The Washington times., 1894-05-27
An Awakening.

"Goodby, Mollie."
"Goodby, Jack. Will you be late coming
home?''
She did not rise from her chair, but held
up her cheek for him to kiss when he bent
over. Jack Compton leaned down and kissed
his wife in a perfunctory manner. and then
saying, II expect to be home at the usual
time" he bade "Good morning, Mother
Boynton," to an elderly lady who was in the
room and went away.
After he had gone the older lady spoke:
II am afraid, daughter, that you are max
ing serious mistake. You are taking a
course calculated to drive your husband
away from you. He is OF an affectionate ma
ture, and he feels this Indifference. I am
sure"
"Oh. nonsense, mother. Jack understands
me. He knows 1 don't like kissing and cod
ding, especially before any one, even if it is
my mother. 1t is such a bore to have any
one hanging around wanting to hug and kiss
you all the time. get sick OF it"
Didn't you reciprocate his hugs and kisses
before you were married?"
'iYes, but that was different. 1t had the
merit OF novelty about it then, and didn't
have him with me all the time. As it is,
let him kiss me now when he wishes to-"
"Let him kiss youi Yes, you allow him
to kiss your cheek. That's merely sufferance,
and, to a high-spirited man, almost an insult
from his wife. Jack is always smiling and
apparently light-hearted. but 1 very much
misjudge him If he does not resent your
treatment, and fear some day you will be
sorry for it,
"Oh, I'm not afraid of Jack. He knows
love him well enough without my making an
exhibition of mvsef."
The domestic affairs of the Compton house
hold anptinnad IN Dn on in ac
usual, but Jack, from being a very great
home body, developed disposition to spend
his evenings out. At first it was only once or
twice a week. but later his absences became
more frequent He was always courteous
and considerate. prompt to crafty every wish
OF his wife, but his interest elsewhere seemed
to increase. Mrs. Boynton noticed it, but
did not deem it wise to express an opinion on
the subject. even to her daughter. She had
said her say and held out the danger signal
in time, but 1t had not been needed. and now
she deemed it proper to keep her owncounsel
and await the development Of events.
One day Mrs. Boynton and Mrs. Compton
were out shopping and stopped In shoe
store to make a purchase. As. Mrs. Compton
was trying on pair of shoes there was the
sound of women's voices on the other side of
a screen. chattering gossip, and occasionally
bits of sentences came to her.
There most every night"
Compton, or something like that"
Mrs. Boynton gave her daughter a look,
and Mrs. Compton gave such start that the
clerk exclaimed:
Excuse me, do they hurt you? We had
better try another pair
.Yes, they hurt me-" said Mrs. Compton,
but did not tell whether she meant the ladies
or the shoes.
"Of course she knows he's married. but she
doesn't care SO long as she has fun" came
fr.lr fhx,f otI nj
NO, 1 don't know her. but I've heard
she doesn't care anything for him.
'I've met him. Hos full OF fun.''
kiss them? OF course"
Mrs. Compton said she had an engagement
and would call in again later when new in
voice, that was expected, had arrived, and
she and her mother left the store.
That evening when Jack Compton was get
ting ready to go out his wife. instead of dis
playing her usual Indifferent manner, went
up to him and said:
us 1t very particular engagement that
takes you out?''
''No-er-why do you ask?'
81 want you to stay with me. Jack" and
she put her hand upon his shoulder.
Jack looked rather astonished.
"Why. what's in the wind now, Mollie?
You have seemed SO perfectly Indifferent to
my going and coming for long time that /
thought you did not care whether went cut
or not"
81 know, Jack; but do care. I've been a
fool and I've found it out, Kiss me, Jack"
and she got her arms up around his neck.
kiss me. do love you, and I'll try to show
1t more hereafter if you will stay with me.''
"Why, certainly, Mollie; that's all want
you to do. never would have sought BAN
quet outside II hadn't been fed on husks at
home"
So Jack spent his evenings at home there
after. but he often wondered what in the
world caused the change in his wife, and if it
could have been possible that she had learned
Of how he spent his evenings out.
H. J. 8.