The Forrest City times., 1896-04-10

VI.
u hardly think my wife has retired
as early as this" he reflected, "but
OF course she is in the sitting-room, and
more likely she cannot hear me-" Once
more he knocked-this time very loud
he called until his voice was hoarse.
No reply!
To fill his cup of misery to the briin
1T commenced to rain, and he was with
out an umbrella.
Perhaps Annie has gone to bed after
all" he thought, shivering and dripping
wet "Shall 60 to hotel? No! What
would the people think? The only place
that l know of that may still be open
is the railway depot, for there is a train
arriving at midnight"
He went down the street in the pour
ing rain, and at last found himself in
the waiting-room of the station.
"A glass of beer, sir?" asked the en-
terprising waiter. Gus shook himself.
He felt chilly. punch" he said, "and
make it hot!" He drank one glass and
then another, and still another, 10 while
away the time. He was the only person
there. In due time the last train had ar
rived, and he could stay no longer. They
were about to close up.
In sheer desperation he looked at his
watch.
1t was one o'clock when he emerged
rain. The full moon seemed to grin
and wink at him maliciously through
the clouds, as though she meant to say:
''See, old man, it serves you right! Why
must you go out to play cards and leave
your wife at home in loneliness ?''
In spite of the repeated potations he
still felt chilly. There is no help for it
but good rum" he said to himself, start
ing on lively trot through the city;
first down one street, then up another;
through the suburbs until he reached
the open country. and back again with
out stop or rest for fear of catching
cold.
The town clock struck the hour of
four. "1t is still too early to get into the
house," he said, 'the front door is
| never unlocked before six o'clock!
Will they be unable to unlock the door,
anyway? A piece of my key sticks in
and cannot get out. But now l can
stand it no longer. 1 must have some
thing hot to drink and sit down some
where. There is train at four o'clock"
and forthwith he once more wended his
way to the railroad depot.
A snug corner and cup of hot coffee
| somewhat restored him. But he was
very tired, and pretty soon he was as
sound asleep in his corner as his wife
had been the night before on her
lounge.
And how did his wife fare? She
| awoke in the middle of the night with n
start, almost frightened out of her wits
by horrid dream, in which her hus-
band had appeared before her, wounded.
bleeding, and torn by huge blood
hounds. Pretty soon, however, she
comprehended the situation. Her face
bathed in tears, she paced restlessly up
and down the room wringing her hands.
"Oh, the wretch! To stay out all night!
Just to think of it! Such man has the
effrontery to talk to me of love. Not
content to act like villain, he even had
to make fun of me last night by pretend
ing he would henceforth be home at Il
o'clock. Who would ever have thought
him SO base? They close the beer
house after midnight, hence he cannot
pretend to be playing cards there all
night. Heaven only knows where he
is spending the night, while I! But
he'll find that | am not his dupe.
shall leave him at once. There is
train at seven o'clock in the morning
which l am going to take and go home
to my parents"-and so forth and so on.
More wringing of her hands, more tears,
more self-pity and accusations, until in
her eyes her husband appeared a verit
able Bluebeard.
At five o'clock she called the serving
maid, whom she sent to the garret for
valise, and commenced to pack. The
maid said nothing, but she was sur
prised that her master had not risen and
did not help his wife. However, she
made the coffee and then went after a
cab.
The front door was wide open and
locksmith busy with the big lock when
Annie appeared in the hall. The land
lady ran TO 1neet her, exclaiming in
a furry of excitement: did you hear
about it, madam? A thief was here
last night and made an attempt to enter
the house. Some one must have fright
ened him off. He left broken key
stuck fast in the lock, and l was unable
to unlock the door. l had to call from
the window until / aroused a neighbor,
who ran for locksmith. Now / am
going to have patent lock put on and
spoil their little game. But you look
very pale. my dear madam. am sorry