The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-06-24
A REAL AWAKENING.

A REAL AWAKENING.
She leaned her round face on her
hands, looking afar off. 1t was little
more than the face of q child, albeit she
was twenty and had been wife for two
years.
A sound Of walking drew her blue eyes
in another direction. A man was COM
ing up the walk. II was her husband.
Did she run to meet him with words of
welcome and a caress from her dimpled
ar1ns2 Oh, no; he had taught her better
than that, she bitterly thought, quickly
uncurling her dainty feet and speeding
away to her kitchen. How gracefully
she ran awayl The motion was like a
startled fawn's. But she was peering
soberly into the stove oven when the
kitchen doorway was dsrkened by the
entrance of John Hardy, her husband.
t sis supper readyf" he asked.
! No word of greeting further; no word
Of praise for the pretty, flushed face
nothing but careless glances at the pan
of crisp, brown mullins she was carrying
to a side table.
Without glancing up she answered,
t"In few moments, john"
He turned on his heel, going out to
battle his hot face and hands. Lucille
how well the name suited the dainty,
delicate face-hastily arranged her tea
table and rang the bell. John came in,
sat down and silently proceeded to eat,
helping himself, not noticing the face
Opposite.
"Another cup of coffee"
She gave it to him, saying anxiously,
) i"Does everything suit your"
"Yes. Oh, yes" he answered care
,lessly. Still no word of praise. Her
face became downcast. What fool
she was to expect praise for anything
she did, she YEARLY told herself as she
set the dining room in order. Her hus.
band was at the door again. Lucille,
have a bed ready when l come back.
I'm going to the depot for our new
, boarder."
/ New boarderi Oh, John, tonight?'
} YES" and his shadow disappeared
from the doorway.
And this was her first intelligence OF
3 the fact that John had taken O boarder
Ifor the summer? Oh, why had he not
told her sooner? But this was Johns
/ way in all things-not to make conf
b dant of her-and with leaden feet she
went up to the "spare room" to array
the bed in sheets, etc. Otherwise it was
always in order. After fresh water had
been brought and fresh towels laid out
/ she gave last weary glance around
then descended to the kitchen again. OF
: course the stranger would want supper
I II am so tired of 1t all" she sighed
). And yet why was she weary and tired
She was the healthy young wife of Q
II prosperous young farmer. Either Lu
D ellie Evans should not have married
farmer, or else she should have been ed
, ucated with the idea of being farmers
: wife. She was village girl, having had
all the exaggerated ideas of such girls Of
A the sweets of farm life. John Hardy
q had thought her extremely pretty, ant
had thought she would become IN excel
: lent manager and capital housekeepel
e under his tuition. If he was satisfied
q she had become the two latter in spirit
: less, plodding way, unlike what thu
II blithesome Lucille had been two year
e ago.
= Before she had rekindled the fire th,
spring wagon was heard to stop. AS sh'
X
Q husbands voice sounded:
q Lucille, Mr.. Bellairs must have sup
!; per-"
Indeed, no." And Lucille got slowl,
up from her knees and turned about
a Never had she heard such o singularl,
! sweet voice. Mr.. Bellairs had taken il
e. the situation at glance. The wife wa
tho'servant here. He would rather g.
l. 4 4 - L. Al
my wife," John had the grace to say
? Mr.. Bellairs bowed and Lucille locke,
at him dreamily. Ahl hero was
knight
81 want nothing so much as bed.
Il dined at 2 ard wish for nothing NOR
Il till breakfast"
l. "The room is quite ready" she said il
a low, gentle voice.
= John took up lamp and Mr.. Be1lair
bowed good night.
He glanced hastily about his room
Everything was exquisitely neat an
fragrant, but he mentally resolved tina
!. his own strong feet and hands shoul
pump water and do all that was neees
# sary for his own comfort. Then h
gazed curiously at John. can OK" h
IS inwardly decided.
?. But in this he was wrong. John wa
4 like the majority of eastern farmers
! shrewd, sensible, well read in newspa
u pers, progressive on the farm, but total
II ly misunderstanding woman's life an
a woman's work.
=, 81 always try to conform to the rule
}. of tho house where l board. Do yo
q breakfast at an unearthly hourf' h
e laughed.
John answered seriously, ooh, no; W
II breakfast just at day."
If Mr. Bellairs receded.
- al had thought o'clock early"
:, , sit may be for you, but not for u.
l. However, my wife will see that 70
]. have your breakfast at any hour yo
wish"
al could not thinll"- he was begiI