Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1858-06-24
A SELECT STORY.
COTTAGE OUT OF TOWN.
BY G. p. SHILLABER.

NONNN' N'-'
town where they were located. They were
fine Yellowstone married and one SINGLE
They were much alike in size, and in taste re
garding dress one was the counterpart of the
other. They had been together long, too
that their manners are assimilated. Did Gus
toner come in and address Watkins as Wilkins,
or Wilkins as Watkins, the answer was ex-
act fac smie of what the one fer whom the
question was intended, would have given. And
SO things were when the scene to which our
story relates transpired.
1t was a chilly October afternoon that Will
kins & Watkins, having transacted good FORE
moons work, went their respective ways to their
respective dnners-Wilkns to his hotel, and
Watkins tc the bosom of his family. Watkins
was a hqppy man in this regard. lie had
pretty little wife, and everything around him as
snug as could be. He was as sure of warm
welcome as he of a warm dinner, which
he had ordered of the provision man he came
along. He knew as well as he wanted to, that
plr of white arms would be thrown round his
neck as he opened the front door, and perhaps
he thought Juia's-that was his wife's name
sister might be there TO take dinner with them,
or perhaps Julia's father aud mother had dropp-
ed in to take pot luck with them, in either case
great pleasure. So he went along humming
to himself the new air:
The dearest spot on earth TO me
Is home sweet home.
Mr. Wilkins was single man, and rather |
prded himself on being so. He went to his
hotel with swinging gait, bowling occasionally
as some familiar face met his view, and smiling
very sweetly upon such young ladies' of the
number as he Glanced to know. He was a very
gallant young man, and had the reputation of
being very great tavortc among the fair
young ladies Of the place, by whom he was re-
garded very eligible match. He INDUCED
in no dreams Of welcome beyond that which
landlord extends to his boarders, no comfort
beyond his atter-dinner cigar. But he thought
he was happy, and who else had right to say
anything about it
Watkins was not disappointed. On arriving
at the home he was singing about, he was met
at the door by the bright face that had met him
for the year that had traDspired since their
housekeeping days, and the warm enclosed
we'll, the warm lips had some pretty word of
welcome to give him that had peculiar smack
in the little dark entry-way where he hung his
top-coat
They were alone, and she told him all the
little domestic incidents that had transpred
during the day around home, of which there {
are always so many-about the maiden aunt
who had come into town to do some shopping,
aud what u grand laugh she had about her beat
ing down the shCpkeeper, and giving him twice
as much, after all, as the purchase was worth,
and how u blind beggar woman come 10 the
door with a little girl leading her, POOR and
cold, and how she couldn't help crying over the ;
little she had given her, and how the poor wo- I
man invoked blessing on her, which she really
believed had been answered in the happiness
she had received and about the Organ-grinder,
and the little pedlar girl with the buttons, and
the new servant at the parsonage who threw
the potato parngs into the well. What q story
there was to tell about everything; and how
pleasantly Watkins sat aud listened, all the
while the dinner was being eaten with the
'keenest relish. Watkins never had achieved
meal that was more cheerful, and after dinner,
as he kissed his rosy little wife for dessert, he
averred that he did not believe that a happier
dog than himself existed within a good many
davis Journey. He ventured to say that he
thought Wilkins was standing feartully in his
own light in not getting married, and limited
gravely that he must give him talking to.
"Jvlia," said he, Zone of my gloves has a
rent in it, which | wish you would repair; you
don't want your husband to look shabby, you
know. You will find it in the right pocket of
my coat"
She, like very dutifll beautiful, sweet lit
tie wife as she was, went to the coat as it hung
on its peg in the entry, and reaching down into
the pocket to find the glove, she touched some
thing of paper kind that to her decidedly re-
sembed a letter. She took it out with the
glove, and as her work-basket was upstairs
she thought she would mead the rent there,
while Watkins was enjoying his newspaper
Ii was curiosity passion which has chung
around poor humanity with a pertinacious
strength from the beginning-that prompted her
Is take the letter, but when alone by herself
she reflected before she opened it, and laid il
on the table. She proceeded to mend the glsye,
still thinking of the letter, asking herself should
she open it fearing it would be wrong to do
so. and at last determining that she would. II |
was a letter of which the envelope had been
destroyed, and glance at the FIRST page assured
her 1t was IN female hand. At that instant
her husbands foot was heard upon the stair. and
placing the letter under her basket, she gave
him his glove and he went away bidding her
goodbye.