The Press., 1901-09-26
The
HONEYMOON


Il was the day after the wedding and
wet enough to damp the ardor of the
most devoted of bridegrooms. And
John Hampton was not the most de-
voted. He had married, as most eau
| tious and selfish young men do, be-
| caIse he wanted home and some one
to look after his home comforts. He
had tried housekeepers, but they had
proved failures one and all. They
wanted too many evenings out, and
their appearance was not calculated to
decorate any smart little suburban
And SO John meditated deeply about
| the matter. Should he hamper himself
| with a wife or should he engage an
other lady housekeeper and see how
that worked?
"Why not combine the two and get
wife as we'll as lady housekeeperT'
thought John, and SO he kept sharp
eye round him for bright, pretty do
mesticated girl whom he could honor
with his intentions with view to mat
| rimony.
And at last his diligent search was
rewarded. Madeline Gray possessed
| every attraction and virtue that John
had determined his pretty wife should
have. She was pretty, brilliantly pref
ty. Her hair was like spun gold, and
her eyes were as blue as the bluest of
china; but, as John Hampton remark
ed, beauty was not everything, and
Madeline's hands, though small and
| white, were the nimblest in the world.
| She could knit, and she could sew, she
| could wash, and, yes, she could even
scrub, and do it all in the daintiest and
most becoming manner too. Truly
Madeline Gray was jewel which only
required the setting of that little Nor
wood villa to perfect.
And John Hampton thought himself
| extremely lucky when this model of
virtues accepted his attentions and lat
er his dignifed proposal of marriage,
and that was how he happened to be
looking out of the window of his mod
est little apartments at Brighton one
very wet day in May.
The scene was depressing enough.
The sea looked dark and gloomy, the
beach was deserted, and now and then
detected looking individual enveloped
in a macintosh hurried along the pa
rade with the seeming object Of get
ting home as quickly as possible.
"Honeymoons are a mistake" said
John to himself. "If hadn't wanted
| a change of air, shouldn't have come
It's an ideal morning for the seaside,
must say
At that moment Mrs. Hampton en-.
tered the room. and he turned to greet
| her.
mot a very charming morning, my
dear, is it?" said he amicably.
| "Well, what can you expect from a
place like BrightonY' said his wife
coolly. TITS all the same here whether
it rains or Shines"
John raised his eyebrows in surprise
"Why, my DEAR he began anxious.
ly. ... ..-s--.
"You thought liked Brighton, sup
pose," interrupted Mrs. Hampton calm
ly.. "Well, it's pity You didn't trou-
BILE to inquire before. AS you arranged
this holiday yourself, you mustn't
grumble, and now come and have your
breakfast" .... -
To say that Mr.. Hampton was sur
prised Is stating the case too mildly
He was simply astounded. He looked
at his wife as at some Chinese puzzle.
Was this self possessed and command
ing woman really the meek and sub
dued little maiden he had married the
day before2
And yet there she sat. her golden
head as golden as ever, her eyes as
blue, pouring out the coffee with as
much sang froid as If she had been
Mrs. Hampton for years.
II presume you ordered this break
fast" she said as she finished her task
Eyes. DEAR" said John. els there
"No, there isn't anything l like" she
replied. without troubling him to finish
his remark, and looking at the viands
on the table. "Will you please ring the
bellY
John obeyed. and when the maid ap-
peared she gave an order for a new
laid egg and piece of hot toast, pass
ing the cold meat to her husband with
| the dignity of queen.
] And very good breakfast she made