The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-05-07
A SPIRIT WlFE'S C0UBLE
nondon TId-HII. - 80

N-onoon Ild-Ilts Prize SiorNl
A. forty ] found myself an DID bacholU.
7 know that when 7 say I was am old
bachelor al forty the ladies will imme-
diately put away this paper in disgust.
But as desire the ladies 10 read it par
rcu.ariy. ! hasten 10 state that ! am
married now Also. that the reason why
was not married a forty was not my
want Of admiration for the ladies. but
The fact that 1 admired them too well.
! respected them so much that 1 was
afraid 90 address them.
Once or twice 1 was I'm love; but what
was the use? I had not the courage to
declare 30. At forty 1 was a bachelor.
and as / was tired of boardin--houses and
dsslsted with hotels, / hired a fat and
went 10 housekeeping with a single SER
Nant-a black boy.
DO was rather lonely work. and some
umes ] was obliged 10 pretend that / was
married man and that my wife had gone
on visit 90 nor mother TO keep myself
from getting the blues
Nf imaginary wife was always plump
llie woman. with black eyes and nice
little hands with dimples i'm them. i could
some time believe that she would really
come ln and sit down at table and pour
olt the tea. 1 had formed such perfect
picture OF her. I had taken the upper
floor OF a small house. not because I was
poor. for ] was not. but because / was
cairous Of retirement and did not want
anyone dumping upstairs past me, and
below some one kept house.
This person used the conservatory for a
kitchen I must explain. Some former
tenant had converted the back porch into
q conservatory. and had had # all filled
IT, with glass Of course. whoever hVed
on he floor below at that time had again
made an alteration. Where was once the
conservatory stove now stood little
cookng-stove. and over the panes or glass
hung white curtains; but the glass roof
was uncovered.
One morning. impeled by the curiosity
which Is born Of loneliness. ] leant over
my window ledge and peeped down. /
saw below a little kitchen, with little
table and little stove.
AZ the little table sat-my wife. What
J mean IS that that imaginary being whose
fcosfal ] was always hearing on my floor.
~b" IN day dreams sat al my table and
poured out tea whose actual absence
} c0uHoled myself for by supposing that
fhe had gone 90 take tea with her
mother. sat there IN proper person, round.
dImplcd black-eyed as my fancy painted
her
She was eating her breakfast all alone.
and she looked as though she did not like
H. 1 was sure-surc from the very first
that she was not married, and from my
unseen post ] watched her every move
ment until my black servant, with the
remark, "Massa. dem dere griddle-cakes
IS all gettin' spilled" aroused me from
my reverie.
However, that was not the last time l
paw her. She sat a good deal in that
conservatory, the most blooming rose II
ever nourished within its glass walls.
She scwed there. and read books there,
as well as ate there I saw her concoct
dainty puddings for one, and pies which
lasted her four days. and / was as sure
that Providence intended her for me as
though ] had asked an oracle and been
told so.
With an opera glass I could read the
very pages o. the book she read. and