The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-01
THE PASSING CLOUD.

"no you want me to get anything fol
you in town2n
Andrew Thurston spoke very calmly
aud chance listener might have though
that he spoke kindly. He certainly SPOKE
deferentially but his lips were compressed
and there were lines upon his brow which
were not usual. Ordinarily be would hayt
said, as he drew on his glove: "Now, my
love, what can l get for you in town q
and he would have spoken gayly anG
frankly, with sprightliness and sparkle; fol
they had been married not year vet, and
only the day before Andrew had declared
that they would never outlive their honey.
moon. "Ellie,n he said with kiss, "whe1
we cease to love, we shall have ceased to
live; for life could be nothing without
love"
But now cloud had come-very small
at first-not bigger than mans hand
but vet cloud. Ellie had never com.
planned offatigue or WEAKNESS, and yet she
was far from robust. On this particular
morning she had arisen with an aching
head, but she did not mention it. She did
not smile as was her wont, and her husband
asked her what was the matter. His ques.
ton seemed to imply that her manner had
fretted him-there was almost an accusation
init : and she replied, rather shortly
Nothing"
"But there must be something, said he,
"What is it"
This, to his wife, rendered over-suscepti-
BILE by her headache, seemed disputing Of
her word, and she answered: {" tell you
nothing
"But Ellie,n he said, "you wouldn't act
SO if there was nothing the matter"
Act how 2n demanded his wife, flushing
under this direct charge. "What have
done 2n
What could her husband reply to this
What single act Of hers-what word, even,
could be point out Something in her
manner had Jared upon the sensitive chords
Of his heart, and cloud had come between
them; but how could he tell it2 How
could he give to another an idea Of that
which had no form nor substance, and
which he had only perceived because 1t
dropped q discord into the exquisite har-
mony of his jealous love2 BE could make
no plausible answer, and this frettel him
still more.
a0h, nothing, nothing" he said, drawing
back. "If you don't choose to confde in
me, all right"
His wite's eyes flashed now, and she
spoke quckly-spoke SO quickly, and 50
feelingly, that her husband was, in turn,
offended; and, with hasty word upon his
lips, he went out into the hall, and made
ready for the city, which was but few
miles distant from his suburban residence.
When Andrew Thurston re-entered the
st.iug-room, with his hat in his hand, he
asked the question we have already heard,
"Do you want me to get anything for you
in town? Z"
How cold his voice sounded to his wife,
who sat, with bowed and aching head, by
the curtained window. 1t did not sound
like the voice of her husband, and she did
not look up, She would wait until he
came to kiss her, as he always did before
he went away, and then she might be able
to speak-to speak upon his bosom, where
she could hide her face-but she dared not
trust her voice now. She knew she should
CRY if she spoke, and she would not have
her husband see her do that II he were
angry with her. But he did not come to
her. He turned away without another
word, and was gone.
Andrew Thurston knew that his wue
must have heard his question, and as she
did not Immediately answer, he allowed
his anger to express itself in slam OF the
door as he went out. He pulled on bis
gloves very vigorously, and stepped oil with
measured strides. But not so long. The
fresh morning air famed his brow with a
cooling influence, and he began to think
He missed something. For the INST time
since he had been married he was gong
away from home without his wiie's KISS.
Surely A cloud had arisen upon the domestic
horizon, and something like a storm had
come upon their peace. He was unhappy ;
and the more he meditated, the more
q EiIie sgi was TO blame" he said to himself.
But this did not heal his wound. may
have been hasty," he acknowledged, after
further recollection. "But still, he as
sured himself, she irrit.ted me-"
Thus he reached point very lar from
soothing or satisfactory IN its influence a
He was forced to acknowledge that be had
allowed himself in moment of irritation,
- 10y b,,t;iv and unkindly. When he
entered the train he took his seat IN .
corner, and pulled his hat down over his
syes He did not wish to converse. When
be r reached his office he was moody and
taciturnEYery Ia unlike the Andrew Thurs .s
ton whose custom it was to come IN win
smiles and cheerful salutation.
A little thing it was, to be sure, but N !.
gave him great pain. A mote = f;, a .lsy
moment when it Is lodged in the eye and
the heart that is made tender VIII. wlsa !.