The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-05-18

stuff to cancel, and yet too weak and angry
to leave off like a sensible man, run up and
change my things and accompany my little
wife to the pleasant social gathering a few
doors lower down our road.
She had been looking forward to the visit
as a treat. So had | till that gloomy Fl,
came over me bat as | had taken the steps
already made, / felt that could not retreat
without looking foolish so | acted with that
usual wisdom displayed by man under such
circumstances, and made matters worse
did you hear me say that wished you
to 60 alone?' | said angrily.
"Hes, yes, Dick dear, m 20, if you wish -
Matte said very meekly; "but indeed I'd
far rather stay at home"
lyon are desired to 90 you have rose
in your hair" | said, satirically-oh, what
poor satire, when it was put there to please
me = "and they expect you so now 60
and enjoy yourself" | added, by way of a
sting to my sensible speech.
81 can't enjoy myself, Dck,'" she said,
gently "unlcss you come too. Let me
stay"
81 desire you to go" | exclaimed, bang
ing my hand down on the desk.
She looked at me with the great tears
standing in her pteous eyes, and then, COM
ing rearer she bent over ME and kissed my
forehead
"Will you come and fetch me, Dick ?" she
said softly.
eyes -no-perhaps-T don't know" /
said roughly, as repelled her caresses and
then, looking wistfully at me,she vert slow.
ly to the door, glided oil: and was gone.
That broke the spell, and / started from
my seat, but more angry than ever. wa.
wroth with her now for obeying me so meek.
ly, and gently opened the door, to hear hel
call the maid and tell her to accompany her
as far as the Wilson's.
Then heard them go-heard the girl re.
turn, the door close, and was alone.
Alone? Well, not exactly, for, so to speak
| was having an interview with nv angry
self, as felt that | was, asking how coud
let feeling of annoyance act upon my bet
ter nature and make me behave as had tc
the sweet little girhsh being who during the
, six months we had been married, had never
looked at me but with the eyes oflove.
"Change your things and 90 after her,
something seemed to say but | repelled it,
threw my writing aside, kicked Off my boots
q snatched my slippers out of the sideboard
q thrust the easy.chair in front of the COSY
fire, threw myself into it, and then with my
: feet on the fender, and my hands in my
: pockets | sat, morose, bitter and uncom
G Portable, gazing at the glowing embers.
. "She had no business to go!" l exclaim
e ed. "She knew l was up all last night
4 writing that abominable book. and was ou
of sorts, and ought to have stayed"
= Then | reviewed the past half hour, and
4 grew calmer as leaned back, knowing as
n did, and we'll that had forced her to 90
poor child, and how miserable she woulC
. be.
She'll forget it amongst all those people,
o | said bitterly but did not believe it, anC
at last sat there calling myself ass, idiot
blind, mailman, to plant, as | had, the frs
seeds of what might grow into very upas
= tree of dissension, and blight the whole o
our married life.
'Poor little darling" I said at last "I'l
wait up till she comes home, and then tel
her how sorry am for my folly,an ask he
forgiveness"
: "But as a man, can | do that 3" | said
"Wil it not be weak ?"
"Never mind" | exclaimed, "Pll do it
Surely, there can be no braver thing to dc
= than own ones self in the wrong. Life'-
too short to blur it with petty quarrels. An,
suppose she were taken i'll to -night-my dar
ling whom love with all my heart o
suppose she went too near the fire and he
a dress caught alight? There, how absurd
1 Thank goodness, she is in silk, and not il
t one of those hy-away muslins"
| sat on, musing and musng till suddenly
there was buzz outside of the house, thel
"Fire!" repeated again and again, and turn
, ing to the window, there was a glow which
S lighted up the whole place.
dashed down stairs and out of the door
to find the road thronged. for a house lit
tie lower down was in flames, and, to IN,
: horror, had not taken dozen steps befor
: | found that it was at our friends the VIII
= sons.
There was no engine, but a crowd of ex
cited people, talking eagerly and Just ther
the fire escape came trundling along tn
l road.
1t was quite time, for the house as / reach
ed it was blazing furiously, the flames dart
ting out in long fiery tongues from half tn
, upper windows, while at several there wer
people crying piteously for help.
fought my way through the crowd, an
tried to run up to the house, but half
> dozen oticious people held me back, Will
the men with the fire-escape tried to rea
it against the house; but it would not reac
, because of the garden in front, so that the
had to get the wheels of the escape over tn
), iron ratings and this caused great delay.
Let me go" painted to those who hel
= me. Let me go Some one-some one i
the house"
"You can't do any good, sir" said pc
e liceman roughly "The escape-men will d
> all they can"
But ] struggled frantically, and got loos
t feeling all the while horrible, despairin
y sensation, as | knew that my poor darlin
was one of the shriekng suppliants for hel
:. at the upper windows, and that but for m
= folly might have saved her.
As freed myself from those who hel
t me, and ran to the escape, it was to find th
= the man who had ascended it had just bee
beaten back by the flames.
= ats no use, )" he said "we must try Il
, back