Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1896-04-16
THE BROKEN HOUSE KEY.

ris'i and out Of sorts. Only a short
eight weeks ago she had married her
dear hus and had followed him 10 his
home in ". and already be had be-
gun 20 ur=lect her. TO 90 ont Of an even
ug, and To leave her alone in the big
house lie had tried 10 convince her
that he could not altogether neglect his
former friends and companions. and
that she ought not to object TO his meet
ing them on two evenings every week,
aEd 20 pass an agreeable hour in their
company over a friendly game of whist;
but she simply did not comprehend how
be eoull enjoy himself without her.
how be could evsn think Of going any
where without taking her along.
oh. the dreadful evenings | hare to
spend, she complained. with tears in
her eyes Il am Obliged to sit here all
alone because | have as yet had no
chance 10 form any acquaintance here
Naturally. get hous-ick- Often I feel
Ike leaving everything and taking the
train houle to my parents"
Would il not BE- better. darling. il
YOU went to bed instead and tried 70
sievpT"
That is Just here the trouble Is.
she replied. still in tears. 4 am afraid
Our servant always Sleeps way up IN the
attic- She vvouiI not even hear we're
anything % happen to me-
Why. you foolish child. "a hat is there
to he afraid Of. what Is going to hap
P-nT"
IRE not the papers every day fall %
burwiariss aud rubberieS she per-
sisted Think Of the many strangers
that nosk to a w~iI-known hralth resort
Ike This Nothing Is impossible under
such circumstance
The husband iooked thoughtf1lly a.
hi~ sweet brile-
NO. dear. l do not want you 10 fright
en- yourself into illness. promise you
herewith. OF my own frye viii 1.-THE poor
fellow cuGid u0t help heaviuZ a SIGH as
be ~aid thisf ~ return promptly az n
o'clock whenever I - - meet mv
FRIENDS. IL il Impossible for me %
withdraw myself from their society al
together. for they wouIf ridicule AMI
make fun Of uir. and call me hen
pecked- Burglars rarely put in their
appearance before the hour Of Il. the
streets being full Of life and TRAITS.
aood-by, darling. and please do rot feel
lonesome.
Annie signed and submitted resign
edly TO her fate She read awhilr. then
she took up her embroidery. a present
for her mother, she played i game o.
solitaire, and finally she paced restless
y up and down the room. At home
there had been 4 large family circle;
hence it was sery trying TO her to be
left % much to herself in her new sur
rUuDdings.
At ten o'elOcs even the familiar noises
in the kitchen ceased. for the servant
had gone upstairs 10 her attic. and the
poor roman felt the old feeling OF dis
tryss and fright creep ovcr her. The
sitting room was located TO the rear OF
the house. and there was j hallway be-
tween il and the front rooms. She
therefore could not hear the usual
street noises. \ death-like silence
reigued in the rOom Tired and vet eN-
cited she threw herself on the lounge.
She sadly reflected Why beer houses
ard cart parties had been called int
existence. by ard by her thoughts
became more and more confused, and
she fell into a sound sIumbvr.
Il was 1895 o'clock when ems arrived
breathlsssIy end post haste At his house
door and tried 10 1T his key into the
locs-
Poor fellow, Had evil spirits con,
spired TO get hiul into troubls? Gle
the key broke in two and the BIZ
stuck fast in the keyhole. handle am
barrel alone remained in his hands.
He knocked. he called: he knoekes
again. and louder. for unfortunately
thsre was no house belI-all in vain
Il hardly think nv wife has retired
az early Is this. he reflected. ~bui
OF course she is in the sitting-ruom. ans
more likely she cannot hear me-" Onc,
more IL knocked-this time very Iold
he called unuI his voice was hoarse
No reply.
To til his cup Of misery to the brit1
it commenced "a rain, and be vas with
out an umbrella
Perhaps Annie has gone 10 bed aftri
all. be thought. shivering and drippirs
wet shall l 20 q i hoteIe No VIVA
would the people tkink2 The only plaC,
that know Of that may still be oper
i The railway depot. for there IS 4 train
arriving at midnight
lie went down the street in the pour
Ing rain. and a. last found himself II
the waitiug-roOm Of the station
- glass OF beer. sirE asked the en-.
trrpriSing waiter Gus shook himself
lie felr Chilly. Punch he said. -aut
make II hot" lie drunk one glass and
then another. ard still another, to whils
away the time He was the only person
there. In doe time the last train had ar
rived, and be could stay no Ionger. They
were about TO close up.
In sheer desperation be looked at hi,
watch
Il was one O'Clock when lie emerged
into the street. and il bad ceased e
rain The tut noon seemed 70 griu
and wink at him maliciouSly through
the clouds. as though she meant to sav:
See. Old man, il serves you right. Why
49, 49, ~ EA@e NlAlH anu AE4hN
your wife ut home in loneliness2-
In spite Of the repeated aotations h
SUI felt chilly. There is no help for i,
but \ goodru he said TO himself. starr
ing on a lively trot through the city;
6rst down one street, then up another;
through the suburbs until he reached
the open country. and back again with
cut stop or rest for fear Of catching
cold
The town clock struck the hour o,
fuCr. 1t is still too early to get into the
house. be said. the hout door is
never unlocked before SIX o'clock,
VIII they be unable to unlock the door
anyway A Piece OF my key sticks IN
the lock- the women are imprisoned
and cannot get q But now I eau
stand IL no longer. must have some
thing hOt % drink and sit down some
zk<re- There is train az foar o'elock-
and forthwith he oDc more wended his