The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1900-09-15

| linked with his that she was individu-
/ ally effaced? He had never asked him
| self this question before. X was time
| 1t was asked. How supremely selfish
he had been. He had never recognized
the fact until now. He passed his hand
| wearily over his forehead. He wasn't
well, He had the blues. He needed a
strong bracer. He went to the side
board and poured out a half tumbler
| full of whisky in the little glass, He
! picked it up. Then he pushed it back.
1t seemed cowardly. Why should he
/ be afraid of his thoughts? He remem
bered, too, how reproachfully she al
ways looked at him when he drank
He knew it was temptation that he
ought to avoid. And yet her reproach
! full glances never stopped him. He
| would laugh ut her and drink in spr
it of bravado.
He went back to the big chair in the
library. What confounded disagree
able companions mans thoughts
! We're! They came unlimited and they
didn't have the grace TO leave when
they found they were not welcome.
/
plenty of time for it. Much more time
than he had. Did she look back as he
had been looking back? Did-did she
regret?
a great many people had admired
Nellie. All the men who knew of his
domestic affairs considered him very
| lucky man. He took their compliments
| as a matter of course. He felt com
placently that this was complimentary
to his good taste and his admirable
home discipline. Fool!
There was one man in particular, his
friend, whom he had reason to believe
had loved Nellie and would have made
her his wife. He was n fine fellow. a
| popular man, and he was worth n good
deal of money He would have made
life easier perhaps happier, for her
He contrasted himself with this man.
Was there any possible balance in his
favor? And yet Nellie had preferred
him. Was it love or was it plquc?
Did the occasional sight of this old ad
mirer ever arouse regret?
He got up slowly and looked at the
clock. He had been doing and dream
ing for he knew not how long. 1t was
past midnight. He would go to bed
She certainly wasn't coming home BE,
sides, she had her key
He turned off the gas and went up
the stairs slowly and wearily. He
| felt old. When he reached their room
he did not light the gas. He knew
that almost every object in the apart
ment would remind him of her.
When he was in bed, he stretched his
arm slowly and tenderly across the va
cant place beside him and fell asleep.
He awoke with subtle odor in his
nostrils, faint, yet pungent-a delicious
odor. He sat up quickly 1t was broad
daylight, with the sun pouring through
the window, over which he had forgot
ten to draw the shade He looked
about. No, Nellie hadn't come home.
John, John, you lazy boy! It's 8
O'Clock, and the coffee is getting cold"
Was that her voice or was lie dream
ing? Can you dream the odor of cof
fee? He dressed in a wild hurry and
then added the finishing touches more
slowly.
She was at the foot of the stairs, her
face beaminG, her eyes sparkling.
Hello, Johnnie" she cried
Hello" he answered and stopped to
meet her kiss.
Miss me?"
'Yes, little"
That's right. Where did you get
your dinner?'
"Dinner?"
you great goose, don't believe you
had any, Did you miss me as much as
that? But you'll enjoy your breakfast
all the more. OF course you got my
note?"
John started slightly
"Of course
"Why, what's this by the bookcase?
Here's the note now. A puff of wind
must have blown ii from the table
where you dropped It, There, there;
sit down. You'll find your butterfly
wife hasn't forgotten how to cook.
How's the coffee?'
First class" answered John, with
great gulp.
"Thank you. dear You see. Mabel
! y L
time to scribble that note and jump in
the carriage. And, oh. John. they've
got the sweetest little girl baby there
you ever saw! And, John, do you
know, Mabel wouldn't let me out of
her sight for moment; just clung to
me and didn't want anybody else TO
come near her; kept me holding tight
to her hand for hours and hours. 1t
touched me deeply, John. | never
dreamed Mabel cared so much for me-"
He looked up. Her bright eyes were
full of tears.
Can you blame her" he asked, with
a lame attempt at jocularty. Then he
added, Been up all nightY'
! yes" she answered. II couldn't get
away until Mabel fell asleep But
hope don't show my late hours as you
do, John. You look quite bleary."
AS he went down the street to the
car little later he felt quite as bleary
as he looked He had passed hard
night, and he hadn't the marvellous re-
cuperative powers Of his wife. He was
| irritab and angry at himself
"Confound that puff of wind" he
1 said.-Cleveland Plain Dealer
J All n Mistake.
Prisoner" said Maryland Justice.
you have been found guilty of steal
ing pig belonging to Colonel Chllders.
Have YOU ANYTHING to saw before I