Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1905-03-01

@ @ as his home came in sight.
4 ~ i He walked quickly up the
~o~ 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.
All. it is good to be home" thought
John as he tapped at the door instead
of ringing. Il expect Amelia is wait
ing for me-sitting in the freight so
that she can let me in the minute 1
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
~ to let me in.w And John was forced
reluctantly to ring the bell.
"Where is Mrs. Jacksonw he asked
the maid as he walked into the empty
sitting-room.
upstairs with the baby" answered
Mary.
lis there anything wrong?' demand
ed John a little anXiously.
"Oh, no. sir. He's as merry as a
king-the darling-I don't wonder Mrs.
Jackson can't tear herself away.!'
John was cold and tired and he could
not help 4 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
fiEging himself into an armchair en-
joyed the pleasant warmth of the fire.
Presently he got up.
Il must so up and see what Amelia
is doing" he said, land give the little
mar a kiss before he goes to sleep"
And he went upstairs.
rs that you. John:' called Amelia:
"do come in here and look at baby.
Doesn't he look a clerub?"
John went into the night nursery
where his wife was standing near the
little cot. Il thought you were lost"
said he.
EAlllCild vas too elISl oSScu LII llC
frolics 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 heT waist.
"Give me a kiss. little woman?'
Amelia kissed him hastily-then
STOPPING over the cot she lifted out the
little growing bundle of humanity and
kissed it p~assionately. "Now give
daddy a kiss" she cried, and John SOL
emily saluted the little roseleaf cheek.
NOW come and dress for dinner.
The little chap ought to be asleep by
now"
"You go and get ready. I 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:
Il say. John dear, begin without me;
I shall be down in a minute OIL 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 ap-
p%earance.
Il wish Mollie would come; I want
to tell her several things" thought
John. But when she did come down,
the things were left unsaid. She chat
tered increasingly about the baby, all
he had done and looked that day, and
as the little mar 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 he had a 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 zane w Amelia Jackson.
Her whole life seemed wrapped up in
her little son. 1t was not that she
loved her husband less, but if it was a
choice between John and the baby
baby was the one to be 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
intuitive feminine Judgment for a de-
cision on debatable points. Gradually,
however, all this was changed. Anne
liza was too eager to talk of baby's lit
tie doings to listen to her husband. so
he almost unconsciously gave up the
attempt to confide in her or to ask her
opinion.
treiia was sitting on the sands at
Atlantic City reading-a few yards off
was baby with his devoted playmate