Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1911-09-14
How They Say
Good Night

~ 10 Cdoy 70 Say lou
hear 1t everywhere. and on the lips
OF everybody
But there are times In a mans life
when 1t is a most stupendous under
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 tho
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 nc breads It aw
fully. and would fain put far of the
dreadful moment. And she feels Just
the sarne. She knows that her eyes
VIII be red next day from loss NJ
sleep. and that she will feel like "a
stewed WITCH" howe, er 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-
Inf NJ
ought to have been on the pillow long
ago. am such 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, Il
Isn't late at all. It's only just a little
wee bit past eleven. and I haven't
said half what wanted to had lots
md lots OF things to tell you. and"
1T Is after midnight. darling. and
your pa has stopped snoring. and I
heard him clearing his throat JUST
now. as II he we're preparing to say
something"
"Oh. Archie. don't you mind about
dad. He's got throat trouble. and
he clears his pipes a good deal. He'll
doZe off In minute Must you 60?
Well. goodnight"
Eyes. dear goodnight Oh. don't
come out In tie chill night air You
might get cold. and I should never
forgive myself. never Well. good.
night"
Goodnight. Archie Would you
really and truly care II I should be
ill?"
My dearest, should die II any
thing happened to you! Well. good
night; and, bark! Vas that your
father calling you?"
mo. indeed! That was the cat
down cellar. don't believe you would
care very much II should go into
decline and die You'd 20 right of
after little. and marry that hateful
red-hended Kate Stirling; and | do.
test the sight Of her Well. good.
night"
Mabel. you know I wouldn't look
at Kate Stirling! Old freckle.faced
thing! You little goose. you! Well
really must go now. That 10 |
o'clock. by love! 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 1t so bewltchlngly that he isn't
mortal II he does not respond In some
oil u,b4
been lovers know just how he does 1t.
"Well. goodnight. \rchie. shall
not see you again for two whole days.
I suppose" and she heaves a deep
drawn sigh. which gives him the idea
that 1t Is all she can do to bear II
1.-TWO eternities!" he cries In de-
spair; but. then. I can stop a mo-
ment Tuesday morning when go
past"
"Oh. can you? How perfectly love-
ly! Well. II you must go. good night"
Are you cold. dear? I 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. l,ut ] must go Well. good.
night"
ut IS so early yet. Archie: but then.
n you want to go. why. I won't say
anything more Goodnight"
Mabel. n you look at m, like that,
] shall never be able to tear myself
away! You are not offended with
yodr Archie. are you. love? No. I
thought you could not be 80 cruell
And I really must go now: so good.
night. goodnight"
And M the sonorGus notes OF tho
old mans snoring rise and fall on the
still air. Archie goes away nearly
brokrn.hcarted for a minute. but di.
rectly he lights a cigar. and feels
reconci'ed.
And Mabel locks the door behind