Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1905-02-11

4 - He walked quickly up the
FClS little path, glancing IN
through the sitting-roOm window as he
passed. The warm red flicker of the
freight dancing on the walls looked
cozy and inviting, in pleasing contrast
TO the cold and damp out of doors.
"Ah! it is good to be home" thought
John as he tapped at the door instead
of ringing. 81 expect Amelia is wait
ing for me-sitting in the f"Aiisi't 90
that she can let me in the minute
knock" And he pictured to himself
in cheerful anticipation his wife eager
ly awaiting his Homecoming, sitting
in the cOZy firelit room. To his sur
prise there was TO his twice-repeated
knocking. "Where in the world can
Amelia be? She always runs so quick
ly to let me inr And John was forced
reluctantly 10 ring the bell.
"Where is Mrs. Jackson?" he asked
the maid as he walked into the empty
sitting-room.
upstairs with the baby" answered
Mary.
SIS there anything wrong?' demand
ed John little anXiously.
ooh, no, sir He's as merry as a
king-the darling-E don't wonder Mrs.
Jackson can't tear herself awayw
John was cold and tired and he could
not help feeling of disappointment
stealing over him. He glanced at the
fender-no slippers were there, and it
was the first time since their marriage
that Amelia had not put them ready.
He slowly fetched them, changed, and
flinging himself into an armchair en-
joyed the pleasant warmth of the fire.
Presently he got up.
81 must go up and see what Amelia
is doing" he said, "and give the little
man a kiss before he goes to sleep"
And he went upstairs.
as that you, john" called Amelia
"dO come in here and look at baby.
Doesn't he look q cherub?"
John went into the night nursery
where his wife was standing near the
little cot. 81 thought you were lost"
said lie.
Amnlia -vs'N s-+oo=-~S,el'onSod- in--th n
frollcs of her little son to notice her
husband or the shade Of disappoint-
ment which crossed his face when she
did not turn to greet him.
John put his arm around her waist.
"Give me kiss, little woman"
Amelia kissed him hastily-then
STOPPING over the cot she lifted out the
little growing bundle of humanity and
kissed it passionately. "Now give
daddy a kiss" she cried, and John sol
EMMY saluted the little roseleaf cheek
Now come and dress for dinner
The little chap ought to he asleep by
now"
'In minute" answered Amelia
"You go and get ready. / shall be
down by the time cook Is ready"
A little later John was again waiting
for Amelia downstairs. Dinner was
ready waiting-getting cold, and John
was hungry. Presently Amelia called
over the banisters:
II say, John dear, begin without me !;
/ shall be down in minute or two,
and don't want any soup" So John
sat down alone and began his meal in
solitary state. He was more than half
through before Amelia put in an APP
pearance.
II wish Mollie would come; 1 want
to tell her. several things" thought
John. But when she did come down,
the things We're left unsaid. she chat
tered increasingly about the baby, all
he had done and looked that day, and
as the little man had only had one
birthday there was but little variety
in his daily proceedings. John listened
patiently. He was devoted to his little
son, but lie had vague feeling that
Amelia might at least take some inter
est in his own doings during the day
"Baby can mOnopOlize her all day"
thought he. Il think it my turn in the
evening"
During the next few months a curl
Gus change came over Amelia Jackson.
Her whole life seemed wrapped IN I'm
her little son. 1t was not that she
loved her husband less, but If it was n
choice between John and the baby
baby was never the one to he left.
John quickly noticed the change. He
had been used to treat his wife as his
confident, talking his business affairs
over with her, and often relying on her
intultive feminine judgment for Il de-
clsion OF debatable points. Gradually.
however, all this was changed. Anne
lla was too eager to talk of baby's lit
tic dolngs to listen to her husband. so
he almost unconsclously gave up the
attempt 10 confde in her or to ask her
opinion.
Amelia was sitting on the sands at
Atlantic City reading-a few yards off
was baby with his devoted playmate
and nurse. The latter was making
sand pies for the little man to break
down as quickly as she turned them
out of his bucket.
give never read Johns letter." sud
denly thought Amelia, with a sudden
twinge of conscience. Poor old
dear, wonder how he's getting on in
town all by himself. 1t will remind
him of his bachelor days before we
were married, Still, simply couldn't
leave baby here with nurse--I should
miss him too dreadfully."
In the early spring John Jackson's
little heir had had an attack of whoOp-
ing cough, and OH his recovery the doc
tor had suggested sea air. DR.. Cary
was an old friend of Johns, and seeing
the direction of affairs in that house
hold, had hoped to mend matters by
his suggestion. He thought that once
nurse and baby were down at the sea
side, Amelia would be freed from the
unconscious slavery into which she
had slipped, and John would once
more enjoy his home life. What was
his dlsmay on calling few days later
to find the house deserted except for
John and the cook
Amelia opened and read the letter
Its contents Occasioned her no small
surprise. They were as follows: