Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-10-21
ONE NIGHT IN THE COUNTRY.

the club by way of sparing my wife
the trouble of entertaining. Now,
Fanny was the most amiable woman
in the world, and, Of course, | never
felt nervous about returning at any
hour l chose. But the truth was, she
had given up her happy country life
for my sake, and l knew that she Sc
cretely regretted those rural delights
l also knew that, whenever l was de-
tanned later than usual at the club,
that feeling was especially dominant.
So thrust my hands deep into my
ulster pockets and tried to think Of
some pleasant topic of conversation
with which to beguile her into cheer.
fitness. AS / drew near my fingers
came in contact with crumpled BIT
of paper in the depths of my pocket
This l knew to be telegram, which
recalled the fact that my agent had
that day taken fruit-farm near
Vineland to secure a debt and this
in turn, suggested an idea. l would
tell my wife about Cooks bargain
and emphasize the news by display
ing the dispatch.
Softly opening the front door, l
CROPPED my way along the dark hal
to the nursery, where l was sure O.
finding Fanny, and almost equally
sure of waking baby. as that you
George ?" she asked in a discouraged
tone, without turning her head. Thu
wicked idea of Disgusting my voice t.
note the effect crossed my mind bu
l thought of the telegram and resist
ed the temptation.
"Of course, Fanny. How coy 20,
are here Turn upthe lamp. Ihav,
something to show YOU" said cheer
lily, as | smoothed out Cooks Telegram
before her.
"What do you think of that, Fan ?
She rubbed her sleepy eyes and CAV
the cradle little jog with her foot tc
keep the baby quiet.
30, George, how good you are !!
she cried, joyfully. Have you reall.
bought farm ? when are we to 60 |?
"Why, you wouldn't move in March
would your" / asked, for lack o
something better to say.
"What shall we do with this house
George? And the furniture? Hadn'
we better sell the horses and carriage
and get something little more suit
ed to country roads ?"
l saw that my wife was wide awak
now, so yawned, and replied tina
we would have plenty of time to thinl
about that, and remarked that it wa
getting late
| suffered an occasional twinge O
conscience the next day, as now ant
then l recalled my wife's innocen
prattle about our farm. | also begal
to fear l had not used my usual wisdom
in the attempt to strew my path wit
flowers on my return from the club
AS dinner-time approached | shranl
from meeting Fanny, and at last sen
her a note saying that | would not b
home till late honr, and begged he
not to sit up for me. But / nigh
as well have gone home like a man
1t was only deferring the evil hour
when / must confess that / never ha,
the remotest idea of living in tn
country. even though l might be pos
SCISSOR Of forty farms.
Still, day after day | put it of
while 1 was forced to hear mysel
praised for unselfishness, or to listel
to my wife's schemes for the education
of our boys when they should be on
of the reach of schools. By-and-b
our friends began to talk of our de
/
parture as if it had been a settled fact
In vain | assured them that it wa
all nonsense. and we were not goiny
away at all. They took the pang O
separation more philosophically thai
one would have imagined, and begal
to be little sensitive. They even in
quired whether | meant to let or Eel
the house, what we were gong to d.
with our servants, and if our pew il
church was for sale.
All this was rather hard; but when
on our eighth anniversary, our neigh
bors gave us little surprise party
presenting us with silver berry-se
appropriately marked as "a partinI
testimonial of esteem and regret"
was in despair. After the compan.
was gone my wife gently reapproach
ed me with lack of cordiality to on
guests, but had not the heart to con
fess the reason. do not know hov
] ever managed to restrain my feel
ings till she left the room. Thel