River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-10-11
MY NIGHT IN A "BOX."

Sand you must really 60 away, and re-
main all night in that nasty old box of
yours, and leave your little Rosebud, as
you call her, all alone here, to imagine all
SORTS of horrid things happening to her
poor little boy Couldn't you stay at home
just for this one night ?" 1sr
: Couldn't possibly do it, my love-" said
|, struggling into my greatcoat, and pos
sessing myself at the same time Of my big
driving gloves, which my little wife was
absentiy trying to fit on her own little
hands.
"Not if l very much wished it, Willie :?
Do you know l felt so strange and lonely
last night, when you were away, that
could hardly make up my mind to go to bed
at all and tonight l can scarcely bear
the thought that you should be SO long
absent, You know what foolish little
thing / am" II 'ol
Her arm quietly stole around me, and
she looked up to my face, with wistful,
anxious look, while tear stood elistenIng
inthe corners of the sweet blue eyes.
s"Why, you wee goose" said l, kissing
away the bright token of her carnestness,
"what has put such absurd thoughts into
that wise noodle ofyours. Are you afraid
that the fairies will waylay me, and spirit
me away to their elfnland? If they do,
l shall tell them that have left fairy at
home, and not even the Establishments Of
the queen herself shall tempt me into their
uncaLny country. But seriously, Maggie,
there is nothing to be alarmed about.
shall be home by seven o'clock at the
latest; but since you are so lonely, I will
call at fathers AS pass, and send up nv
brother Bob to keep you company and stay
in the house all night. Will that content
you, little woman ?" Htt
t@No, don't do that it would look foolish.
and Bob would only laugh at me when
he came. He does not understand me.
think no one does understand me-except
you, dear Will"
Thank you Mag; think do under.
stand you. But here comes the gig SO
good by, and don't fret the short time
am away. shall be back long before you
are done dreaming" Sosaying, mounted
the gig, AID drove rapidly along the frozen
road. But my wife fingered by the porch,
following me with her eyes; and, so long
as the house was III sight / could, on look.
ing back, see her white dress shimmering
ghostlike in the light which streamed
through the open door.
At the time which write, I was tele.
graph superintendent on the Wilton and
Longbank line of railway. One Of the
clerks, who was on night duty, had been
taken suddenly ill. and being unable to
find q substitute, ] had taken bis work my.
self until such tine as he should recover. |
had only been married few months, and
was by no means reconciled to the
necessity ofleaving my wife and home to
pass the night in that !" nasty old box,n as
Mag called it--and she was perfectly
correct in her description. But | knew
that it was necessity, aud knew, likewise
that no grumbling Of mine could mend
the matter.
A drive of about eight miles brought
me to my post. There was nothing very
extraordinary in the duty TO which / had
been called away, nor was il any new ex.
perienue to me ; but on that night nv mind
was filled with undefnable fears. for which
tried in vain to account. The night was
clear and MINDLESS, and away in the north
western sky the aurora borealis was
Eittlng TO and rro In u thousand strange,