The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-05-12
What They Both Thought.

II was twenty-five minutes past seven.
The buggy was at the door to take him
to the train, His hand was on the
knob Goodbye he called out.
There came from somewhere up stairs,
through the half-open door, feminine
voice, Goodbye" then he had gone
out into the glad spring air, odorous
with the foretokens of coming life and
musical with the songs of the nest build
ers. But there was no song in his
heart. no spring hope and light in his
life as he took the reins out of his
groom's hand and spoke to his impatient
horse a sharp "Get onr' And as he
rode through the royal avenue that led
ND to his house, this is what he thought:
If | had been a guest, Martha would
have been up and dressed. She would
have had spray of fresh flowers at my
plate. She would have sat at the table
and seen that my coffee was good, and
my eggs hot, and my toast Drowned.
And | should have at least parting
shake of the hand, and hope ex-
pressed that | would come again, and
perhaps wave of the handkerchief from
the balcony. And l should have car
ried away with me that smile that is
brighter than the sunshine, as the last
gift of her gracious hospitality. 1t is a
chance if she would not even have pro
posed 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 can
eat my breakfast alone as if 1 were a
bachelor; and get my coffee muddy or
clear, hot or cold, as Bridget happens
to make it; and take eggs hard or soft,
and toast burnt or soggy, as it chances
to come from a careless cook. And no.
body cares. And when l 90, Good
bye" is flung after me like dry bone
after an ill-cared-for cur. Heigho!
What's the use of being married, any
way?
And this is what she thought as she
put the last touches to her hair before
the glass, and tried hard to keep the
tears back from her eyes before she
went down to see that the family break
fast was ready:
81 wonder if Hugh really cares any
thing for me any more. When we were
first married he never would have gone
off in this way, with careless Good
Bye tossed upstairs as he might toss
well-cleaned bone to hungry dog.
He would have found time to run up
and kiss me goodbye, and tell me that
he missed me at his breakfast, and ask
was l sick. He is gracious to his
friends; perfect gentleman to every
one but his wife. | believe he is tired
of me. wish l could let him go. 1t
would be hard for me; but it would be
better for him! Well well mustn't
think 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 heavy heart she went
to her work. And the April sun laughed
in at the open windows, and the birds
chirped cheer to her all day, and the
flowers waved their most graceful
beckonings to her in vain; all for want
of that one farewell kiss.
o! husbands and wives, will you
never learn that love often dies of
slightest wounds; that the husband owes
no such thoughtful courtesy to any
other person as he owes his wife; that
the wife owes no such attentive con-
sideration to any guest as she owes to
her husband; that life is made up of
little things, and that oftimes a little
neglect is harder burden for love to bear
than an open and fragrant wrong
Christian Union.