Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1881-10-20
Sharp Words.
[Christian Union. |

Nonsense :" said Mr.. Wheaton. shortly.
Mrs Wheatons face flushed scarlet she
looked up at him, and if | mistake not. a
sharp reply got as far as her throat, but she
choked it down il did not part her lips.
She looked furtively at me, but looked
steadily at the fire. Mr.. Wheaton all the
time quite unconscious OF the stir his
word had made in one tender and sensitive
heart Then Mrs. Wheaton murmured
something about her scissors and slipped out
of the room.
Mrs Wheaton had ventured to make re-
mark on some business question think It
concerned the morality OF some Wall street
operations. The subject was one with which
she had no great acquaintance, and perhaps
her woman Wit was at fault. Indeed, ! re
member thinking at the time it was, at least
IN part but what she said was not nonsense.
After Mrs. Wheaton had gone out there
was moment or two of silence then
broke It, Mr.. Wheaton and | are old
friends. and presumed little ON that fact.
Tom" said |, "how long have YOU been
married p
Twenty four years next May" said he.
"A year from next May, if We both live 80
il seems but yesterday that Lucy and were
slelghing 1t In the moonlight that Christmas
that ran away from home for my holidays.
much To the ,exatlon of my sisters, because
| found greater attractions at Lucy Vine ;.
Il wonder" sand /, speaking slowly and
musinglv, and a. IL Were To self Won
der II that CHRISTMAS holiday YOU would
have spoken to Lucy Vine YOU spoke to
YOUR wife just now ?"
How ?" said Mr.. Wheaton. and he turn
ed slowly upon me.
Nonsense r repeated and threw into
my own voice all the vigor and the sharp
ness there had been IN his. 1t was a hazard
Gus experiment, but Tom and were old
friends at ali events, there vas no drawing
back now.
lie looked at me sharply for moment,
and looked At him; then his ewes went
back to the hrc.
"Shuh Z" said he speaking to himself, Il
wonder and then turning quickly back to
me, do you suppose she minded It ?"
w hat did she get up and go out for
without wori in reply ?" | asked.
10 get her scissors, believe said he.
laus hcd at him. at is taking her a
!oug time 70 ind them, replied. Yes,
~, did mind Il. /! you had seen the quick
flush in her face, and the quick look, first at
YOU and then At me, and then the choking
al the throat. and the nervous movement of
the hands. you would not have doubted that
she minded II. suppose she had said 70
YOU, Nonsense " and fired It at him ex-
pIo-ivrIy 4s | could .'hoS would you have
liked z"
lie shook HI. head slowly; he was still
study the fire.
suppose | had said to her, "Non'en.e ~
t,Apiu,lseIy as bctorel; nov would you
have liked 1t n
II would have said you werr no gentle
man, sand Mr.. Wheaton "but-but'
But what ?" said |.
WHY. John a fellow can't be studying
all the time how he'll talk to his own wife,
YOU know. II be can't be free at home he
can't be free anywhere. She ought not TO
b. % sensitive She knows didn't mean
anything"
Tom. said l. III any one else accused
you OF SAYING something when YOU didn't
mean ANYTHING, you'd get redder in the face
over II than she was just now. You meant
exactly what you SAID. You thought what
YOUR y lfy SAID was nonsense, and blurted 1t
right out"
We'll, it vas nonsense" said Mr.. Wheat
on
II am not so sure Of that, said but if
IT were, that was no reason why you should
tell her So"
"Do YOU always weigh your words when
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at that moment the door opened and Mrs.