The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-29
L.

New York Evening Post
(Which trunk were my white lawn lles
packed in, Annie? 1 wish YOU would ind
one for ne" The Rev. Arthur Balden
stood in front of the mirror finishing his
toilet His coat was hung carefully over
the back of 4 chair; his hat, shining ard
speckIess, adorned the Peak of the head
beard. He was brushing his hair devoted
ly He was Il tall man. He crouched a
little in front of the low mirror TO make
the parting straight The position vas
not altogether becoming. But he stared
at himself unseeing. He was absorbed
in the perfection of the part, Il ike q
white tie best with this suit" lie went
on, absently whisktng the clothes bru h
over his neck and sleeves. PercelNlng
that his words met no response, Don't
your" he said He locked inQu1rlngly at
hts wife. She was bending over the wash
stand, one hand grasping a curVed-neck
bottle, the other fumbling in small
travelling bag.
What's the matter?" he asked.
She lifted a perplexed face. Il can't
find the bag of shot to rinse the nursing
bottle. l was sure l put it i'll this
satchel" She put down the bottle and
gave both hands to the search
ooh. never mind being so particular,
for once. Just rinse it out and let it go,
1 can't find those ties anywhere.
She abandoned the travelling bag, and
going over 10 a low steamer trunk, took
out box after box examining each in tQe
dim light with close, neal sighted eyeA
She came upon it at last 1t was neatly
labeled: 'Arthur's Ties" She handed it
to him and returned to the travelling bag.
''Thank you. Annie. You always do
things so nicely" he said kindly. He Sc
lected stiff length of lawn. and squared
himself IL front of the mirror for silent
tusse.
She shook che shot in the bottle. She
had discovered it in the outside pocket;
put there to be handy. She rinsed the
bottle foaIfuliy with water from the toilet
pitcher In imagination she saw microbes
and germs and bacteria slip from the
pitcher into tho bottle. They rose They
float 81 nialisnantly around the head Of
Baby Freddie, awake in his improviaed
CRIB. They crossed the hall to threc-year-
old Tommy asleep IN the little room be-
yOnd
THAT Miss Colby will be great add
ton to our table, he said. He was re-
garding' himself absenlly in the mirror.
Where did they say she was from? Up
ton, was it.?
Upton college, Iowa"
oh yes She's well educated, certain
~. Did Ecu notice her allusiop to Dante?
must lookup my Dante. Did you put it
iri2'
mo; shere wasn't room finally. You
know you wanted that volume of 'ReI-
gious Anecdctc for your sermons, and it
ise so hig l had to leave out the Dante
and three or four small Shakespeares
'Oh, yes Well, never mind, I can Dor
row one perhaps It really is a pleasure
to meet an educated woman once more"
He smoothed his coat ><illar carefully and
craned his neck to examine the fit of the
back in the mirror. He crossed the room
on tiptoe and peered cautiously into the
crib A pair of round eyes, Intelligent
and non-committal, stared back. The
small mouth was closed firmly over a fat
thumb. He isn't asleep, is hep" Whis-
pered the father, drawing back and
reaching for his hat. II hoped that you
could go, Annie But I shall not be gone
long-just down to the beach for little
while. | told Miss Colby we would come,
You know" He paused, waiting fer-a re-
ply.
Yes, Arthur, you go. I Will come later
If I can, perhaps
DO try to come" He kissed her and
closed the door softly. One round, eblique
eye followed his departure over the top
Of the crib. The fat thumb was removed
The mouth remained open to emit deter
mined protesting yell
She crossed to the crib and patted the
sturdy legs gently. There, there, Fred
die, lie still. Be a good boy and go
sleepns," she murmured softly, in half
chant.
The thumb was replaced. The mouth
closed over it. The round eyes rested
conplaccntly OH her face. She smoothed
the clothes, giving admonitory pats,
grooming softly nonsense. The round eyes
dropped to mere Sits. They flew OPEN
They regarded her reproachfulIy. The
mouth took a fresh grip. The lids droop-
ed once more, faltered, futtered aAd
were lost. She drew the knitted blanket
over the little figure
She removed the waist Of her travelling
dress swiftly, and slipped into muslin
dressing sacque. She gave a sigh Of re-
lief as she lifted her arms freely above
her head. She transferred boxes and
clothes quickly from trunks to closets
and drawers. She arranged the top draw
er for Arthur, the second one for her
self The books were placed on high
shelf by the medicines. Before they were
married they had read Browning and
discussed Meredith. She noticed that
both Browning and Meredith had0some-
how been left behind. But the alcohol
bottle was full and the lime water handy
The Dante was there after all. Arthur
would be pleased. She gave the last
touches to the unpacking. She laid out
the night clothes. She went twice to the
kitchen to ask Mrs. Goodsell about fresh
eggs and milk She found out where the
klndlings were kept and how to manage
the rickcty bucket. When at last she
had laid her head on the small boarding
house pillow visions of Group and bacteria
and cholera infantum and nettle rash
foated about it, They crowded out a
little dim wonder that Arthur was so
late.