How They Bay Good-Night.

Observer, Volume XXI, Issue 1177, 20 July 1901, Page 9

How They Bay Good-Night.

■ >t* ' ' '"■•■" ... ' • ■ - ■ ■ • ■ - yf SOOD NIGHT la • vary simple comf(j &r- bfnation of two simple words, and Vif ordinarily it is very easy to say it. '" r Ton hear it everywhere, and on the lips of everybody. Bat there are times in a man's life when it it a most stupendous undertaking to say good-night. When he has been to visit the lodestar of his affections, and pater familiaaand bis wife have become iired out and gone discreetly to bed, and the grateful music of their snorlog is coming refreshingly down the stairway, then the ordeal begins He knows it is time to say goodnight* and go; but he dreads it awfully, and would fain put off the dreadful moment. And she feels jast so. 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 be realises just how air the oolomnß of figures he Is always adding up will run together next day, and how the 'old man' will snort When be finds him napping over the ledger, and ftow the boys in the office will quote love-sits; poetry to him, and otherwise make themselves, as infernally disagreeable as they know. He rises at last with the firm determination in bis heart that he will say it, and have it over. • Mabel, dear, I most go. It is awfully late, and your dear little head ought to have been on the pillow long ago. I am such a thrughtless, selfish fellow. I must say good-night, and let you get a bit of sleep before the sun rises. Well, goodnight — -' Then she loqks at him, and she says: 'Archie, must you? Oh, dear, it isn't late at all. It's only just a little wee bit past eleven, Wad I haven't sajd half what I wanted to. I had lots and lots of things to tell you, and ' 1 It is after midnight, darling, and your pa has stopped snoring, and I beard him clearing his throat just now, as if he were preparing to .say something ' • Ob, Archie, don't you mind about dad. He's got a throat trouble, and he dears his pipes a good deal. He'll doze off in a minute. Mart yon go t Well, good-n-i-g-h-t.' ' yes, dear, good night. Oh, don't oome out in the chi|l night air. You might get cold, and I should never forgive myself— never. Well, good-night' ' Goodnight, Archie. Would you really and truly oare if I should be 111 ?' 'My dearest ! I should die if anything happened to yon I Weil, good night ; and— hark t Was that your father calling you ?' ' No, indeed 1 that was the eat down the cellar I don't believe yon would oare very much if I should go into a decline and die. You'd go rigb,t off after a little, and many that hatefuH red headed Kate Stirling, and I detest the very sight of her. Well, goodnight !' 1 Mabel, you know I wouldn't look at Kate Stirling I Old, freckled-faced thing! You little gooee, yon ! Well, really, I must go now. That is one o'clock, by Jove I Well, good-night !' By this time he has got his arm around her, and is holding her hand in hip, to give him courage to speak the distressing words of fa: ewell. And she ollngß to his coat button, and twists it so benitohingly that he isn't mortal if he does not respond in some way ; and all yon people who have ever been lovers know just about how he does it. ' Well, goodnight, Archie. I shall not see you again tor two whole days, I suppose,' and she heaves a deep-drawn sigh, which gives him the idea that it is all she oan do to bear it. 1 Two eternities !' he cries in despair ; 'but then, 1 can stop a moment Tuesday morning when I go past.' ■ Oh, can yon ? How perfectly lovely I Well, If you must go, good-night.' ' Are you oold, dear ? I thought you shivered. Mabel, do take care of yourself, love. Ob, how I long for the day when you will be all my own, and J oan shield you from eve v wind that blows. But I must go. Weil, good-night.' lltls so early yet, Archie ; but, then, if you want to go, why, I won't say anything more. Goodnight.' • Mabel, if you look at me like that, I shall never be able to teat myself away 1 Yon are not offended with your Arohie,,are you, love t No. I (bought yon Qpold not be so crnell And I really must go now; % good-night, jpod*nU(ht. And as the sonorous notes of the old man's snoring rise and fall on the still air, Archie goen away nearly broken hearted for a minute, but dlreotly he lights a olgar, and feels reconciled. And Mabel looks the door behind him, add goes upstairs in her stocking feet, and pats her hair in papers, and dons the old gloves she sjeeps In to keep her hands soft, and wonders if it ever was so hard for any body to say good-night as it is for her and Arohie.