Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-10-27
JOE's WIFE.
How q Patient Taught His Doctor
q Lesson.

important surgical operation performed
that morning The mud spattercd up
from the streets as he rolled along, and
the chilling November drizzle gave 70
the familiar trees forlorn, almost
CHASTITY aspect His heart warmed as
he pictured to himself a wife watching
for him, with n welcome smile, from
their cory parlor, dinner ready and a
long restful evening before them.
But, as he drew near home, no cheer
full light streamed from door or win
dow. All seemed as dark and deserted
as the dripping street lie threw the
reins to the boy whose duty was to
hold the horse on his professional
rounds and flung open the front door
with an irritated, injured feeling.
No tender smile; no sympathetic
voice; no freight; no dinner, apparent
ly.
"Elinorl" he called
No answer.
"Elinori"
This time voice spoke out Of the
darkness-a tired voice;
do be more quiet, John; the baby
is Just going to sleep"
"Confound i'll Why isn't there light
here2 And why isn't the baby asleep
before this time of night2"
'lle has been frctful all day with his
teeth, and | have not had n chance to
change my dress"
A wailing cry from the nursery sent
the voice hurrying thither, and the doc
tor, with some inaudible words, pro-
ceeded to light the gas and take off his
III, nalA tho
parlor had evidently been arranged by
Hibernian hands, an odor of something
burning stole In from the kitchen.
A pleasant reception for a man after a
long days work.
lie ran upstairs with no gentle foot
step. His wife sat by the nursery fire;
her face wore weary expression, and
she had on the same blue gown which
she had donned for breakfast The
baby at length slept In her arms. She
held up a warning finger as her hus-
band came laundering in, but already ba-
by's light slumber had been disturbed,
and the process of soothing and singing
had TO be repeated for tho fifteenth
time,
IL seemed to the young mother as II
her patience could hold out no longer.
1t was provoking to have the little one
startled from his uneasy dreams again.
She knew Bridget would spoil the din
ner. She had been trying all day to
get downstairs to make the house
pleasant with u magic touch here and
there. She longed TO get into fresh
gown and brush her hair, but there had
been no time for her to do one Of these
things. Nurse was away with sick
sister, and babies always demanded
more from their mothers than from
anyone else. They are tyrannical and
know and seize every opportunity to
prove their power over the anxious,
half-ignorant young mothers, who are
happy, after all. TO be their slaves
When at last the dinner bell rang,
Mrs Ford laid the baby In his crib.
sound asleep this time, warm and love-
" in his utter repose. She gave hur-
ried dab at her wavy hair, caught up a
fresh handkerchief and ran down to
| Join her husband, who sat at the table
with decidedly cross look on his face.
lie barely tasted the soup, then pushed
II away In disgust
"Burned2" asked his wife.
1 vi COuIbts Ouu YOU ~ ~
over the house2 Why don't you look
after Bridget a littlep"
"Why, John, have hardly been
downstairs to-day"
"Where's Hannah?"
"She went TO her sisters last night. "
"oh. yes; forgot. What's thisP
Cold corned beef Really, Elinor, have
you nothing else to offer2"
Would you like an omelet2"
mo"
"What then2"
"a beefsteals, II there is one"
Mrs. Ford rose and went TO the kitch-
en-. The girl, OF course, had just filled
up the range with fresh coal, so there
was nothing TO be done but make the
best Of cold meat, potatoes and maca'
roni, followed by dessert OF apple
pudding and cheese.
DR.. Ford found fault with the pota'
toes and said he was tired Of moca'
roni, the bread was dry, and the butter
not perfect As TO the pudding:
MY mother always had mince pies
at this season." said he.
This was the last straw, and his wife
unusually sensitive to straws tonight
could bear no more.
sit is pity you ever left your moth
err"
IT think so, too, he responded, push
ing his chair back.
His wife hesitated a moment whether
toIrun around the table and burst int
tears ppc-. her husbands shoulder Of
? to rush Upstairs and have a good cry by
baby's side. She decided upon the lat
ter course. and, with quivering lip
left the room and shut herself up In thu
nursery, where the FIRE was dying OF
the hearth and the baby breathing
softly, In strange contrast 10 her over
wrought condition.
swell, 1t is provoking. Women al
= ways must cry and fly into passion
- about trihes."
But her husband, even as he though
these words, began to feel repentan'
He remembered the teething baby an
the long day at home alone. In an
other moment he would have followe
his wife upstairs and apologized for tn
pain he had given her. But the door
bell rang and summons to visit sic
man ut n distance sent him at once GU
into the wet night And all domesti
grievances were forgotten before h
had driven two hundred yards.
The patient lived In a squalid part
. the town by the river. The darkness
! seemed deeper In this poor neighbol
. hood, the rain more soaking and III
wind keener. The river swept sulenl
!. by, q black, swollen tide, rejecting Oh
! tg.l.N k...fla Int