €han T have had. I've dressed 'li-^e *a ; -fvighi. You may »leave me moriey enough to-day to buy a new f. silk dress, and next

ThVworm will turn. " I wonder if you women think I'm made of moSefP 1 criM^Dibble. " Ain't I doing all that mortal nian could do for" .ytfutf comfort and well-being, and •xyh&fc 'appreciation do any one of you show? You "just spend your time quarrelling ? a!iH fretting;, and thinking upon some new.thing you want, anji-i'tti h,ai'a^sed, t aud worried, and tot rn.en.tqd ftom weed's end to week's >end -your-— your infernal notions."* It's no r small matter to provide for five women and thirtysix scjSall children, let me tell you drtd :> aft2r alf' my struggles what peace or cotnforVor rest do I get with any •'one of you ? You want this and you .want that, and the 'other,? an^'-yqu ( ain-t satisfied with anything. 1--—"' 1 •' "Sir, wha't'meaneth tins language to my honored mother?" said Frank Walworth Dibble, with fiery eyes, springing up from the lounge, where He r hajl, been persuing a Gentile novel," and presented a pistol at his '-fathers temples; "Do you call herb'asS/'udgrabefur, discontented ?. Dq joif.r&fii^' to provide her maintenance, ian^ caat heY off m her old .age and'weakness ?" ; "No, no ) I don't Frank ; I don't. Don'jt be rash, Frank. Give mo Hime, FranK; give me time !" t< Very well, * sir \ pass out the tin,'? • ••-'••.■ "I havenfc't>a : ceilt, Fank — not a cent; the women have drained me." VrJMI ;fill out a check, sir, and you may sign it." Dibble owned a "stable where he kepVthree ; or'fofii* mule 3. Having signed lha£ check he' went out and sat down among those mules, and -looked lip through the skylight to the bllie heavens, far,- far beyond. i • The next S'abHjath"" morning the •five J^rs Dibble m new silk suits,, accompanied ijibbl^ Up |o the taber* nacl^.; -It njigUt''nQt;_b'/;iu accpr- ; Ui"e v cil.s<j(Sms : of the place, but these ladies always would walk with fchek'matu~al"hasba!id. D. had one Mrs D^. on 'eacK : v af ! m, two m fi'orifi? 'and* One' 'fit the rear. ThQ jiiew dresse^ moved with that sub:dued sci'eak, aiid that air of aggress^ iive srespeprability" peculiar to new silk. . The Ja'dies were m a frame of great religious tranquil ity. ' Dibble, m linen, paused^ to wipe the perspiration from 'his troubled brow ; the- ladies serenely remarked^ ; to each otjier that'^Vwcwf tliiusuaUy coo| thi^ : nidrning. Dibb|e ? -.npjiwithstandino' the poii; sciousnes^:qf^busjiiie^3»safifeir's sin a pre.cario.a.Sj : co4idittoiV. dismissed anxiety, and- ■enjoy e'd'i'thfe -sj&rvi'ce as a man. only. nw whtf-* belie vsss' I !'' himself .abQye jepvoabh litpf , : th'e?'Msoinestip, arena. ...-But .orr.; th&; >Vay .'iiome b,e felt that a diflferenrt atmosphere fron; that m which they had 1 gone up tq the tabernacle surrounded the little, group., - ■

Agusta broke the silence with ? - " Did you observe Elder'Johnson'a wives new bonnets ? My bonnet ja dreacjfally old-fashioned. I muat have a new.one, Mr Dibble "

; "A new bonnet — .bonnet— bonnet/j choruyed - the remaining Mrs Dibbla

Dibble saved hi 3 uafce ; from pi'Qtest that week only by accepting obligiitions-that were gall and bitterness to his soul, ondJikely m the end to prove sulphuric ackl to his pocket but ; the. following sabbath he weufc Up to the tajfefnacle with flve nevp bonnets, lavishly adorned with rqs,e3. and -poppies. "I must have a san umbrella, new gloves and boots to go with my new dress/'-- presently amibu.nqed. Agust-a.- ■ ■ . ■

"Sun umbrella; gloves— gloves, umbrella sun — umbrella, sun 'gloves!" arose on the air from the remaining Mrs Dibble.

•'Have you no' mercy, ladies! Look at me— lo;>k at my furrowed cheek,, my sunken eyes, my care worn brow ! 'Can you" persist in— »" "Don't be rhetorical, Dibble. nothing makes a man appear more ridiculous/ responded Augusta, . And the next feast day the head of the falniily might be descried on the way "lip to the sanctuary, now bobbing np from the centre of the encircling umbrellas, now lost be-neath—-the:?!wflalebone| tips gfrom

tSfewr" direotidni persiStetoWi p«nehUig into his hat >©nee they knocked it into the gutter. —; -Pick it^pM^^ld^AiWM mistress of his heart's , inner pitadeT Dibble, that day looked round: pa, the audienoe and comparing his wives* equipments^ was reliew to find the latter complete and

superior. . "The worst' of it must now be) over," thought the, deluded JVfflfri: with a sickly smile. Early the following moraingAthe Prophet sent fer Dibble. , "This extr»Tafr*noe won't do Dibble," said the voice of Authority. "It makes our women- eßiddnsmad aiaeontented. The .safety^ » 4Mw. instittaion is imperilled r , ....;, ,TT/)a musn't allow it" Dibble went out? from .» 'tfcf Prophet's presenos,' hii^^ttgerfr ©latched m his haif. , J«st ftutaide the gate, the eldest of fctic'Mi^e^ Dibbles met him. „„ ; « Papa," said she, jttt&ty amd Hafctie, Nellie and Nettie, Roaie and; Lily, and I, want our new suits now/ The re«b of the girl* can wait 1 awhile. 11 ' ■■-■■■■'■ i; '^:;;;:^r Dihble tore himself away from "his artless eldest, left her with the tears standing m her street blue eyes, and roahinj away, destgnjngilo throw himself at Angusta's foet ai\d| plead for mercy and interce^i won. ■. ...... ■■'■.. -„.-: k -, / .;.i fll H The lady eat as If watting for some one, her fingers between the leaves of the last Cosmopolitan. . iai "There's no use m trying tpdisr guise it, Mr Dibble ; that silk- js top heavy for this weather. I must have a new grenadine and— W " #„' The nnhappy man fl^d frpm f h,lr r presence. Scarcely observing whether his footsteps ■ tended/ Ahe stood within the precincts of the citK cemetery. Sitting down amotig'thej tombs, he reflected upon the utter loneliness and desolation of his life, and the futility of any hopes of peace and enjoyment for hift declining years. A funetal' ' j>ro>jeß«ionf entered the yard,— the f ttneral, thjjt, of Mrs Elder Johnson, the chief mourners the Elder with one Mrs^" Johnson on each arm, six other Mrs Johnsons following twa by twdi ?7 lt ■ Vas a touching spectacle, beautiful m simplicity. The; Elder ; appeared resigned. . Dibble wa^snot so wicked.. as to envy Thonson.- He for an io> stant wished it was himself wHoWks being laid down. Then all "at ,onjoe his face |bec*ihe J , irradiated 'mvk<A;, happy thought. '; „.. -sui lie arose quickly, and- sileotlystole away to his stably fleetest-footed mule' arid just as, t tl^e last rays of the getting sun .gilded the roof of the tabernacle, Solomon Dibble passed for ever out of the western entrance of the Hymenial city, He travelled all night arid be travelled all next day. The secondnight he camped' on the iSreat Desert with a bearded, unwashed stranger who had arisen from out the desert horizon.

Beneath the starlight and ,the sweet silence when human souls unfold their confidence as flowers . their petals, Dibble drew up cloßer to the stranger.- .... -•• ;v'- ■■ '■' ;i: ''' h "Are you a marrie4 man stran-

<• l^ot much i J.W& heea where vli haven't seen a white woman's face for three years/; m'q <^ T l

Then Dibble, his voioe low and tremulous with emotion : '* Whore might that country be, stranger}' , "tn the South-west." , : ; i( , sos o While yet the morning stars hung, , unpaled above a sleeping world, andi the morning dew lay gray ovet : the 1 sage bushes Dibble's mule with|he ( r\ rider ambled off over the desert, and that mules nose pointed directly ,due south-west. . /,i ! i