The Washington critic., 1886-01-09
MIR. BLINKS.

can be under no anxiety, no. reason
why you should not to 60 to sleep"
Mrs. Blinks breathcd another sigh
which spoke more deeply of injury
than the last.
VERY well, William" she said
again, "I'll go through the form of 60
ing to bed, If you like"
Then Mr. Blinks, having finished his
breakfast, went through the form Of
kissing his wife and family and depart
ed for that mysterious region known as
down town, where he transacted bust
ness. He had certain feeling of
triumph in that he had persuaded or
coerced his welded Eliza to retire be-
fore his return. Her apparition in n
night-cap sand crimping pins, q long
night robe, and a small shawl and
fiat toilet slippers damped all his iolity
entered his own door about the ''wec
sma' hours" She never scoldcd, but
she was so meekly injured; asked in
such softly reproachful tones whether
the clock really was right; and she
begged him in such sad, imploring
way not to wake the baby.
Mr.. Blinks was jovial, and hated to
have his spirits lowered. Mrs Blinks
was very serious, and rather fancied
high spirits criminal.
They had married late in life for she
was 30 and he past 40 on their we'd
ding day; and they had fixed opinions
on all such subjects, and could not give
them up. II ever it entered their
minds that il was pity that they had
agreed for once, and made match of
II, IL was on Blinks' convivial even
ings, when he stayed out late, and
his wife kept vigil in consequence.
As Miss Parlctte, Eliza never had to
sit up for any one. AS a batchelor,
Blipks tumbled home when he pleased.
MI. Blinks had a very jolly evening
-iollicI than usual for the knowledge
that he had forbidden Mrs. Blinks to
sit up for him inspired him, and at 2
in the morning he made his way home,
singing to himself occasionally, and
now and then compelled to laugh
aloud at some joke that flashed across
his memory. Always before the fact
that Eliza was sitting up for him had
caused Mr. Blinks to be somewhat ab-
stemious to wine, but now he had Or
dered her to retire. lie had arranged
matters so that they were all in his own
hands, and he was not as steady on his
feet or as clear of comprehension as he
might have been.
As he stumbled upstairs in the dark
and felt his way to the spare bedroom
he muttercd to himself;
This is just as 1t ought to be. Eliza
eh n 'p't elf I'm for mo ouoin -
Then, having bumped his head
against q bed-post he took off his
coat and boots, gave up the rest as a
bad job, retired, tangled ineXtricably
in maze of countcrpanes, and fell
asleep. In short time he was awak-
ened by strong smell of tobacco
smoke. Lifting himself on his elbow
he looked about the room and saw in
the moonlight by the window figure
draped in some kind Of gown and
smoking a short pipe. A hazy idea
that this was Eliza, who had disobeyed
him and had also taken to tobacco,
entered his mind.
II told you not to sit up for me, my
DEAR" he said, rebukingly, 'and when
did you learn to smokc?"
And then a masculine voice cried:
What the duce--"
The gas flashed up and he saw be-
fore him a stout man in n dressing
gown who, having stared at him mo-
ment, cast away his pipe, tucked up
his sleeves, and advanced toward the
bed. Blinks was still dreamy lie
tried to remember whether there was
any reason for this strangers presence,
anI xvac hn n al rnrr hid m lynnu
him? AT last
why. who are your he said "And
what do you want in my houseY'
"Thats very nice dodge, cried the
other, "but 1t won't do
80, l understand it now, said
Blinks, quite wide awake ut last, and
comprehendlng that this was burglar
who had hidden in the spare bedrooms
and, without word, he sprang from
the bed and grapplcd with the stranger.
The other grappled with him. Each
was intent on the same object, to thrust
the other out of the door They tum-
bled down stairs together, smashed the
hall hat stand, fell through the lights
| in the door-stumbled bruised and
scratched, out upon the veranda, and
clutching each other tightly, roared
Police
At the same moment n window next
door went up, head in cap and curl
papers was thrust out, and a female
| voice screamed "Police " also.
1t was Mrs. Blinks, firm in the con
viction that burglars had arrived n
last.
A policeman heard the cries. III,
summoned another. The usual COURSE
of events would have been a procession
to the station house; but these officer,
were men Of great minds and wonder
full discernment
one of them asked "what was tn,