The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-04-24
Selett Storp.
STORM AND SUNSHINE.
ny JANE @. AUSTIN.

Nonsense Reginald OF course l
shall 60 to drive with Mrs, Emery this
afternoon if she calls fox me.
Not if Brisbane is with her you won't,
Ellinorr
81 assure you that shall, then"
"And | assure you that you shan't,
madame. distinctly forbid it,"
DO you, indeed? Oh, myl Have
you suddenly become Gar of all the Rus
sias or Sultan Of all the Turkeys but in
the latter case, please remember that am
neither turkey nor goose, and don't intend
to be tyrannized over by any auiocrat
whomsoeyer.
"Don't talk like an idiot, Mrs. Pember-
ton, if you can, that is. Whatever else |
an, or am not, please to remem Der that |
am your husband, and that it is not quite
year since you promised to 'loye, honor,
and obey me, and that now is an excel
lent opportunity Of proving that you meant
what you said.
Fiddle-de-dec, my dear Obey in the
marriage service merely means that | am
to consult your reasonable wishes in my
conduct, just as you ought to consult mine,
and am willing to keep to my half of the
bargain; but you seem to think yours of
no sort Of meaning. Why shouldn't |
drive with Mrs. Emery if | like, and when
she has asked me so politely; and il Mr..
Brisbane happens to occupy the third seat
in the barouche what harm does that do
to anything9 Very likely ! shan't 60
again if you make such fuss about the
matter; but to-day | have promised, and
of course, | shall SO.
al have already explained at some
length. you unreasonable woman, that
Mrs. Emery is not a suitable acquaintance
for you or any other in experienced young
woman. She is loud in conversation, con-
spicuous in appearance, eccentric in dress
and manners !. and now her acquaintance
with Tom Brisbane has become a matter Of
somuch comment that many careful persons
have dropped her ac luaintance, and | surely
shall not permit my wife to be less partic-
ular, and pick up what others let fall
Permit, indeed Ii you had asked
as favor that should yield to your
whim, perhaps would have done so, but
since you try to play the tyrant must
prove to you, once for all, that | am not
disposed to play the slave, and surely
shall go to drive with Mrs. Emery this
afternoon, whatever happens. Besides,
you are entirely mistaken in her character, y
Thank God have not the charge
of Mrs. Emerys character, and neither
know nor care for the arguments one way
or the other. What do know is that if
you go out with her to-day you do it in
direct defiance of my will, direct disobedi-
ence to my commands, and utter disregard
of our future relations; for [ promise you,
iEllinor, the matter viii not pass over as
an ordinary quarrel; il may yet separate
ais for life If you go shall consider
shat you have taken the first step toward
a.disorce, or what will amount to the same
thing, So now you know the risk. Twill
leave you to govern yourself accordingly
and bid you good morning.
The young wife sat for moment silent
and motionless. The ugly word divorce
had struck upon her heated mood like a
dash Of ice water in the face Of raging
maniac, and had the husband been wise,
as angry people never are, and followed
this effective blow by a few words of con-
ciliation, few caresses, some measure of
concession, all would yet have ended well,
for the two were lovers, not yet harmoni-
zed in the trying closcness Of wedlock,
and from this very love arose the constant
chickering's poisoning their few months of
married life.
So Reginald strobe angrily from under
the pretty UNCOVERED porch and down tho
street, and Ellinor sat still and pale for a
moment waiting for his return, and hear
ing, instead, his footsteps die away iu the