St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-18
A NARROW ESCAPE.
Oh! THANK Heaven My Darling
Wife is Saved.

su average. Mrs. Smith was used to it.
She was a tall, slight woman. scarcely
more than child in years, with shining
brown hair, large dark eyes, and cheeks
that had been as pink as sea-shells in the
days of her happy maiden life. They were
white and wasted nova circumstance that
might perhaps be easily accounted for by
the little babe on her lap and the two-year-
old elf who was tOttering about the room
in aimleSS pursuit of kittens, Sunbeams and
other baby delights.
""Things are all at skies and sevens, F"
went on Mr.. Smith, tying his cravat before
the mirror and viciously twitchng it into Il
knot. Goal wasted, butter thrown into
the soap-grease jar, dish-tOwels taken for
Stove-cloths, and my third-best pants sold
to a dealer in tinware, for a funnel and two
pie-platUeTs. A funnel, Mrs. Smith, and
two pie-platters! l never heard anything
so outrageous in al my life"
but. my dear" meekly interpOsed the
understanding wife, 1--WE needed the tim
ware, and yor had not worn the garments
for year. They We're full of moths"
'"rhere it is again. said MI. Smith.
''The moths would never have got into 'em
if you had taken proper precautions. l
never heard of a moth in my mothers time.
1DliNl llpN AOu ttlC tlShlllS
to visit your brother up the hudson"
Il have not been away from home before
since we were married, john" piteOusly
pleaded Mrs. Smith. II feel almost worn
out, and L think the change would do me
good"
''And what is to become of me?" sonor-
ously demanded the husband.
Mrs John Smith thought of the days
Masonic excursion last week, the trout
fishing expedition into the Catskills a fort
night since the races at jerome park, and
the drives to High Bridge with Parker,
Belts and FriSbee in an open barouche, all
within the month. But she said nothing
except:
ut don't cost much to go, John. And
III only stay away a week. Do let me go.
The doctor says the fresh air might help
baby along with his teeth, and little Johnny
is dropping this hot weather"
''Well, said Mr.. Smith, as ungraciously
as possible, Il suppose you'll have to go.
Five dollars at least it will cost me, and al
together our expenses are ruinous this year.
See how GeOrgiana Trotter manages for
her husband. don't suppose it costs them
half to live that it does us. l might have
married Georgianna Trotter once l al
most wish l had"
1t was on Mrs. Smiths lips to utter: $50
do L." But she looked at the little children
and was silent.
Eyes, went on Mr.. Smith; 81 suppose
you must go. Only, for PHYS sake, don't
get into the habit of run-running all the
time. l needn't send up anything from
the butchers, l suppose? | shall dine
down town, and there'll be enough left on
the cold knuckle of yesterdays ham for
you'll"
III,
husband that he had himself breakfasted
on the remains of the ham. She only
sighed and was silent.
Its his way" she thought. ''He means
well enough. And l suppose all men are
SO. OnlyI wish he had kissed me good
byr'
Woman nature all over! She could do
without her dinner contented eating a crust
of bread in the stead, but her heart yearned
hungrily for the omitted careSS the ignored
word of tenderness. Poor Mrs. John
Smith! How the strong-minded of her sex
would have pitied and despised her.
No light! no fire! 1t was dreary enough
on that chill August evening, as Mr.. Smith
screwed the night-key into the latch and
CROPPED his way in the hail. He sat down
in the bay-window and stared about the va
cant room. There was his wifes work
basket on the table, her little rOcllng-char
standing vacant beside it, while Johnny's
forgotten rattle lay on the floor close by.
ITS deuced lonely!' muttered Mr.. Smith,
with something OF a shiver. Il hope Jenny
wont stay long"
And as he lighted his cigar and whitfield
away guilty sense OF his own shortcom-
ngS came upon him,
''ItmuSt have been rather stupid life for
her here, poor little thing.' thought he.
Il might have come home early to keep
her company great many times when l
didn't She had to sew q great deal for
the children. | wish l had bought her
sewing machine when she asked for it.
Allison used to bring up fruits and flowers
for his wife every evening. l wonder |
never thought of it for Jenny. And, now
come to reflect upon the matter, Jenny
has grown thin and pale of late"
lie moved his chair uneasily and emitted
thread Of blue, spicy smoke from his lips
very much as If he were not enjoying it
particularly.
Il suppose they are at Bribery farm by
this time" said he to himself. | suppose
the younkerS are in bed and Jenny is sit
ting out on the piazza, listening to the
Whlppoorwills. I've almost mind to go out
there tomorrow evening, and take some
peaches and bananas and things. Ii would
be pleasant surprise for jenny, and
hello! What's that! A ring at the bell?"
Flinging his cigar into the unused crate.
John Smith shutfled along to the door in his
slippers.
''Oh---a telegram Now, wonder who
should telegraph to metz
WELL" said the shivering and rain
drenched messenger, ''p'raps you'd better
open 1t and see. Anyway. I've no call TO
hang around here any longer''
And off he went. while Mr. Smith car
ried his buff envelope back to the parlor
light and somewhat nervously tore it omen.
CowDRY, Aug, - - To John Smith:
Railroad accident. Your wife is killed and
your child dangerously hurt. Come bv the
next train. JARED MEREDITH. NJ. ID.
Again and again Mr.. Smiths bewildered
eyes roved over the contents of this appaIl-
ing miSsive before he could fully conlpre-
bend its deadly meaning.
Dead! Killedi' he muttered TO him
self. MY Jenny killed by railroad ac-
cidentr'
And then, catching railway guide from
the bookshelf, he whrled over its leaves
with trembling hand. The next train did
not leave the terminus under an hour and n
half! To him the time seemed almost like
eternity. How could he endure tllis awful
agony of soul for an hour and half?
Perhaps they are Incorrect" he NUT
tered TO himself, wiping the beads of cold
sweat from his brow. People can't al
ways judge exactly in such a moment of
dismay. Perhaps sheis only badly hurt
and / can nurse her through it after all
My Jenny! my loving, patient, sweet-eved
wifer' A strong sob rose up i'm his throat
as if it would strangle him. mo. no. She
is killed. he gasped, as his eye fell once
more on the telegram. Dead. and never