The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-29
ASSUMES HERS BUT POORLY.
nttolss e Of azr. md Mrs. Dawson
vs. lsse,i In tl,e Details OF Life
tts,s 81 Certain Crisis Awakcs Mrs.
ss sssonS To a Realization OF
eng Con,mittcd.
fright, 1895, bys 7. S. Mcclure
8 Limited.)

!&38zSeanti yFswith closed lips
~ room looked mere like a business
* than&a o. dining room in house
gHs furnished handsomely, but with
IRENE plainness. There was an air
5SkSssif ness about everything. There
fessSxSEss no plants In the windows There
not D flower on the table. which
pod&ready for breakfast. In n word.
''28khhere5awere no feminine touches any
:8sxS Precisely at s O'Clock a strong, quick |
came down the stairs and through |
&SgsMeAhall. Mr.. Dawson turned with q |
MetIed impatience In his manner. His
wife entered.
OH she said She glanced at him.
3 &ntling mechanically, as one would
&xStSaS child. Then she walked rapidly |
40 little table and began to look over
mail. Have you been
ISasafting?. she added absent-mindedly.
EEssspssssIt9is not of the least consequence"
IHA5f35Dawson spoke with II fine sarcasm.
wasted. She did not even hear |
Afhesreply.
M she said. tossing down let
|&ters and turning to ring for breakfast |
a&fsIemust run up to Salem on the noon |
AtTatn."
An untidy servant entered.
44ssaes.Breakfast, please" said Mrs. Daw-
#sons without looking OF the girl. She
Vacated herself at the breakfast table.
zzsfStid Eopened the morning paper, which
!S had been laid Mt her place. Mr.. Daw-
sfsOnssat down opposite her. There was
|FBileflce save for the OCCASION rustic
s3Dfsthe paper as Mrs. Dawson turned 1t
''S}sharply Her eyes glanced alertly from
ti$heading to heading, pausing here and
SSbethere to read something of interest.
S$FIers husband looked at her from time
s ffstatime. At last he said, with fine sar-
AAfecehm:t ANY news?"
sa AIRS. Dawson finished the article she
{{sEyR&s reading. Then, with a little start,
HI sIif she had just heard, she said: "Oh
50 ios no. \. nothing of consequence my
Near But she read on, more intently
tssthan before.
ssSSsSith a touch OF sharpness. here are
55fhe strawberries. Can you take time
I'm Useat them?'
M She sighed impatiently. Three deep
I4f3fiheS gathered between her Drow5. she
$$fSided the paper slowly and put 1t In
SSgS III inside pocket of her jacket. She
5k#fjresn street dress. made with very
}f86lIE Skirt, which reached few inches
lHwf the knees. The Jacket was snort
*Ssna3had many pockets. She wore, aiso
Gan silk shirt. rolled collar and tie:
Hgleggings. Her hair was arranged
~ plainly. In spite of her unbecom-
81 FIX attire, however, she was a ocauti-
366SfiSswomar, and her husband loved her
&&tfdsWas proud of her.
BHaIhts did not prevent him from Saying
Ettsi5S something like feminine pet
sshnass MRS Dawson, | wish yon
4 5s3{SS;s,yit d remember to leave the paper for
assE SIis Dawson looked at him In sur
Saisasl f]ispleasure II have not finished
a3ssssefs djnp;r!it myself" she said, colby,
/ &ysesides. there Is nothing in II that
H&S3fISinterest you. It is mostly political
aHSSf1yys. If i had time to read 1t before
eEeS5ss down town. II would be different;
II am out so late every night,
NEanst sleep till the last minute IN the
&NSGTnfng to keep my strength for the
Tnpaign. You cannot complain that
Gforget to bring it home for YOU in
|SH INF, Dawson coughed scornfully. hut
S&RRde no reply for some minutes. FL
#&rlIYs he said in q haunting tone: It's
i fafSsVery we'll for you. You are down
s>fasssymS all day. among people. hearing
that Is going on-whle
#Eft here alone. without even paper
s3SS For a moment Mrs. Dawson was an
Here she was With an invalid hns-
1se2&ndS and two children. working early
8sSfia late to support them comfortably.
Ss}3s had been successful-so successful
#she had received the nomination
State Senator on the Republican
q She loved her husband. She
proud OF herself for her own sake.
6EfssSSdtg Certainly more for his sake. She
4 ssssslpNght he ought to make her way
Sk Ser for her He was not strong, and
SEstpas her wish that he should not exert
&R ESnself In the least All she asked of
l4&3GnlfSyaS. TO look after the servants.
the dinners. entertain the chill
;a*sEemSwhen the nurse was busy, and be
aSHEIeerful and pleasant the short time
rs was at home. Surely. It was little
aNghst TO ak If him and IT was hard
he should fail even in this
E&ts s 8yyyhen.gtWn years previous. equal
57$f l57rAge had been graciousiy granted
5 re $ffseeSsayoEian.t Mr.. Dawson. being then III
s Hing health. had most cheerfully
stsSssAsrned his real estate business over to
IS, s6f vi fe.5 AZ first she managed It un-
l &5s& sesI his advice and Instructions. Ne
4s55asss simply amazed at the ease with
5tfSs she caught on" In less than
months she ceased to ask for suE-
FFssS5ESStttpns and his proffered advice was
anuns ceased altogether.
|| 2{s first the change had seemed like
519& SnsayeH8 to5Nr. Dawson. IT was a. de-
ssssfSfhtfulF novelty to give orders about
S5t1ers and things to maids who gig
~ sssaS prfttily at his mistakes: to have
zz$#{fSSsAAEGhildren brought In by the re-
Iii i fully amused nurse for an hours
S5aS to entertain his gentlemen
f5as AT afternoon "smoIl ers" (Mrs,
sygsop's dainty afternoon tea table
@&s sasSspeen removed to the garnet. =
$ s}{SEeTAtabie, holding cigars. decnnters
383sS sIssss al taken its place.: to saunter
az - MS wife's office whenever ne
2s&R ne! maids soon grew accustomed
change. They received some of
ssS 54nofe absurd orders with more inso.
32sSSSf $ nan rnerrlment. He begac tn
5Rsfs uneasy feeling In their pres
They. really were not resnectf,,I