Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-11-28
rho First Quarrel-Bf CLARA NoRroS


clair quickly around.
You might, if you had chosen" she answered
tartly.
''But you would not have had me treat her rude
~ Now listen to reason, Irene don't let such tri
tle come between u.s."
"a trife UNI yes!n and the vexed maiden
wheeled her chair still farther around "A trife u
she continued; it's trife to that you should
be seen by nearly every one in town with Kate Cliff
ford, when we haven't been friends for year or
more After all she said about me, too! declare
it's too provoking A trife mol it is no trife to
her: either; how she will exult over it Never mind
! don't care! but you see if am not even with
you yet"
told you could not help its And Hugh, as he
spoke, up from his seat. and came around in
front of her 1t was just this way. | told you all
about it; how she met me by the College grounds
it was nearly dark then, and when she claimed me
for an escort, you surely would not have had me
fuse her"
You might have left her at the fair if You had
wished to- But no! it suited you very we'll to play
the devoted to her all the evening, while here
alone, crying my eyes out. I'll not be SO foolish
gain know that much.'
Now, did you really shed tears for my absence,
Irene ~
Il did not say cried for you. am sure would
not have cared where you were, so you had kept
away from that manmuverng Kate Clifford. | cried
because | angry for [ saw you so down the
street with her, and Hal told me- when he came
home from the fair, that you scarcely left Hates
side all the evening, excepting when you sent
by her upon some Grand Very we'll! you can go
again with her this evening" if you choose-it's all
| the same to me-
| Hugh was grieved. not angered by this unusual
mood and he answered calmly,
elf you would only be reasonable, Irene. have
told you once that she claimed my services in such
way could not refuse them; and, indeed she found
plenty to keep me busy. assure you. or should
have been here where | would much rather have
| been"
| Hugh as he finished speaking endeavored to i'm
prison the dainty little hand that Was pulling so i'm
patiently at the massive chain. But in vain. 1t was
drawn quickly and resolntely away; and the young
man could not repress sigh he noted the change
which illhumor wrought in the countenance Of one
| he loved SO tenderly.
{! not to be forgiven. then ~ he said in q low
reproachful tone
Irene would not answer but her feet beat nervous
| ly on the velvet cushion that lay beneath them.
Hugh turned, and folding his hands behind him.
paced the long drawing room to and fro. There
was not sound to break the stiffness save the ut-
ter of Irenes FAM for Hughs footsteps fell noslessly
upon the heavily tufted carpet.
! Suddenly, Hugh laughed as he approached Irene,
1t unfortunate laugh; for it steeed the heart
that just beginning yield to its better feelings
But Hugh could not help laughing. The two chairs
standing back to back struck him so ludicrousy.
and Irene filing hers with such an air Of offended
dignity.
. Let those laugh GrhO N1. Sir Hugh: SAID Irene.
fixing her large black eyes steadily upon him. CAS-
for me. | am in mood to be laughed at, and | ad
wise you to go to Kate Cliford-she, no doubt, will
tolerate your rudeness but never will
GOOD night, Irene. l shall not trouble you soon
again with my presence he said at last and linger
ed a moment, but vainly, for an answer. Another
and he was gone.
AS the door closed upon him, Irene started to hel
feet Her full, crimson lips parted, though She
would have called him back, but pride conquered
4 Ioo oH4or J,gto Iaf,,
and she sank back in her chair. vexed at her owl
hasty words, and vexed with Hugh for obeying hel
so readily.
Moment after moment stole away. Not sound
save her quickrepeated signs, and the nervous tap
ping of her fan She drew her locket from the fold
of her rich brocade dress where it hidden, ant
gazed earnestly and sadly upon the expressive fac
which the artist had so faithfully drawn.
Those full brown eyes she could not forget how
often they had showered their sunlight of love upo1
her The manly tenderness of that mouth, eve
more ut home in JOY than in sorrow!
, ':What if he should never come back 2" she said
unconscious that she spoke aloud; while from be
meath her dropping lashes tear stole softly ant
flashed like diamond down the purely -mouldet
cheek.
90, blessed tears what purifiers ye are of the un
hallowed passions of the human breast
AS falls the gentle rain upon the thirsty earth
giving life to the parched and dropping plant
fell renes heart that night the softening infuen
ces of her bitter tears Of repentance.
a And not unnoted they falling At the par
tially-opened door behind her, Hugh had paused
10th to GO for it had been their first quarrel
in the lofty mirror before her. he read in the
Election of her face the sorrow that she felt.
Stealing in nearer, still nearer he succeeded a
length in reaching his vacant chair without arous
ing Irene from her deep revere. He sat down eau
tiou5ly. She wasstill unaware of his presence. H
drew one delicate glove from his hand and. turning
his face partially around, watched to see the effect
S as he playfully dropped it upon her neck.
Irene sprang to her feet quickly. The storm-clou
had fled from her face, leaving, it as beautiful
T houris
; And now, what did she do but laugh as merrly a
Hugh had done. when she saw how absurdlY the
had been sitting He needed not to explain the
: Of his merriment for the chairs back to back re
veaed the whole
Not in vain did Hugh again for full and FIRE
absoluton for the unprecedented sin of the cvenin
before; nor in vain did he seek to clasp the plum
J and snowy band which had once that evening bee
drawn so pettishly from him.
e 1t was their first and last tiff before the hol
v marriage bond united them. But, alas thereafte
cannot speak so favorably: for, although this hap
pened many, many long years ago, human natur
was the same then as now. and the clouds which s
often mar the happiness of domestic life were eve
in those DAYS as frequent ard as heavily laden
Be it said, though, to Irene's praise, that when
ever she found herself to blame she ever quic
to seek reconciliation nor did she suffer her hus
bands trivial error to estrange them. The smile
forgiveness often shone out upon her beautiful face
= before Hugh had opportunity, either by word ac
to make manifest his consciousness of error.
= And did such state of things exist always in mar
: ried life, how much misery would have been spare
hearts that too often have been crushed by thei
y ma; tod corrnEs / Cnrf11n,e Mcro1;p,