Part 57 (2/2)
At sight of Joe, senior, she screamed and flung them aside; then white and shaking she came weakly to her feet. The handy-man grinned genially.
He was not of demonstrative temperament.
”Joe!” cried Nellie, as she sprang toward him. ”Dear Joe!” and she threw her arms about him.
”Oh, h.e.l.l!” said the handy-man.
Nellie was hanging limply about his neck and he was aware that she had kissed him; he could not remember when before she had taken such a liberty. Mr. Montgomery believed in a reasonable display of affection, but kissing seemed to him a singularly frivolous practice.
”Oh, my man!” sobbed Nellie.
”Oh, cheese it, and let me loose--I don't like this to-do! Can't a married man come home without all this fuss?”
”Dear Joe, you've come back to me and your babies!” And the tears streamed down her cheeks.
”I don't need you to tell me that--I got plenty sense enough to know when I'm home!” said Montgomery, not without bitterness.
”I mourned you like you was pa.s.sed away, until your letter come!” said Nellie, and the memory of her sufferings set her sobbing afresh.
”Oh, great h.e.l.l!” exclaimed Joe dejectedly. ”Why can't you act cheerful? What's the good of takin' on, anyhow--I don't like tombstone talk.”
”It was just the shock of seein' you standin' there in the door like I seen you so often!” said Nellie weakly.
”If that ain't a woman for you, miserable because she's happy. Say, stop chokin' me; I won't stand for much more of this nonsense, you might know I don't like these to-dos!”
”You don't know what I've suffered, Joe!”
”That's a woman for you every time--always thinkin' of herself! To hear you talk any one would think I'd been to a church picnic; I look like I'd been to a picnic, don't I? Yes, I do--like h.e.l.l!”
”They said you would never come back to me,” moaned Nellie.
”Who said that?” asked Mr. Montgomery aggressively.
”Everybody--the neighbors--Shrimplin--they all said it!”
”Ain't I told you never to listen to gossip, and ain't I always done what's right?” interrogated the handy-man severely.
”Yes, always, Joe,” said Nellie.
”Then you might know'd I'd come back when I got plenty good and ready. I fooled 'em all, and I'm here to stay--that is if you keep your hands off me!”
”You mean it, Joe?” asked Nellie.
”What? About your keepin' your hands off me? Yes, you bet I do!”
And Montgomery by a not ungentle effort released himself from his wife's embrace. This act so restored his self-respect that he grinned pleasantly at her.
”I don't know when I been so happy, Joe--it's awful nice to have you back!” said Nellie, wiping her eyes on the corner of her ap.r.o.n.
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