Waterbury Democrat., 1902-12-24

\ ana cannot gSL, OuDs 1JuG now can stand this no longer. I must have something hot to drink and sit down somewhere. There is train at four 4 o'clock" and forthwith he once more wended his way to the railroad depot.
 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 awol1e in the middle of the night with a start. almost frightened out of her wits by horrfd dream, in which her husband had appeared be- fore her, wounded, bleeding, and torn by huge bloodhounds. Pretty soon, however, she comprehended the situ- l ation. 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 l 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 mo last night by | pretending he would henceforth be home at II o'clock.
 "Who would ever have thought him So base? They close the beer house after midnight, hence he cannot pre- tend to be playing cards there all night. Heaven knows where he is spending the night, in whose conn pany he is enjoying himself, while I-! But he'll find that I am not his. dupe I shall leave him at once. 1 There is train at seven o'clock in the morning which | am going to take and go home to my parents and so forth and so on. More wiring | ing of her hands, more tears, more self-pity and accusations, until in her eyes her husband appeared a veritable Bluebeard. At five o'clock she called the sery- | ing maid, whom she sent to the gar ret for a valise, and commenced to pack The maid said nothing, but she was surprised that her master. had not risen and did not help his wife. However, she made the coffee and then went after cab. %.~ The front door was wide open, and locksmith busy with the big lock, when Annie appeared in the hall. The landlady ran to meet her, ex-' plaining in hurry 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 frightened him off. He left broken key stuck fast in the lock, and I was unable to unlock: the door. had to call from the win dow until aroused a neighbor, who ! ran for locksmith. Now | am go- | ing to have a patent lock put on and spoil their little game. But you look very pale, my dear madam. I am, sorry to have frightened you with my burglar story. Are you going to take ride so early in the morning?" 1 Annie nodded and passed on. She was glad that the woman had not: seen her valise, which her maid had already put into the cab. ~l~-S
 "What a narrow escape had last night. How near I came being robbed-perhaps worse!" She was. now. thoroughly angry 'sSo much more reason for leaving the fellow. no matter the consequences! For the present shall remain with my parents" Thus musing, she arrived at the depot. - .~. Before purchasing her ticket she intended to leave her valise in the waiting-room. Annie entered and made for an empty table, when sud den1y-she dropped the valise and al- most screamed aloud-wasn't that her husband, 'sher', Gus, sitting there, m a corner and snoring loud enough to make everybody in the room smile I at his nasal powers? o.. -.. 1 Suddenly the sleeper opened his eyes. Whatever the outcome, she must avoid a scene in public room. r Annie tried to appear quite uncon- eerned, and took Seat beside her, husband. Somehow her anger had suddenly vanished. ~.. B <"Oh, darling, what brought mel mean rather what brought you. hepe?" he asked, astonished at the unexpected appearance of his wife, dressed for a journey. ....s sNeyer mind, dear. Don't bother about that now" she whispered. 'Come, let us ride home, when will explain all.''
 Gus acquiesced in silence. All he could do was to drag himself to 8 l eab.
 I And then explanations were in or der. Annie had no reason to doubt her husbands narrative of his adven- lures during the night. But he could not quite make out from her ex- plantations what had taken her to the railway station. He was. however, too i'll to ask many questions. l Arrived at home she simply told l the astonished servant that they had changed their mind and would not go away, because her husband, who had preceded her to the depot, had been suddenly taken sick and sent her after physician. -
 l Gus was very sick; for two weeks he could not leave his bed.
 At last Gus got well, and though, he would now and then go to have a social game of whist, his wife never again doubted him, even if he stayed out later than eleven. Translated from the German.
 
 -.