The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1911-03-16
How They Say
Good Night

| Wheu IL is most SJupenuOuS unueT'
taking to say goodnight.
When he has been to visit the lode.
star of his affections. and pater
familias and his wife have become
tired out, and gone discreetly to bed
and the grateful music of their snor.
ing is coming refreshingly down the
stairway, mingled with the sound of
the clock on the church steeple slow.
ly striking the hour of midnight, then
the ordeal begins.
He knows it is time to say good,
night, and go; but he breads it aw.
fully, and would fain put far off the
dreadful moment. And she feels just
the same. She knows that her eyes
Will be red next day from loss Of
sleep, and that she will feel like "a
stewed WITCH" however that may be;
and he realizes just how all the col,
umns of figures he is always adding
will run together next day, and how
the ''old man" will snort when he
finds him mapping over the ledger
and how the boys in the office will
quote love-sick poetry to him. and
otherwise make themselves as infer
nally disagreeable as they know.
He rises at last with the firm deter
mination in his heart that he will say
it, and have 1t over.
Mabel, dear. | must go. 1t is aw-
fully late. and your dear little head
ought to have been on the pillow long
ago. l am such a thoughtless, selfish
fellow. / must say goodnight and let
you get bit of sleep. before the sun
rises Well, goodnight"
Then she looks at him. and she
says:
Archie. must you? Oh, dear, it
isn't late at all. It's only just little
wee bit past eleven. and l haven't
said half what wanted to. | had lots
and lots of things to tell you, and"
1T is after midnight, darling, and
your pa has stopped snoring, and ]
heard him clearing his throat just
now. as If he were preparing to say
something"
"Oh, Archie, don't you mind about
he clears his pipes a good deal. He'll
doze off in minute. Must you go?
Well, goodnight"
Eyes, dear. goodnight. Oh. don't
come out in the chill night air. You
might get cold, and l should never
forgive myself. never. Well, good
night"
Goodnight, Archie Would you
really and truly care If l should be
ill?"
my dearest! | should die if any.
thing happened to you! Well, good
night; and. bark! Was that your
father calling your"
mo, indeed! That was the cat
down cellar. don't believe you would
care very much If should go into a
decline and die. You'd go right off
after little, and marry that hateful
red-headed Kate Stirling; and / de-
test the sight of her. Well. good
night"
Mabel, you know l wouldn't look
at Kate Stirling! Old freckle-faced
thing! You little goose. you! Well,
really, must go now. That is |
O'Clock, by Jove! Well, goodnight"
BY this time he has got his arm
around her, and is holding her hand |
in his, to give him courage to speak
the distressing words of farewell. And
she clings to his coat button, and
twists it so bewitchingly that he isn't
mortal If he does not respond in some
way; aid oil you people who have
been lovers know just how he does it
"Well goodnight, Archie. l shall
not see you again for two whole days.
l suppose" and she heaves a deep
drawn sigh, which gives him the idea
that it is all she can do to bear it.
1.-TWO eternities!" he cries in de.
spair; "but, then, l can stop mo
ment Tuesday morning when go
past"
"Oh, can you? How perfectly love
Iy! Well, If you must go, goodnight"
"Are you cold, dear? | thought you
shivered. Mabel, do take care of your.
self, love. Oh. how long for the day
when you will be all my own, and !
can shield you from every wind that
blows. but must go, Well, good
night"
ut is SO early yet. Archie; but, then
4 you want to go, why, won't say
anything more Goodnight"
Mabel, If you look at me like that,
shall never be able to tear myself
away! You are not offended with
your Archie, are you, love? No, !
bought you could not be SO cruel
And I really must go now; SO good
light, goodnight"
And as the sonorous notes of the
Id mans snoring rise and fall on the
till air, Archie goes away nearly
for a minute, but d! |
ectly he lights cigar, and feels {
econciled.
And Mabel locks the door behind ,
i'm, and goes upstairs in her stock 6
ng feet, and puts her hair in papers ,
nd dons the old gloves she sleeps in I
o keep her hands soft and wonders :
/ it ever was so hard for anybody
o say goodnight as it is for ler and 7
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