The Owosso times., 1881-10-21
ROBERT PARKERs MISTAKE
BY e. M.
How is my wife p


She felt herself better this after.
noon, sir" returned the landlady, 'and
she has gone out for a little. She die
not expect you home so soon, l think
SIR
Robert made no reply, but walked
into the sitting-room, closing the door
behind him with a bang.
Yes he said to himself, with an
impatient sigh, it was mistake
'Tis easy enough to see it now that il
is too late.'
And then he sat down, and took ur
week-old newspaper. But though he
held it before him, and though his eye
went over the lines, his brain did not
take in the sense of single word, fol
he was still in deep, disturbed thought
Il dare say she is as sorry as 1 am
now,' he muttered presently, as he
flung away the paper. "But what is
the use of thatp What is done can't be
undone, or most of us would undo a
good deal, l am thinking
And then he put his hands into his
pockets, and walked restlessly to and
fro the room, whistling snatches of
tunes, while the frown on his rather
handsome face grew deeper and deeper.
AT length he stood still for moment
by the window.
1t was a mild, October afternoon.
The sun shone on the fading poplars
that grew in the middle of the square,
on the children at play, and on the old
organ-grinder who ground out his tunes
so patiently, glancing up at this win
dow, now at that, hoping only for a
stray penny or half-penny, and never
once thinking-thOugh perhaps he did
think sometimes-of all the histories
that lay behind all those light curtains
and dark curtains, some new, others
old and faded; and Venetian blinds,
and sun-blinds, and striped linen blinds;
and pots, and stands, and vases of
autumn flowers.
And neither was Robert thinking of
the histories of others; he was occu-
pied solely with his own, as so many
of us are, while we forget that .''we
are not all alone unhappy" and that
our friends and neighbors have their
troubles-as great and often far great
er than ours; and that If we would, in
sympathy, and kindness, and unselfish-
ness, give a little more consideration
to the troubles and trials Of others, we
should, whether we believe it or not,
be wonderfully relieving our own.
Presently very neat, unpretending
little figure entered the square, and
came slowly almost feebly along. Rob.
ert did not see her, for his eyes were
fixed absently upon the poplars, while
the gaze of the organ-grinder were in
turn fixed despairingly on him.
But now the lady stepped off the
pavement, and laid penny on the or
gan, and then continued her way, gaz.
ing up also at Robert with a very
mOurnful look on her small, pale face
which could boast of no beauty save
that of expression, which it possessed
in very high degree, and which is af
ter all formidable rival of mere cor.
rectness of feature.
She pursued her way up to the door
of the house which was for the present
her home, and Roberts home too; fol
she was his wife. And as she mounted
the steps he caught sight of her at
last, and gave her a sort of forced
smile of welcome.
A few minutes later he and she were
seated at the tea-table. together.
Did DR.. lWalford come this morn
ingg inquired Robert, as he slipped his
tea.
Yes, Robert
'And what did he say to youp'
He said,' returned she, speaking
gravely and steadily, that / ought t
have a change,,--and now, though HI
did not observe it, she was watching
him keenly--that winter in Italy, If
could get it, would probably maxi
me quite well and strong again.
Robert set down his cup, and re
manned in deep thought. At length. h
spoke. - 'Ai--@ I''e~eh'<' .
@'You shall go, Norrie--I think i cal
manage it. And III find somebod.
else who is going, il possible, so tina
you may not have to travel alone. M
business, unsettled and uncertain as !
Is, will by no means bear leaving jus
now unless wish to lose it alto
gether.'
There were of course many arrange
ments to be made, and more than