Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-05-05

making her pretty silk dress whisk over on,
of the light chairs, which she merrily pick
ed up, and then, coming to my writing
table, she took rose out of basket o
flowers and began..to arrange it in her hair
"Tm not cross" I said, coldly, but en-
gagged in serious work of mercantile and
monetary nature. You seem to think mer
ought always to be butterflies"
"No, don't, Dick DEAR" she cried
"There, will that do ?"
She held her head on one side for me tc
see the creamy rose nesting in her crisp
dark hair; but, after glance at it, lei
my eyes fall upon my desk, and went on
writing my pamphlet. saw that she was
looking wistfully at me, but ! paid no heed
and she then came and rested her hands
upon my shoulders.
"Are you cross with me, Dick" she
said, softly.
"Cross no." | jerked out, impatiently
"Only thought | had married a woman
and she has turned out to be a child"
There was silence then for few minutes,
only broken by the scratching of my pen
The little hands twitched a little as they
lay upon my shoulder, and very nearly
wrote down, instead of "The calculations
arrived at by the projectors of tontines "---
Orchard NARROW, how can you be such a
disagreeable wretch?" But of course | did
not write it---only thought then felt
wonderfully disposed to turn round, snatch
the little graceful figure to my breast and
kiss away the tears that | knew were gath
ering in her eyes.
Please, Dick dear, don't be angry with
me. can't help feeling very young and
girlish, though l am your wife. do try,
oh so hard, to be womanly; but, Dick
dear, Pm only eighteen and half"
"Thirteen and half, I should say"
said, scornfully, just as if some sour spirit
were urging me on to say biting, sarcastic
things that l knew would pain the poor
girl but for the life of me l could not
help it.
There was no answer only little sigh
land the hands were withdrawn.
| went on writing rubbish that knew
l should have to cancel.
I" Had you not better get ready, Dick ?"
said Matte, softly. "You said you would
come when l went up stairs, and the Will
sons won't like it if we are late"
Hang the Wilson's !" growled
There was another pause, filled up by the
scratch, scratch of one of the noisiest pens |
ever used, and another little sigh.
Matte was standing close behind me,
but did not look round, and at last she
gently to chair glided and sat down.
"What are you going to do ?" I said,
"Only to wait for you, Dick DEAR" she
replied.
You need not wait. Go on. l shan't
come. Say Pve headache .-say any
thing"
Dick, are you unwell ?" she said, ten
derly, as she came behind me once more
and rested her little hands on my shoulder.
1es---no. Pray, don't bother! Go on
Perhaps I'll come and fetch you"
There was another pause
"Dick dear, I'd rather not go without
you," she said, meekly, at last.
"And I'd rather you did go without
me-" l said, angrily. "The Wilson's are
our best friends, and | won't have them
sighted"
Then why not come, Dick dear ?" said
he little woman, and l could see that she
vas struggling bravely to keep down her
ears
Because I've no time for such frivolity.
There, you've wasted enough of my time
llready, SO CO."
"Yes, yes, Dick dear, I'll go, if you wish,"