The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-08-03
Miscellanenms.
ONE SUMNER DAY.
BY ROSIE ROSS.

This story, unlike the most of them,
does not end with a marriage, but be-
gins with one, or at least soon after
one has been SolemniZed. When John
Winters and Nellie Lee We're married
they did not, like some young people,
spend the greater part of their money
on an extended wedding tour, and live
to regret it for many a day afterward,
but very prudently devoted it to re-
pairing and making ready a home.
John had always been Il very prudent
and industrious young man, and with
the few hundred dollars he had saved
bought house, and knowing what an
industrious little wife Nellie would
make, expected to be as happy as
the day is long" AT Nellie's sugges-
ton he had a few needed changes
made in their home. Among other
things a nice large closet had been
prepared for cooking utensils, etc,
and on the door was placed Il small
spring bolt. To be sure their home
was small, but it was paid for and
they were happy and contented with
each others company. In the course
of Il year or so, owing to sickness and
loss of work, they began to find it hard
to n,ake their diminishing funds pay
their expenses. This worried John
and made him slightly irritable, and |
am ashamed to say, he sometimes
spoke GROSSLY to Nellie, his loving lit
tie wife. Nellie was naturally OF II
sunshiny disposition, and tried not to
worry about it, but any uDkind words
from John hurt her worse than blow
would have done from any one else.
john said Nellie, one day as he
was starting to town, do bring Inc Il
calico dress if you can spare the money,
mine are nearly worn out"
"Oh, yes" said he the first thing a
woman wants is dress. When have
l bought anything for myself l would
like to know. We will have to econo-
mize. and can not afford to crafty
every within of yours" ''Surely you
can afford to buy me decent clothes,n
replied she. II need dress badly or
| would not have asked for it."
You can not expect Il poor man
like me to dress you as you dressed at
home" said he, feeling that he was
speaking words he would be sorry for,
but making no effort to check himself
Now Nellie felt that she had never
asked for anything for herself unless
she knew that they could afford it,
and feeling hurt by Johns unkind
words said: Perhaps l had better
go back home then"
Perhaps you had,' said he, as he
started off.
Nellie sat down and had a good cry
first thing. She was veXed, and not
without reason, but her heart began
to plead for her husband, and she sat
thinking how much he had to worry
him, and wondered if she could not
haltN him nlfhnnDh tho liz
tie woman was nearly working the
ends of her fingers off already. She
determined to make it all right with
him, us soon as he came back, and
meanwhile she would bake him some
thing nice for supper. What should
it be F.? While trying to make up her
mind, she stepped into the closet. n
sudden puff of wind closed the door,
the bolt fastened itself, and Nellie
was a prisoner in her own house.
Here was n predicament Her first
impulse was to call for John, but then
he was miles away and would not be
back for long time. There were no
neighbors near enough to hear her, no
matter how loudly she called. What
should she do? Maybe some one
will call,n thought she, and will let
me out" She sat down and waited.
Time dragged YEARLY on but no one
came. Growing impatient she deter
mined to try her strength on the door
Could she break the fastening? She
could at least try. She did try, but
after repeated efforts it remained as
firm as before. ooh my" thought
she, "how hot it is. Maybe l will
smother to death, and John will never
know how sorry [ am for what l said"
Would he be sorry if he came home
and found her dead" she wondered.
Poor little woman, she tormented her.
self trying to think of all possible
chances of dying before he came, and
being so warm withal, she fell into a
troubled sleep.
What of John all this this time
He had not gone far before he was
calling himself brute. He half made
up his mind to go back and ask her
forgiveness, but then he argued with
himself that, that would be display
ing weakness, for he believed, with
the greater part of masculinity, that
there was a certain degree of firmness
necessary in managing wife. Yes,
quite a large amount. He began to
think it would be giving way too much
to buy a dress, after what he had said
before starting. But after thinking
it over for while, his better feeling
finally mastered him, and he bought
her several, for manlike, having
changed his mind, he went to the
other extreme, and, instead of being
stingy, was extravaganza. He hurried
through with business so as to reach
home sooner. He pictured his wife al
ready, watching for him, and keeping
his supper warm. ITO be sure"
thought he, II was little severe with
her, but Nellie is u forgiving little
wife. 1t will be all right and l know
she will like the dresses" On nearing
home, he strained his eyes in vain for
glimpse of her On reaching the
door he was more puzzled than ever,
no fire, no supper. He stood like one
dazed. Her words came back to him.
perhaps | had better go back home
them" and he had answered Perhaps
you had" His loving wife Oh,
surely she would not do that. No, no,
he would not think that. The house
was all open, surely she had not gone
far. 1t might be she was upstairs
sick. He went softly up and searched
for her in vain. More troubled still, he
hurried down. The stairs being right