[Written for the Wisconsin]

The Impulse of a Moment

by S. K. Murdock

It was twilight on the Hudson, and the Albany boat was passing the Palisades. The usual gay company on the upper deck were enjoying the lovely scene, each bend in the river presenting new beauties to view. A gentleman, who had been walking listlessly up and down, finally threw himself in a seachair in a shadowy corner, and was soon wandering on the borders of dreamland. But it was too choice a spot to be left for any great length of time in sole possession of an unsentimental sleeper; soon a young lady and gentleman entered and sat cosily down in close proximity to the slumbering traveler. As they did so, the gentleman kissed his companion on the cheek. She started, and looked over towards the dreamer.

“Never mind the old codger, little wife, he is fast asleep,” laughed her husband.

She still seemed embarrassed and said: “May he not know all we say, and yet be partially asleep? May not his mind be awake while his body slumbers?”

“You mean,” said he, “may he not be sleeping with one eye open?”

“Hush! hush!” she replied, “he certainly will receive some impression of our rudeness.”

“What if he does, my dear?” returned the gentleman, “he will imagine it all a dream, and grow green with jealousy; or, [maybe], interpret the dream to mean that he himself will [sometime] be blessed with such a prudent little wife.”

“How do you know that he is not married?” she asked.

“Ha! Ha! And do you suppose if he had a wife, she would allow him to wax his mustaches, and twirl them at an angle of forty-two degrees? No! ‘old bachelor’ is stamped on his every feature.”

Do you ask why the gentleman did not confront them? Simply because he could not. His body was asleep, while his brain remained sufficiently awake to… Read More