Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-05-16
at shall be implicit"
" Very WE'LL" said the doctor.

"What does make you so late this morn
ing, Mark?"
Mr.. Clayton was sitting in front of the
steamlng coifee-urn, in that same little room
which the fresh sunshine of the October morn
ing, and the high-heaped glow of the fire both
strove to enliven-and not in vain-as her
husband lounged slowly into the ROOM
"Late It's pretty state of things if man
can't be allowed the privilege of morning
nap"
Nina Clayton looked up with blank as
TOMS ment. Never before had her husband
addressed her in that surly tone of voice.
Mr.. Clayton then took his seat, giving his
wiies work-basket an energetic push with
his feet.
II wish you would keep your things in
their places, Nina! Contound this coffee !
it's hot enough to take the skin off fellows
throat!"
81 thought you liked it warm" said the
abashed wife.
"Thou9h liked it warm. If you want me
to be scal'led to death, why don't you do it at
once? There, don't go to putting milk in and
opJiing the whole. thought so-a mess for
the pigs"
Nina could not stand 1t moment longer,
but she began to cry, softly, behind the
room if he had remained in it another
moment, he would have broken his prom
Use to DR.. Colwell in most objectionable
manner.
However, Mrs. Nina had recovered her
roses and bright eyes by the time her hus-
band returned to the tea table. He was ST.
lent and morose, but the little wife was de-
termined to be amable, and went to the
piano immediately after the meal was over,
to give him the music for which he usually
pettioned in vain. But she had scarcely
struck a few preliminary chords, ere he inter-
rupted her.
81. wish you'd stop drumming on that piano,
when my head aches !"
81 did not know that your head ached,
Mark :"
You might have known, if you'd taken the
trouble to notice."
Nina's lip quivered. Clayton rose and took
his hat.
"Where are you going, Mark"
ais it Indispensable that | must repeat all
my proceedings to you, Mrs. Clayton"
'No-but-but-"
"I'm going to the theatre"
''But, Mark, the Waltons are coming to
spend the evening; they sent HE IA note this
morning"
Every well. madam, what of it !"
''What will they think if you are not
here?''
They will probably think that it serves
you quite right for making appointments
without consulting your husband. In any
event, it is nothing to me what they think"
And he had walked ont of the house be-
fore Nina bad recovered from the burst of
sobs, which was her only reply to his unkind
speech.
Tomorrow came, and the next day, and
still Marks demeanor remained unaltercd.
Poor Nina was thoroughly wretched. What
could be the matter! Was Mark becoming
deranged, or-and d cold chill OF horror ran
through her frame at the very idea-was it
possible that she was losing her place in his
affections?
81 would die by my own hand did believe
that" was her inward ejaculation, for, in her
heart Nina loved Mark Clayton with love
almost amounting TO idolatry.
The upshot Of Nina's troubled self-commu-
nings was, however, that one morning within
week Of the above detailed events, she was
sitting in DIR. ColwclPs study, closely yelled,
and robed in quiet pearl gray dress, as if de
sirous of avoiding attention us much as posi-
BILE. For to whom could Nina confde her
grief more naturally than to the old man who
infancy?
Mrs. Clayton !" was the doctors surprised
exclamation, on entering the room in which
he had been appraised that ga lady" desired to
speak with him.
Nina threw aside her veil and burst out cry
ing! The interview was not long one; and
when mt last the old gentleman dismissed his
patient, with fatherly kiss, Der face was ra-
diant even through Its mist Of tears.
When Mark Clayton came home to dinner
he found his wife singing at her work
81 suppose you have not put those buttons
on my collars, said he, grimly.
mo, | haven't, Mr.. Mark" said the little
lady, archly defiant, land | don't intend to,
either, until you have confessed yourself very
sorry for the Buebeard character you have
been acting lately"
"Nina!" Mark spoke with some uncer-
taint/.
MARX! !"
And she buried her scarlet cheek on his
shoulder.
"Ah, sir, no use dissemblin; any longer.
I've been to DR.. Colwcll, and heard all about
it; and, indeed Mark" she added, with
quivering lip, ''the lesson is not thrown away,
for, until my own conduct was mirrored be-
fore me in your actions, never dreamed how
very, very disagreeable L was making my
self!'
"My dear little wife, said Clayton, tender
ly smoothing back her disheveled curlS, 'if
you did but know what it has cost me-"
'Not another word" said Nina, impera-
lively, putting her hand upon his mouth,
sit has been bitter lesson, but it has not
been lost on me- Let me seal our compact
of future happiness with this kiss.
every willingly, as far as am concerned,
Nina. But do you think you can ever forgive
DR.. Colwell for presenting the bitter pll?"
"Ili send for him to tea this very evening""
said Nina, fiuttering briskly like an energetic
canary bird, round the dinner dishes, 'and
let him see that | can behave myself like
good little girl"
And from that moment DIR. Colwell never
had a word of fault to find with Mark Clay
toms looks. Nay, he was wont to assert that
Clayton and his pretty wife were the happiest
couple in his whole acquaintance.