Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-11-12
JOE'S WIFE.

light after working hard all day, tired and
anxious as to the result of an important
operation performed that morning The
mud spattered up from the streets as hs
rolled along, and the chilling November
drizzle gave to the trees forlorn, almost
CHASTITY aspect. His heart warmed as he
pictured to himself wife watching for
him with welcome smile from their coy
parlor, dinner ready. and long, restful
evening before them.
But as he drew near home no cheerful
light streamed from door or window. All
seemed as dark and deserted as the drip
ping street. He threw the reins to the boy
whose duty it was to hold the horse on his
professional rounds, and flung open the
door with an irritated, injured feeling.
No tender smile no sympathetic voice;
no freight; no dinner apparently.
"Elinor" he called.
No answer.
"Elinor"
This time a voice spoke out of the dark
Mesa tired voice:
"Do be more quiet John; the baby is
just going to sleep"
"Confound It'll Why isn't there a light
hereS And why isn't the baby asleep be-
fore this time Of nightY"
He has been fretful all day with his
teeth, and | have not had a chance TO
change my dress"
A wailing cry from the nursery sent the
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 evi-
IDENTIFY been arranged by Hibernian hands;
an odor Of something burning stole in
from the kitchen. A pleasant reception
for man after a long days work.
he ran up stairs with no gentle footstep.
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 husband came laundering in, but
already baby's light slumber had been dis
turbed, and the process Of soothing and
singing hadto be repeated for the fifteenth
time.
1t seemed to the young mother as If 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 to
make the house pleasant with a 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 a sick
sister, and babies always demanded more
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 be
their slaves.
When at last the dinner bell rang Mrs.
Ford laid the baby in his crib sound asleep
this time, warm and lovely in his utter re-
pose. She gave a hurried 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. He barely tasted the soup, then
pushed it away in disgust.
"Burnedi" asked his wife.
"Of course Can't you smell it all over
the house9 Why don't you look after
Bridget litJleS
why, John, have hardly been down
stairs today"
Where's Hannah"
"She went to her sisters last night"
"Oh yes; forgot. What's thisf Cold
corned beef. Really, Elinor, have you moth
ing else to offer?"
Would you like an omleti"
MOI
What them"
"A beefsteak, If you have one"
Mrs Ford rose and went to the kitchen.
The girl of course had just filed 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 a 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 at
this season." said he.
This was the last straw, and his wife,
unusually sensitive to straws tonight,
could bear no more.
ut is a pity you ever left your mother"
II think so, too" he responded, pushing
his chair back.
His wife hesitated a 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 oyerwrought condition.
"Well it is provoking. Women always
must cry and IL into passion about tri-
fes."
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 up
stairs and apologized for the pain he had
given her But the doorbell rang and a
summons to visit sick man at a distance
sent him at once out into the wet night.
And all domestic grievances were forgot
ten before he had driven 200 yards.
The patient lived in a squalid part of the
town by the river. The darkness seemed
deeper in this poor neighborhood, the rain
more soaking and the wind heener. The
wind swept sullenly by, black, swollen
tide, rejecting the aaring lights on the
bridge. But the doctor minded this dis
comfort very little. He was IN love with
his profession, ardent and young. Besides