HE TOLD HIS LOVE.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1580, 11 March 1887, Page 4

HE TOLD HIS LOVE.

While Hoppleboffer was waiting bis turn to be shaved the other day he picked np a newspaper, and the first thing his eye landed npon was this:— " No matter how busy a man may be, be should find time every day to tell his wife that he loves her."

Hoppleboffer dropped the naper and went to musing on the golden pant Visions of beauty flitted before him, and made him sigb that the wheels of time should whirl so rapidlv. One? more be was a young man, living on hope and six dollars a week, sparking his wife, and swearing to love her till the mountains sank under the sea. One by one the buried years were resurrected, and the joys and sorrows of each were dwelt npon.

Ju«t then the barber shouted "Next," and Hoppleboffer roused up with a ■tart and got into the chair. The man of gab said it was a nice day, but Hoppleboffer heeded bin not. The towel went under his chin, and the lather went on to his face, and the ■able man who bent over him said that it looked a good deal like rain, but HopplebcfTer was too deep in thought to bear bim. So the barber lathered and scraped bim in silence, and Hoppleboffer went right on with his arising. He was trying to remember the last time he told his wife that he loved her. He couldn't do it. Dot, after a long mental tursle, he made up his mind that he would do better in the future and blurted out—- " I'll do it! I will, bv Gf orge!" ■ What's that, sir ? " said tbe barber, stopping suddenly, with his ra/or in the air. Hopplebiffer blushed through the lather, and said it didn't matter. He had been run-ins ting on a newspaper paragraph, and was resolved that he would put its teachings into practice from that day forward. He would turn over a new leaf and make bis wife's heart bound with joy. He would tell her that she was dear to him, and watch the roses blocm on her cheeks again. The thought was delicious and made him feel as u he bad money in every .pocket. Let us see how the old man succeeded in his undertaking. When Hoppleboffer got heme bis wife had just been havirg a nuity row with the hired girl about somethirg that hadn't been dor e to suit ber, and she was just about mad enough to leave the prints of her teeth in cold iron.

Hoppleboffer was too much taken op with hia new idea to notice htr excitement, 10 he walked up to her side, chucked her under the chin, tnd aa be •tooped to kits her, wid quite teadei*

• My dear, I We you." " Simon Henry," she sud, in tones as cheerless as the dumping of a ton of coals, " don't be a fool." w But, my dear " " Don't you dare to dear me. Tou bare been drinking again. Oh, you old reprobate! Ain't you ashamed of yourself? As though I hadn't trouble enoueh already, but you must " u You're mistaken, my lore, I " "Not another word!" exclaimed the excited woman, with snapping eyes, as she stamped her foot. " You're a beast; that's just what you are! A good-for-nothing beast!" Hopplebi ff«r tried to slip his arm round her waist and pull her on his knee. She tore herself away from him and grabbed a chair, which she raise 1 in a threatening manner as she bhouted:- " Keep away from me, you nasty sot, or you'll get hurt." " I'm not Jrunk, my dear." "You are." " I ain't—l haven't tasted a drop." 44 What's the matter with you, then. Ain't you got no sense at all ? " "Why don't you let me tell you that " " Tell me what ? "

" That I love you." "Stop right there. I don't want any more of that You make me sick. I won't let you or apy other baldheaded old idiot make fun of me to my face. Go rigbt over to the grocery this minute and get me a beef-steak for supper." Hoppleboffer turned sadly and went out, with his heart beating, with a dragging motion.