Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-06-15
The
HONEYMOON:

| 1T was the day AFTER the wedding ans
wet enough to damp the ardor of tn,
most devoted of bridegrooms. Ans
John Hampton was not the most de
voted. He had married. as most eau
tious and selfish young men do. be
cause he wanted a home and some on,
to look after his home comforts. ii,
had tried housekeepers, but they haC
proved failures one and ALL The,
wanted too many evenings out. anC
their appearance was not calculated Il
| decorate any smart little suburban
| villa
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
| a wife as well as lady housek eeperY'
| thought John. and so he kept sharp
| eye round him for n bright. pretty do
mesticated girl whom he coufH honor
with his intentions with a view to mat
rimony.
And at last his dirgent 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 dgnified 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 enyeloped
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-
tereu H. -onm, and he turned to greet |
her.
Not a very charming morning, my |
dear. is itI' said he amicably.
We'll. what can you expect from |
place like Brighton?' said his wife |
coolly. Its all the same here whether
il rains or Shines"
John raised his eyebrows in surprise. |
why. my dear he began anxious |
"You thought l liked Brighton. l sup |
pose" interrupted Mrs. Hampton calm
ly. We'll. 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 before?
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.
Il presume you ordered this break
90 a .et9 .Sv,fp Ial Il
Yes. dear" said John. is there
mo, there isn't anything like" she
replied. without troubling him to finish
his remark. and looking at the viands
on the table. "Win you please ring the
bell?'
John oheyed. and when the maid APP
peared she gave an order for new
laid egg and n piece Of hot toast. pass
ing the cold meat to her husband with
the dignity of a queen
And a very good breakfast she made
too. John was rather taken aback. In
his idea delicate and refined women
should eat very little and of the dainti-
est viands. and this morning meal of /
his wife's surprised him as Ruch as
her manner had done. She had acted
so differently during their engagement
Evidently he had misunderstood her, /
and he determined to assert his author
ity as her lord and master at once.
There was no time TO lose. Let a wo-
man get the upper hand" thought
John. and your influence is gone for
ever"
And so. after the breakfast things |
were cleared away. he told her TO put
h.Nr ~. u r.
a long walk.
Good gracious. John. are you mad?"
said his wife. In weather like thisI'
Certainly. II viii do you far more
good than stopping at home. Come, do
as | tell you"
Mrs Hampton looked at him scorn-
fully
John Hampton she said firmly. If
you ike TO go out and contract a chill. /
I've no objection. except that | shall
have the trouble Of nursing you. but
don't take me quite for fool shall /
stay indoors and write long letter 10 /
And 50. very much crestfallen At his
first attempt 10 assert his authority. /
John put on his hat and went down on /
the beach and amused himself by MAX
ing ducks and brakes on the waves.
But in time this sport became tame, /
and. after buying some cigarettes and /
he retraced his steps once
more 10 the house
On his way he passed a couple who |
were walking under Il large umbrella
The man had his right arm round the
girls waist. and the girl held up n /
radiant face 10 his and was chatting /
They appeared 10 be per /