The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-04-24
a RIFT IN THE CLOUD.
DY T. s. ARTHUR.

Oay, tlrcO, anu out OI spirits -cainc nome
to his wife, who was also tired and out Of
spirits.
"a smiling wife and cheerful home
what paradise ii would be-" said An
drew, to himself, rs he turned his eyes
from the clouded f.ice Of Mrs. Lee and
sat down, with knitted 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 n side
glance at her husband.
There was invitation in the word only,
none in the voice of Mrs. Lee.
Andrew arose and went to the table.
He was tempted to speak an angry word,
but controlled himself, and kept silence.
lie could find no fault with the chop,
or sweet home made bread, nor the fra
grant tea. They would have checrcd
the inward man, if there had only been
agleam Of sunshine on the face OF his
wife. He noticed that she did not eat.
:'Arc you not we'll, Mary ?" The
words were on his lips, but he did not
utter them, for tho face Of his wife looked
so repcllnnt that he feared m irritating
reply. And so, in moody silence, the
twain sat together until Andrew had fin
ishcd his supper. AS he pushed his
chair back, his wife arose, and commcnc-
cd clearing the table.
"This is unbearablc - said Lee to
himself, as he commenced walking the
floor of their little break fast-room with
his hands thrust desperately away down
into his trouser pockets, an3 his chin
almost touching his breast
After removing all the dishes and
taking them into The Kitchen, Mrs. Les
spread green cover on tho table, and
placing fresh trimmed lamp thereon,
went out and shut the door after her.
leaving her husband alone with his un-
pleasant feelings. He took long, deep
breath rs he did 80, paused in his walk,
stood still for some moments, and draw
ing paper from his pocket, sat down by
the table, opened the sheet, and COM
mcnccd reading. Singularly enough the
"praise your wife, They rather ten.
ded to increase the disturbance of mind
from which he was suffering.
II should like to find some occasion
for praising minc." fIo~ quickly his
thoughts expressed that ill-natured senti-
ment. But his eyes were on the page
before him, and he read on
Praise your wife, man for PHYS
sake give her little encouragement; it
won't hurt her."
Andrew Lee raised his eyes from the
paper, and muttered, ooh yes, that's all
very WELL Praise is cheap enough.
But praise her for what? For being
sullen, and making your homo the most
disagreeable place in the world 2" His
eyes fell again on the paper.
"She made your home comfortable,
your hearth bright and shining, your
food agreeable; for PHYS sake, tell her
you thank her, if nothing more. She
don't expect it; it will make her eyes
open wider than they have for ten years
but i: will DO her goodi for ali that, and
you too"
1t seemed to Andrew as if this sentence
was written just for him, and just TOR
the occasion. 1t was the complete an
swcr to his question, "Praise her for
what ?" and he felt it almost M a re-
buke. He read no further, for thought
came too busy, and in new direction.
Memory was convincing him of injustice
towards his wife. She had always made
his home rs comfortable for him rs
hands could make, and had he offered
the light return of praise or commenda.
ton? Had he ever told her the satistac.
tion he had known or the comfort expe-
rienced? He was not able to recall the
time or occasion. AS he thought thus
Mrs. Lee came in from the kitchen, and
taking her work basket from closet
placed it on table, sat down without
speaking, began to sew. Sir. Lee glanced
almost stealthily Mt the work on heI
hands, and saw tina. ]. was the bosom
of shirt, which she was stitching neatly
He knew that it was for him that she
was at work.
praise your WIFE" Tho words were
before the eyes of his mind, and he coult
not look away from them. But he wa.
not ready for this yet. He still felt moo
dy aud unforgiving. The expression o
his wife's face he interpreted to be ill
nature, and with ill-nature he had no pa
tience. His eyes fell upon the newspa
per that lay sp:ead out before him, anc
he read the sentence:
"a kind, cheerful word spoken in q
gloomy home, is like tho rift in q cloud
that lets the sunshine through"
Lee struggled with himself while
longer. Hia own ill-natnre had To he
conquered first; his moody accusing
spirit had to be subdued. But he wal
coming right, and at last got right, as te
will. Next came the question as to how
ne SnOulu DeBln. he tnOuBnt OF many
things to say, yet feared to cay them
lest his wife should meet his advance,
with cold rebuff. AT last, leaning to-
wards her, and taking hold of the liner
bosom upon which she was at work, h,
said, in voice carefully modulated will
kindness:
"You are doing this work very beauti
full, Mary"
Mrs. Lee made no reply. But he
husband did not fail to observe that sht
lost almost instantly, that rigid erectnes
with which she had ueen sitting, 80 tina
the motion of her needle hand ceased.
"My shirts are better made and whittier
than those of any man in our shop
said Lee, encouraged to go on.
care they ?" Mrs. Lees voice was low
and had Ia it slight huskiness. She die
not turn her face, but her husband saw
that she leaned little towards him. H;
had broken through the ice of reserve
and all was easy now. His hand was
among the clouds, and feeble rays were
already struggling through the riff it hHd
made.
Yes, Mary" he answered, softly
"and I've head it said more than onct
what q good wife Androw Lee mus
have.n
Mrs. Lee tnfned her face .sscS:.ssaassslA &c as he
husband There was light in It, ant
light in her eyes. But there was some