Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-08-24
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.
Mrs. James Taylor had been crying
for the last half hour, and, like the lady
in the play, seemed determined to "weep
a little longer" Yes, the very minute
her lord and master, with hat in hand,
had closed the street door, did the tears
begin to fall. Countless, innumerable,
not to be mentioned, were the bright
drops-and nobody knows how long
they would have lasted, had not voices
on the piazza, and summons at the
bell, dispatched Maggie, the maid, to
the door and Mrs. Taylor cambria hand
kerchief to her eyes. In five minutes
more those eyeJwere as clear and bright,
the voice as gay, the laugh as musical,
as if there were no such things as grief
or care in the world, or, if so, little
merry Mrs. James Taylor cast them to
the winds and defied them.
And what had she, the newly married
lady, the three months bride, been cry
ing about2 Why, really, it was too ri.
diculous to, tell; and she had pouted
and smiled, and smiled and pouted, TO,
some time before she had actually made
up her mind to weep; but she had dis
tressing suspicion that her husband (he
was very good husband, there was nc
denying that) did not love her.
Now, all the time that she was ingen'
iously tormentiug herself, racked to the
very soul with distrust and mOrtifca
tion, the object of her misery, james
Taylor, was racing to his Office as if he
had on seven leagued boots, wishing the
client away who was to detain him thai
evening from his jewel at home, his pre-
cious little wife. Love her! Why, he
adored her. The very sky and air ha6
changed since this prettiest, dearest
most bewitching of women had blessed
his home.
Not love her ! Why, the very kitten
on the hearth knew better. What if Ee
hal never told her so; it was entirely 8
piece OF supererogation; it would have
been like saying that skies were blue and
flowers were fair. And yet silly Mrs
Taylor, for the lack of something better
uaO PO1SlolOo oho wy
herself into this idea.
With her visitors her lachrymose mood
vanished, and after their departure she
sat absolutely contriving ways an6
means to annoy this good-for-nothine
husband Of hers, until he was forced to
display some kind of emotion-rage, il
he would not love her. Nerved by the
blissfnl thought, she closed doors and
windows, for he wouli not be home till
past one, and laid her head on her pill
low, with rich flush on her cheek, and
the brightest of smiles around her lovely
mouth.
Little did Mr.. James Taylor think, as
he baSto we'd fond, admiring glance OIL
the sweet face, what havoc and destruc
tion the willy Lady had been plotting
against his peace. There is nothing
like trife 10 overturn ones philosophy
so argued Mrs. Taylor-one can sum-
mon quantities of resolution for great
events, but little, everyday annoyances
who can endure with stoicism She
was determined to change her husband;
perhaps he would absolutely scold her.
What triumph Mr.. Taylor, the
evening before, had requested his
precious wife to have breakfast precisely
at seven, for the same business which
took him out then would occupy him
the next morning; he must positively
be at his Office athalf-past seven o'clock
But Mrs. Taylor gave no directions o.
the kind, consequently seven, quarter
past, half-past had arrived and no sigr
or token of the meal. Mr.. Taylor die
not pretend to interfere with the ser
wants, so he went out in the garden IL
search of his wife. She was among tht
roses, looking as blooming, Innocent and
unconscious as possible.
Fanny" said Mr.. Taylor, in tht
mildest of tones, " breakfast is no
ready, and I am in great hurry to 60
You forgot to speak of it last night
didn't you2"
"You cannot certainly expect me t.
remember everything, James, returne'
his wife, with most Indignantly remon
strating expression. "I did not say
word about il. " =
Mr.. James Taylor did not make tn
smallest reply to this amiable remarl
from his little bride, but turned at
went in the house. A full quarter Of Al
hour elapsed before Mr.. Taylor wa
summoned to table, and she loitered to-
minutes longer by way of teasing hin
to the uttermost, then making her ar
pearancey thinking it quite possible tina
she might find her spouse with a viii
in his hand, or at all events dispatchinI
his meal alone.
But he sat quietly reading tho pape,
as if there were 10 such things as lmpa
tient clients or procrastinated engage
ments in the world. Fanny bit her lip
with vexatiou, a0d proceeded to pou
out bis coffee. II he had only bee
sulky it wouid have been something
gained, and she tormented him wit
questions in hopes of discovering this
but he answered her as pleasantly a
usual, aud at length, petitioniDg to b
excused, he bid her good morning il
the bland' st OF torres.
Mrs Taylor felt quite happy when b
departed, who can doubt iii She ha,
been making herself exceedingly disa
greeable, AMI all to no purpose. "Fain
heart never won," thought she, q
length; "I'll try it again.
.o,ol 1oI~ g..