Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1911-06-21
How They Say
Good Night


Of everybody.
when It 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 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 II ia time to say good,
night. and go; but he breads Z nw
fully. and would fain put far Or 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" howev 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
hnds him mapping over the ledger
$3.50 a4S" IhS DOIo III luS OIllCe VIII
quote loye-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
1t, 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. | 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. 1t
Isn't late at all It's only just little
wee bit past eleven. and haven't
said half what I 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. az II he were preparing to saw.
something"
"Oh. Archie. don't you mind about
dad. He's got throat trouble. and
he clears his pipes good deal He'll
doze off in minute Must you go?
Well. good.n-i.g-h.t."
"Yes, dear. goodnight Oh. don't
come out In tie chill night air You
might get cold. and should never
forgive myself. never Well. good
night"
Goodnight. Archie. Would You
really nn1 ,Ln lac,
il?"
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 If ! should go into a
decline and die You'd go right OF
after a little. and marry that hateful.
red-headed Kate Stirling: and do
test the sight OF her Well. good.
night"
Mabel. you know ! 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 tine he has got his arm
around her. and Is holding her hn I'd
in his. to give him courage to speak
the distressing words OF farewell And
she cIings to his coat button. and
twists 1t so bewltchingly that he isn't
mortal II he does not respond in somo
way; a..d all you people who lave
been lovers know just how he does it.
"Well. goodnight. \rchie shall
not see you again for two whole days.
suppose" and she heaves deep.
drawn sigh. which gives him the idea
that 1t is all she can do TO bear 1t
1.-TWO eternities!" he cries in dc.
spair; but. then. can stop mo-
ment Tuesday morning when go
past"
"Oh, can you? How pcr-ectiy love-
ly! Well. II you must go. goodnight"
Are you cold. dear? I thought YOU
shivered Mabel. do take care of your.
self. love. Oh. how long for tho day
when you will be all my own. and I
can shield you from every wind that
blows Lut I must go We'll. good.
night"
ut is so early yet. Archie; bur then.
II you want to go. why. won't say
anything more Goodnight"
Mabel, II you look at M like that.
I shall never be able to tear myself
away! You are not offended with
your Archie. are you. love? No.
thought you could not be so cruel!
And really must go now; so good.
night. goodnight"
And az the sonorous notes OF the
old mans snoring rise and fall on the
still air, Archie goes away nearly
broken.hearted for a minute but Ill.
rectly he lights n cigar. end feels
reconciled.
And Mabel locks the door behind
him. and goes upstairs In her stock.
ing feet, and puts her hair In papers.
and IONS the old gloves she sleeps in
to keep her hands soft. and wonders
II Il ever was so hard for anybody