Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-06-11
RLESSEDNESS.
single, Double and Triple.

! single, Double and Triple.
| II Will never marry, never" said
William Blake to his father, patient
weary-looking old man, with thin gray
hair streaking across his bowed head
He answered, refectively-"Well, !
think you're right; there are men that
can manage women. but your mother
| has been too much for me-
cit seems half selfish in me to go of
and leave you alone with her; but
what can [ do, with work that wants
| planning, and that continued scoldine
| in ones ears 90
''It's the crying fits that master me,
though" said Mr.. Blake, "when she
| sits snif-sniffing into her apron; look
ing at me that reproachful, till I'm
half brought to believe that / have
committed murder, or something in
my sleep"
81 sometimes think, do you know,
father, that in those times it is that
she is sorry for her temper; is, in fact,
repenting."
"It's an awfully unpleasant, unfair
kind of penitence, then; but [ don t
know; she's been buzzing in my ears
SO long, that I get fairly bothered
sometimes, and don't feel clear about
anything"
'I'l tell you what youmust do when
she gets past bearing; just come off to
me; it won't be far, you know"
$50 will, MY boy; so [ will. D."
Accordingly, the next morning,
when Mrs. Blake began the day with
prophetic indications of being what
she called upset." her husband pre-
pared to escape, greatly to her dis
pleasure. She had resented Wills re-
moval and "setting up for himself; !"
but then, as Mr.. Blake remarked, ''she
couldn't be any crosser than she was
before" so he departed in comparative
comfort.
Willis room was poor little place.
He was not earning much as yet, and
he said, ''anything does for oneself, :"
with desolate air that somewhat con-
tradicted his philosophy of loneliness;
still, his work improved wonderfully,
and in that way he was always happy.
Will was designer of holdings.
Mr.. Blake found him busily stitch
ing on an old coat.
''Turned tailor, WHIP he asked.
'Tisn't work enough for a tailor,
and I am fraid my bungling would not
pass for one, either. I tried glue, but
somehow it wouldn't answer, and one
must keep ones self decent looking. 1
am going after orders by and by"
"Women is of some use, a'rter al, ,
If they wasn't such unreasonable crea-
tures," said the father, with an invol-
untary glance at the table, which look
ed rather like the wreck of a kitchen,
heaped up, as it was. with little of
everything.
Will was accustomed to have all his
tools around him in his work, and SO
he gradually gathered the household
impliments to gather in the same
fashion.
"We will have breakfast presently, y
he said, "lt would have been ready be-
fore, only while wsu gone for loaf
the kettle boiled over"
cit won't do that this time,' said
Mr.. Blake, lifting the titled vessel
from the fire.
"Why?"
',See!"
Then they both laughed; Will had
forgotten to put in the water.
But the blunders were soon rene
died; there was no one to scold over
them.
Father and son were chatting pleas
| antly over the end of their meal, when
bright voice was heard on the land
ing outside, calling, "Willie, Willie. "
"Made friends, aiready?" asked Mr..
Blake, looking up surprised.
s'No, it is somebody who lodges
overhead; her little brother has run
off down stairs. He seems to give her
deal of trouble, but she never speaks
| any sharper than that"
doesn't she, now? It is a wonder
fully pleasant sounding voice"
By and by it seemed that the cul-
prit was hunted up the stairs home
again; a merry hunt, with much laugh
ing on both sides, and, as they passed
Wills door, a quieter "Willie, Willie!
Mr.. Blake looked strangely reflect
i've. "I haven't heard anybody say
Willie in just that cooling, careful
way, not since my sister that died;
she was just like mother to me; its a
terrible long while ago"
"These two are much the same
| They live alone; she minds him and
| keeps him, and sends him to school"
"You seem to know all about her,
Will"
''All I am likely to know. / have
not seen her. There are no strangers
like fellow dodgers, and she is not the
kind of a girl''to meet one on the stairs,
accidentally, for the purpose.
''That was how your mother and ]
| got acquainted.
| ST did not know that, father"
Will spoke with an air of regretful
apology that was understood and ac-
| cepted. silently,
Dreamily, in the hush of old mem
ories, the father walked away to his
work.
Will sat down before the window, tC
finish some drawings, but the thick
square pencil made idle marks, while
his eyes that should have guided il
sought the only bit of nature withir
sight-the strip of changing sky be
tween the housetops. Many bold
design had come from those sweep
ing OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. None came
now. Will was musing. How could
a man work, with the sweet, imperi
ous "Willie Willie," ringing In his
ears It was worse distraction thar
his mothers scolding, for he could moi
be sure that he really wanted to forget
this.
| l. I
he said, with long breath that die
not sound like content. Then he trieo
to say, "Willie," in her tones, and, as
look of impatient disgust marked hif
consciousness of failure, he put on his
cap and went out.
The haunting voice became pres
eree, all too soon. AS Will came
home she met him in the passage; 8
little, swift gliding figure, with soft
dark eyes set in a pale. fair face: =
"Not a bit like mother" he thought
with curious feeling of satisfaction
but as he passed, he saw that her eyes
were humid with fear and grief.
"What is the matter q he asked
involuntarily.
willie cholera the doctort' she
answered, rushing by, into the stree
that was wet with q stormy rain.
"Stay I 7 can go faster" cried Viii