Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1882-07-22


mother, my lad, with three hundred
and fifty lineal descendants. egadl-and
], as in duty bound, did my best to be
agreeable. Scarcely, however, had the
visitor gone, when Bella, with q face
like thunder cloud, began:
''Mighty sociable you and Alice
Green are"she said; II suppose you're
half in love with her still? l always
heard you were her most devoted ad
mirer."
"Now Belle" 1 said, 'don't be jealous
-"
'Jealousl' she exclaimed, stamping
her little foot, while her eyes flashed
fire; sit is time to be jealous, sir, when
every pretty face you meet tempts you
to neglect me. But I'm not jealous
I'm only ashamed OF you SIR"
"My dear, lovely creature" began
again, trying to take her hand. But
she jerked it pettishly away.
"Don't dear me-" she broke forth
''you know you don't love me; you never
come here more than once day, while
Harry Saville, whom 1 dismissed for
you-more fool fused to be here
three times day, and always dined
with us on Sundays.
II began to grow red in the face, I
assure you, at being thus talked to; but
l mastered my rage-ycu know I'm a
meek man; it's because of that ! was
chosen president of the peace society
and said meekly, "Bella dear, don't be
foolishl love You better than all the
rest of your sex put together; but you
mustn't expect me to neglect, nay, in
suit by my rudeness every other woman
/ meet. Once for all, let this he under
stood between u.s."
"Women's rights were not yet
thought of, my boy, and wives were ex-
pected to obey their husbands, as nature
and Scripture command. I deemed it
high time for asserting my prerogative,
aud spoke accordingly. YES r I re-
peated, you are unjust; aud you ask too
much, my dear Belle.
"She made no answer, but sat sullen
aud sulky I again attempted to take her
hand, and, thinking I had spoken too
harshly, used tone of mild persuasion.
But she only replied by jerking her
hand away, and removing her chair
from me. I expostulated with her, 1
told her how idle was her jealously.
but, the more earnestly 1 defended
myself, the further she hitched her
chair round, until she brought its hack
directly against that of mine.
81 now gave up explanations, and sat
silent. Her pettishness began to open
my eyes. She had always been un-
reasonably exacting; her vanity for ever
ran ahead of possible attentions; and
the jealousy, thus unjustly entertained,
yet continually smothered by her sui
len temper was now finally come to a
crisis. As I stole an occasional glance
over my shoulder, saw no longer any
beauty in that sulky face. Ny love
was fast changing to anger. I asked
myself why had submitted SO long to
her tyrany.
"Yet fearing that I might be also in
the wrong, though unconcious how, I
made my last effort, after we had sat for
some time in silence. to conciliate her.
For this purpose, threw my hand over
my shoulder, and dangling my glove so
as to let it playfully strike her head, /
said, smiling and speaking gayly, "A
penny for your thoughts, Bella. Come,
forgive and forget. We've had very
pretty quarrel, now let's make it up.
You know the making up is always the
sweetest part OF it, And, as spoke, 1
wheeled my chair around, and would
have put my arm around her as of old.
''Did you ever see tigress in fury
If not, you've no idea how Bella looked
then. she had been sitting, pouting
and pulling at the chain to which was
attached my miniature /; she now sprang
to her feet. her eyes emitting fire like
an electric machine in the dark, and
her whole countenance distorted with
passion.
"sUnhand me, sir, she cried, how
dare you touch me after having insulted
ms2 Leave the house this instant, sir. !"
II had borne good deal l was not
going to endure any more. had never
dreamed that my charmer had such q
temper. 1 replied, haughtily:
As you please, miss, but If / go
now, remember, I go forever
"She became white as death for an
instant-I had spoken firmly, and she
knew me to be resolute e--but directly
her face grew redder than ever, and,
with jerk, breaking the miniature
from its chain, she cast it into atoms at
my feet.
"T discard you as discard that, she
Kissed between her teeth. Never come
here againp
'.My eyes darted lightning at her. /
was, for once in my life, in a towering
passion; but remembered that I was