The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-10-27
JOE'S WIFE.

mud spattered up from the streets as he
rolled along, and the chilling November
dri2zle gave to the trees IL forlorn, almost
CHASTITY aspect. His heart warmed as he
pictured to himself a wife watching for
him with IL welcome smile from their coz
parlor, dinner ready. and long, restful
evening before them.
But az he drew near home no cheerful
light streamcd from door or window. All
seemed rs dark and deserted as the drip.
ping street. He threw theIeins to the bov
whose duty it was to hold the horse on his
professional rounds, and flung open the
door with an irriteted, injured feeling.
No tender smile; no sympathetic voice.
no trelight; no dinner apparently.
"Elinor!" he called.
No answer.
"ElinorW
This time n voice spoke out of the dark
ness-a tired voice:
"DO be more quiet, John; the baby is
just going to sleep"
"Confound it! Why isn't there light
hercS And why isn't the baby asleep be-
fore this time of mighty"
He has been fretful all day with his
teeth, and l have not had n chance to
change my dress''
A wailinS cry from the nursery sent tho
voice hurrying thither, and the doctor
with some inaudible words, proceeded to
light the gas and take off his wet overcoat
The house was cold; the parlor had evil
IDENTIFY been arranged by IIibernian hands;
an odor of something burning stole in
from the kitchen. a pleasant reception
for n man after II long days work.
He ran up stairs with no gentle footstcp.
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 Mt length slept in
her arms. She held up II warning finger
as her husband came laundering in, but
already baby's light slumbcr had been dis
turbed, and the process of soothing and
singing had TO be repeated for the fifteenth
time. ff
1t seemed to the young mother as IL 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 dinner. She had
been trying all day to get down stairs 60
make the house pleasant with n 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 moro
from their mothers than from any one 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 he
their slaves.
When at last the dinner bell rang Mrs
Ford laid the baby in his crib, sound aslcen
this time, warm and lovely in his utter re-.
pose. She gave Il hurried dab mt her wayv
hair, caught up n fresh handkerchief and
ran down to join her husband, who sat at
the table with decidedly cross look OH his
face. He barely tasted the soup, then
pushed it away in disgust.
"Burned?" asked his WIFE
"Of course. Can't you smell it all over
the house? Why don't you look after
Bridget Il litt.'s'
why, John, have hardly been down
stairs today"
Where's IIannah?"
"She went to her sisters lust night"
"Oh yes; forgot. What's this? Cold
cornetl beef. Really, Elinor, have YOU moth
ing else to ofrer!"
"Would you like an omlet?n
"No."
'What thcn?"
IA beefsteak, if you have one"
Mrs. Ford rose and went to the kitchen.
The girl of course had just filled up the
range with fresh coal, SO there was moth
ing to be done but make the best of the
cold meat, potatoes and macaroni, fol
lowed by desert of apple pudding and
cheese
Dr. Ford found fault with the potatoes
and said he was tired of macaroni; the
bread was dry and the butter not perfect.
AS TO the pudding:
My mother always had mince pies ut
this season." said he.
This was the last straw, and his wife.
unusually sensitive to straws tonight.
could bear no more.
1t is pity you ever left your mother"
Il think SO, too" he responded, pushing
his chair back
His wife hesitated n moment whether
to run around the table and burst into
tears upon her husbands shoulder or TO
rush up stairs and have a good cry by
baby's side. She decided upon the latter
course, and with quivering lip left the
room and shut herself up in the nursery.
where the fire was dying on the hearth
and the baby breathing softly in strange
contrast to her overwrought condition.
well it is provoking. Women ALWAYS
must cry and fly into passion about tri
hes"'
But her husband, even as he Thought
these words began to feel repentant. He
remembered the teething baby and the
long day at home alone. In another mo
ment he would have followed his wife I'M.
stairs and apologized for the pain he had
given her. But the doorbell rang and a
summons to visit IL sick man at distance
sent him at once out into the wet night.
And all domestic grievances were forgot
tea before he had driven 200 yards.
The patient lived in n squalM part of the
Gown by the river. The darkness seemed
deeper in this poor neighborhood, the rain
more soaking and the wind keener. The
wind swept sullenly by, black, swollen
tide, rejecting the Haring lights on the
bridge But the doctor mindrd this 1lis