Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1883-10-16
miscellaneous.
.ThoughtIess Neglect.

.It.was 7:25 by the clock in the
Tombstone Republican office. The
buggy was at the door to take n
Tombstone man to the train. His
hand was on the knob. Goodbye, =
hecalled out. There came from some
onesllp stairs. through the half-open
door, feminine voice, s'Good-bye. /"
Then he had gone out into the glad
spring air, odorous with the foreto-
kcns of coming life and musical with
the songs of the nest-builders. But
there was no song in his heart, no
spring of hope and light in his life rs he
took the reins out of his groom's hand
and spoke to his horse sharp "Get
up!" And as he rode through the
royal avenue that led up to the house
this is what he thought: eff had
been a guest Martha wouId have been
up and dressed. She would have
laid spray of fresh flowers at my
plate. She would hate set at the
table and seen that my coffee was
good and my eggs hot. and my toast
Drowned. And 1 should have at
least n parting shake of the hand,
and hope expressed that would
come again, and perhaps wave of
the handkerchief from the balcony.
And l should have carried away with
me that smile that is brighter than
the sunshine as the last gift of her
gracious hospitality. 1t is n chance
if she would not even have proposed
to ride to the station with me to see
me off. For she knows, if ever
woman did, how to welcome the com
ing and speed the parting guest.
But l am only her husband and l can
cat my breakfast alone, as if 1 were a
bachelor, and get my coffee muddy
or clear, hot or cold, as Bridget hap
pens to make it, and take eggs hard
or soft, and toast burnt or soggy, as
it chances to come from n careless
cook. And when 1 go Good bye
is flung after me like a dry bone after
an i'll cared-for cur. Ueigho! what s
the use of being married, anyway
And this is what she thought as
she put the last touches to her hair
before her glass and tried hard to
keep the tears back from her eyes
before she went down to see that the
family breakfast was ready: "I
wonder if Hugh really cares anything
for me any more. When we were
first married he never would have
gone off this way, and with care
less goodbye tossed up stairs as he
might toss a we'll cleaned bone to n
hungry dog. He would have found
time to run UP and kiss me goodbye
and tell me that he missed me at
breakfast and ask was sick. lie is
gracious to his friends, perfect gen
tlcman to every one but his wife. l
believe he is tired of me. wish
could let him go. 1t would be hard
on me, but it would be better for
himI Well! I mustn't think of such
things as these. Perhaps he does
love me after all. But-but-it is
coming to be hard to believe it. >"
And so with a heavy heart she went
to her work. And the sun laughed
In at the open window, and the birds
chirped cheer to her all day, and the
flowers waved their most graceful
bcckoning to her in vain, all for want
of that farewell kiss. Oh! husbands
and wives will you never learn that
love dies of slightest wounds, and that
the husband owes no such thoughtful
courtesy to any other person as he
owes his wife; that the wife owes no
such attentive consideration to any
guest as she owes to her husband, ,
and that at times little neglect is a
harder burden for love to bear than
an open and fragrant wrong.