The morning call., 1892-05-27


almost chastity aspect His heart warmed
as he pictured to himself his wife watching
for him, with a welcoming smile, from
their cczy parlor. dinner ready. and long,
rest -ul 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 lie threw the relns 70 the boy
whose duty it was TO hold the horse On Ills
professional rounds ard flung open the
'front.' door with an lrrItaied, inquired leellhg
No tender smile; 10 sympathetic voice (;
no freight; 10 dinner, apparently
"Elmor' be called.
No ans ~er
"EiinOr!'
This lime a voice spoke out Of the dark
ness-a tired voice
'Do be more quiet. John; the baby is
Just going 70 sleep.
here? And Why isn't the baby asleep be-
fore this time Of DiCht?'
he has. been fretlul all day with his
teeth. and l have not had chance TO
change my dress"
A wailing CRY from the nursery sent the
voice bUJTyiEg thithcr ard the doctor, with
some iuaudiDlG words, proceeded 10 lSht
the gas and take off his damp overcoat The
house was cold, tie paTl0r had evidently
been arranged by Hihernlan hands, an odor
of something burning stole IN from the
kitchen. a pleasant reception Tor man
after long Gays WORK.
He ran upstairs With no gentle I0otstep.
His wife sat by the nursery FIRE, her face
wore q weary expression, and she had on
the same blue gown which she had d0nned
for breakfast. The baby at length slept IN
her arms. She held Up warning nnger as
her husband came biuudeTins 10, 0utRlr6ady
bady's light slumber had been disturbed
ana the process OF soothing and singing had
TO be repeated for the fftieth time.
Ii seemed TO the young mother as II her
patience could hold ont no longer. 1t was
prov king to have the little one startled
from his uneasy dreams again. She knew
Bridget would SPOIL the dinner She hau
been trying all day 10 get downstairs 70
make the house pleasant with magic touch
here snd there. She l0Dged to get into a
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,
ana babies always demand more from their
mothers than from any one else. They are
tyraBEiCal and know and seize every oppOr-
tunity to prove their power over the anX-
ions, half-ignorsnt young mothers, who are
happy, after all, TO be their slaves.
When at last the dinneT-bel 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 WaYy
hair, caught up q fresh handkerchief and
ran down TO join Der husband, who sat at
the "a bic with decidedly cross look on his
face He barely tasted the soup, then
pushed &c away IA disgust
Burned g' asked his wife.
'0f course. Can't you smell it all over
tie house? Why don't you look after
Bridget q little?'
"Why. John, have hardly been down
stairs to-day"
where's HANNAH
ssSba went To her sisters last niglt''
"Oh. yes, | forgot WHAT'S this? Cold
corned beef. Really, Eunor, have you
nothing else 10 0Nar?'
Would you Ike an omelet?"
"What then ?"
"a be4fsteak, If there is one"
Mrs. Ford rose and went 10 the kitchen.
The girl, of course, had just filed up the
range with fresh coat, so there was nothing
90 be done but make the best of the cold
meat potatoes and macaTOni, followed By a
dessert of apple pudding ana cheese.
DR.. Ford found fault with the potatoes
and said be was tired Of macaroni, the
bread was dry, the butter not perfect. As
TO tie pudding
My mother always had minee pies at
this season" said lie.
This was the last straw; and his wife un-
usually sensitive to straws Tonight, could
bear DO more.
1T is pity you ever LEFT your mother"
said she bitterly.
Il think so too" he responded pushing
his chair back
His wife hesitated a moment whether to
run around tho table and burst into tears
upon her husbands shoulder, OF to rush up
stairs and have 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 G0fflp n etF9nua CONTRAST n har
OyeT-wr0ught condition.
well, it Is provoking Women always
must cry and fly into a passion about
tri6e3."
But her husband, even as he thought
these words, began TO feel repeGtant He
remembered the teething baby, and the
long day at home alone. In another moment
he would have followed his wife upstairs
and 2pol0gZed for the pain he bad given
Der. But the d9orbell rang, and a summons
10 Visit sick man al distance sent him at
once out into the wet night And all
domestic grievances were forgotten before
he had driven 200 yards.
The patient lived in q sQualid part of the
town by the river. The darkness seemed
deeper n this poor neighbOrhood the rain
more soaking and the wind keener. The
rlyer swept sullenly By, a black, swollen
tide, rejecting the faring lights on the
bridge. But the doctor minded this discOm-
fort very little. He was in love with his
profession, ardent and young. Besides the
deSDised dinner had given him new courage
to fight pain and death.
tie entered the one room of the low house
to which he had been directed with face
quite free from Impotence. a woman
opened the door for hin-a lean, miserable
creature, with pale eyes void of expression.
Her thin hair hung over her neck, her calico
dress fell Imply from her sharp shoulders.
She stared at the doctor as be entered, and
be could see there were tears Ia her child
like eyes.
''Joe's SICK" she said slowly, still gazing
into bis face
What's the matter?"
'He-he's goin' ter die, maybe" she falt-
cred pteOusly.
"Oh, | hope not"
"Joe's sick. she repeated in a whisper,
shaking her head.
who's Gomez" asked a voice from the
bed In corner Of the room. Nellie, girl.
who are ye talkin' with"
1t is Dr. Ford, whom you sent for" said
the physician, approaching the bed.
One candi lighted dimiy the untidy. COM
fortress place, showing stove and a man
win tumOled hair aud rough beard lying
among the pillows of his bed.
ION, the DOCTOR" said he, with feverIsb
eyes staring from under shaggy brows
How long have you been Ill ?" asked DR..
FORD, sitting down on a rickety chair
IL week since l give up, but I've
been feeling bad long time"
Inc doctor placed his little thermometer
under the patients tongue and waited
silently:
"Joe,s SICK" mOaned the girl, peerIng out
Of tue shadows.
The sufferer seemed to be irritated by the