The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-04-10
HE TOLD HIS LOVE.
[San Francisco World.

" picked up a newspaper, and the first thing his eye landed upon was this:
 No matter how busy man may be he should find time every day to tell his wife that he loves her." IIopplebotEer dropped the paper and went to musing on the golden past Visions of beauty fitted before him and made him sigh that the wheels of time l should whirl so rapidly Once more he was a young man, living on hope and six dollars week, sparkling his wife and swearing to love her until the mountains sank into the sea. One by one the buried years were resurrected and the joys and sorrows of each were : dwelt upon.
 Just then the barber shouted Next" and IIopplebotfer reused up with start and got into the chair
 The man of gab said it was a nice day but lIopplcbotfer needed him not.
 The towel went under his chin and the lather went on his face, and the sable man who bent over him minated that 1t looked good deal like rain, but liopplebotfer was too deep i'll thought to heed him
 So the barber lathered and scraped him in silence, and IIopplebotfer went right on with his musing
 He was trying to remember the last time he had told his wife that he loved her
 He couldn' do it.
 But, after a long mental tussle, he made up his mind that he would do better in the future, and blurted out:
 I'll do it! l will by George!'
 Whats that, sir?' said the barber, stopping suddenly, with his razor in air
 Hopplcbotfer blushed through the lather, and said it didn't matter He had been rumnating oil the newspaper paragraph and was resolved that he would put it's teachings into actual prac- tice from that day forward.
 lie would turn over a new leaf and make his wifc's heart bound with joy He would tell her that she was dear to him. and watch the roses bloom in her cheeks again.
 The thought was delicious and made him feel as though he had money in every pocket.
 Let us see how the old man prospered in the undertaking
 When lIopplebotfer got home his wife had just been having noisy mati- nee with the hired girl, about something that hadn't been done to suit her, and she was just about mad enough to leave the prints of her teeth in cold iron.
 She bounced into the sitting-room just as he entered, and threw herself into chair with an emphasis that made the windows rattle and broke spring in the upholstery
 lioppleboffer was too much taken up with his new idea to notice her excite ment, SO he walked up to her side, chuclcd her softly under the chin, and, as he stopped to kiss her, said quite tenderlv:
 My dear, love you
 simon lIenry!" said she, in tones as checrless as the dumping of d ton of coal, don't be fool!
 But, my dear
 Don't you dare to dear me You've been drinking again. Oh, you old rep robatel Ain't you ashamed of yourself? As though hadn't trouble enough al- ready, but that you must
 You're mistaken, my love, I-'
 Not another wordl exclaimed the excited woman, with snapping eyes, as sne stamped her 1OOt. Ou re beast, that's just what you arc A good-for- nothing drunken beast '
 Hopplebotfer tried to slip his arm around her waist and pull her on his knee. She tore herself away from him and grabbed chair, which she raised in threatening manner, as she shouted:
 Keep away from me, you nasty sot, or you'll get hurt"
 "Fm not drunk, my dear
 You are"
 ain't-I haven't tasted drop Whats the matter with you, then? Ain't you got no sense at allY"
 Why don't you let me tell you--'
 Tell me what?"
 That love you"
 Stop right there! don't want any more of that You make me sick. won't let you, nor any other bald-headed old idiot make fun of me to my face Go right over to the grocery this min ute, and get me beefsteak for supper"
 IIoppleboffer turned sadly away and went out, with his heart beating with a dragging motion.