The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1868-07-25
n RIFT IN THE CLOUDS.
II Story for Married Folks,

Andrew Lee came home from his shop where
he had worked all day, tired and out of spirits ::
came home to his wife, who was also tired and
out of spirits.
ga smiling wife and a cheerful home-what
paradise it would be-" said Andrew to him
self, as he turned his eyes from the clouded face
of Mrs. Lee, and sat down with knitting brows
and moody aspect.
Not word was spoken by either Mrs. Lee
was getting supper, and she moved about with
weary step.
"Come," she said at last, with side glance
at her husband.
Andrew rose and went to the table. He was
tempted to speak an angry word, but controlled
himself. and kept silent. He could find no
fault with the chop nor the homemade bread;
nor the fragrant tea. They would have cheered
his inner man, if there had been a CLEAN of
sunshine on the face of his wife. He noticed
she did not eat.
care you not well, Mary 2" The words
were on his lips, but he did not utter them, for
the face of his wife looked so repelant that he
feared an irritating reply.
AND so. IN moody silence the twain sat
together unlli Andrew had finished his supper
As he pushed his chair back, his wife arose
and commenced clearing off the table,
This is purgatory," said Lee, to himself,
ne commenced walking the floor of his little
ssst-room, with his hands thrust down in
to his trowsers pockets, and his chin almost
touching his breast
After removing all the dishes and taking
them into the kitchen, Mrs. Lee spread a green
cover on the table, and fresh trimmed lamp
thereon, went out and shut the door after her,
leaving her husband alone in his unpleasant feel
ing. He took long, deep breath as she did so,
pauslng In his walk, stood still for some mo
ments, and then drawing paper from his pock-
ct, sat down by the table. opened the sheet, and
commenced reading. Singularly enough, the
words upon which his eyes rested were 'sPraise
your wife" They rather tended to increase
the disturbance OF mind from which he was suf-
ferng
81 should like to find some occasion for prais
ing NINE" How quickly his thoughts express
ed That lll-natured sentiment. But his ewes
were on the page before him, and he read on.
Iialse your wife, man for PHYS sake,
give hera little encouragement
andrew Lee raised his eyes from the paper
anu hu''ered, "Oh. yes that's all very WELL
R,a'sF Is cheap enough. But praise her for what?
ror being sulen. and making her home the
most dlsagreeable place in the world 90 His
eyes leu again on the paper,
ohe has made your home comfortable. vour
etdfln orlghi and shining. yonr food agreeable:
tor PHYS sake tell her You thank her. if moth
iog more. She don't expect it: it will make
oa eyes open Wider than they have for twenty
you too" s'' 'Oi al '''"'' anu
IL seemed to Andrew as if this sentence was
written just for him and just for the occasion It
was complete answer to his onestion .sPr,;ee
ner Tor what ?' And he felt it also as . rphnl,e
he read no further, for thought came too bnsv
ano In new direction. Memory was CONVINCING
MN of injustice to his wife. She had ALWAYS
MADE his house as comfortable for him as her
nands could make it, and had he offered the
iiight return of praise or commendati,n? Had
ne ever told her of satisfaction he had known,
OF 'he comfort he had experienced ? He was
moi able to recall the time or occasion. As he
thought thus Mrs Lee came in from the kitchen
and, taking her work basket from the closet,
paced 1t on the table, and sitting down without
speaking, began to sew. Mr.. Lee glanced al
most sstealthily at the work in her hands, and
:" Inc bosom of shirt, which she was stitch
nng neatly. He knew that it was for him that
Tho words were be