The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-07-02
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AN UNNOTICED INCIDENT.
From All the Year Round.

fercely found all the corners as Mrs. Rail
ton, turning out of Hammersmith Road
neared her own door. She was carrying a
heavy parcel by the string; her feet were
wet, her eyes aching with the cold, and the
seet, which had found the weak place be-
tween her bonnet and her cloak, would pro-
badly give her a very bad sore throat; but
Mrs. Railton was not thinking of these
things. She was thinking of summer, one
summer fifteen years ago. How bright it
had been, and how hot, everywhere but in
the wood, and even there the breezes had
been faint and warm What wonderful
shapes the great patches of light that fell
through the outspread arms of the great
tall trees had taken What glorious colors
had lain among the shadows where the fox
gloves and thunderfowers grew in crowds
All, that was pleasant place, and she had
stood there leaning against willow by the
river, looking up eagerly into the hand
some, eager young face bent down to her.
She almost heard her own voice saying,
II am not fit to be your wife, Donald. |
am so stupid and so ignorant.
And in answer he had told her that
clever men always hated clever women, and
that her sweet chidishness, her naivete and
simplicity, were dearer to him than all the
wisdom in the world. All ! those were
pleasant times, and that was the happiest
day of all her life, clouded perhaps blesC
passing fear as she listened to this nay
lover that "COusin Dennis" might be d,hi
appointed, but the cloud onl ly stayed forto
moment, for she did not know then how 4
be unhappy-nothing had ever happenGs
in her life to teach her.
Now all these memories were very pleas
ant, but they were very unwise. 1t would
have been much wiser of Mrs Railton 10
think of the washing-bils and the water
rate, or to plan how she might best disguise
the long tear in Kate's ulster and make it
down to fit Jane; but then, as her lover
had joyously pointed out long ago, Mrs.
Railton was not wise, but rather the re-
verse, and, unfortunately, the qualities
which had been so charming to the lover
then, only served to irritate the husband
now.
Indeed, it is an unfortunate fact that the
cleverness in pretty girl of seventeen, are
the most intolerant of the want of it in a
wife of thirty, telling the poor wife-if
they happen to meet with clever girl who
will notice them at all-what Il relief it is
to talk to a woman with mind
This is puzzling, and bewilders the poor
wives as to what is really expected of them,
for it is not every one who can regulate
herself to the perfect medium; that is, be
clever enough to appreciate her husband,
but not clever enough to criticise him.
Mrs. Railton rang the bell, and waited
while the one harassed looking servant came
up from the dim regions below She heard
the noise of the family in the sitting-room
at tea They were in the habit Of opening
the door to each other, but it did not occur
to them to disturb themselves for their
mother. Father never did, and why should
they? When Mrs. Raiton entered the
room, Kate said, care you wet p and Jack
said, care you hungry and then they
went back to their previous subject of noisy
discussion.
There are few things that give one a
more unpleasant shock than to come home
and find ones place filled, ones wants for
gotten. 1t gives one foretaste of death,
faint, perhaps, but unpleasant. Mrs. Rail
ton looked round the table; no one made
way for her He husband looked up and
said Grossly;
81 wish you would try not to be late,
Lisa, it sets such a bad example to the
children"
Kate rose from the head Of the table,
saying:
"You will have to send for more Tea; this
is finished.
But neither of them seemed TO expect
an answer, so Mrs. Railton gave none. She
rang the bell, and, while the harassed ser
want was bringing up some tepid tea and
semi-raw chop, pulled off her damp gloves,
and found that her finger, which had been
passed under the string of the parcel OF
books. was bruised and cut. She had not
noticed this while her hands were so cold,
but it began to ache and smart as she held
her fingers to the fire.
Mr.. Railton went to his armchair and
lit his pipe; the children went to the other
end of the room and discussed their lessons
in undertones. Mrs. Railton attacked her
.comfortless tea She was cold, and tired
and miserable, and longed, foolishly, for a
little sympathy; so she asked for some.
II have hurt my finger, she said.
"How did you do it ?" said Jane, look
ing up from her books; but then Jane was
always glad of an excuse to look up from
her books, so her sympathy did not count
for much.
al was carrying those books for your
father, and never noticed that the string
was cutting my finger, because my hand
was so cold. Those law books are so
heavy"
'You should have changed to another
finger" said Kate practically, She was
handsome, clever girl; very like her father,
and was certainly far too wise ever to hurt
herself by doing things for other people
s'Did you say you hurt yourself? Where
are the books, by the way?" said Mr.. Rail
ton. aThere! Oh, thank you. Then,
as he looked at them he added, fretfully:
@'They are all wrong, just as | might have