The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-06-17
HIS QUIET EVENING.
Hard Task to Get Little Nap where
There Is a House Full Of
Relatives.

The family was quite aghast when
Mr.. Kennedy announced that he was
going to bed Immediately after din
ner. Mrs. Kennedy at once put him
through severe cross-examination to
learn if he were ill, and the younger
members of the family listened with
great interest. Mr.. Kennedy declared
that he was not i'll, but only very tired
and felt that IA hours of sleep would
make new man of him.
"We will all be just as quiet as MICE"
his wife said.
He went to his bedroom and for half
an hour afterwafd the family kept an
almost breathless silence in, their de-
sire to aid his rest. Gradually, how
ever, the tension relaxed and they be-
gan again to move about-ard talk.
Mr. Kennedy had just sunk into his
first sleep when he heard the voice Of
Fannie in the next room. She seemed
to be conversing with her mouth full
OF hairpins, but even then her voice
carried remarkably well. 81 wonder
if that lovely Barry Fletcher will
dance with me tonight. 1 believe I'll
hold one dance for him. Bess'-this
last in tone of agony-"I can't find
my white slippers anywhere!"
Bess, from room across the hall,
reminded her sister that poor papa
was sleeping, and so they lowered their
voices to rasping whisper that
seemed to tear the nerves of their VIC
tim. He was just about to rise and
m To WIFI
doors slammed and they were off to
their dancing party.
He was falling again into that
blessed state between waking and
sleeping when the houseman went
into the cellar and apparently divert
ed himself by shifting several tons Of
coal and then shaking down the fire
until the house quivered.
Mr.. Kennedy was doing off again
when Ellis came into the room on
tiptoe, breathing hard. "Papa, are you
| awaken" he asked. His father gave
confirmatory groan and he went on.
"Mr. Gray is downstairs and he wants
to know if you've forgotten that the
ward meeting is tonight and that he's
going to speak about those things you
suggested"
Mr. Kennedy had forgotten both
these things but he contented himself
by sending message to the effect
that he was too tired to go out any
where that evening. Ellis left the
room with elaborate caution and Mr..
Kennedy tried to compose himself
again.
| All sorts of things seemed to be GO
ing on below stairs. Gertrude played
the piano; the baby shrieked as ono
animated conversation over the tele-
phone; the door bell rang several
times, and Mr.. Kennedy's curiosity
was at continual war with his fatigue.
At last, however, his fatigue was VIC
torious and he was sleeping lightly
when he was disturbed by the sound
of footsteps which stopped at his door.
He lay quiet. The door knob was
turned slowly and Mrs. Kennedy Gid
ed in, carrying a candle in her hand like
another Lady Macbeth. She stopped
at the bedside. Her husband breathed
deep, but could not keep his eyelids
from futtering.
Mrs. Kennedy observed this. ~ just
slipped in to see if you We're really
asleep" she said. "Now, isn't there
something I could do for you that
would make you rest better-couldn't
I rub your head with cologne or make
a mustard plaster or do something's"
Mr.. Kennedy sat up in bed suddenly.
'"There's no rest for me in this house."
he exclaimed, excitedly. I'm going
to dress and go out to that ward meet
Ing"
But then you can't rest-and we're
all keeping quiet for you," his wife
answered.
Mr.. Kennedy smiled unkindly. "But
it will be even quieter at the ward
meeting" he said Possibly / can
catch nap while Gray is talking. Any
way, don't expect me back before IL
o'clock. Chicago News.