The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-11-29

Only to wait for you, Dick, DEAR"
She replied.
You need not wait. Go on. 1
shan't come. Say I've a headache
say anything"
"Dick, are you unwell?" she said,
tenderly, as she came behind me once
more and rested her little hands onmy
shoulder.
= Yes--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 with
outyou," she said, meekly, at last.
And I'd rather you did go without
met i said, angrily. "The Wilson's
bur best friends and l won't have
them sighted"
*Then why not come, Dick, DEAR"
said the little woman, and l could see
that she was struggling bravely to
keep down her tears.
Because I've no time for such
frivolity. There, you've wasted enough
of my time already, so CO."
Scratch, scratch, scratch, went that
exasperating pen, as went on writing
more 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 few doors
lower down our road.
She had been looking forward to the
visit as q treat. So had l until that
gloomy fit came over me; but as 1 had
taken the steps already made, l felt
that could not retreat without look
ing foolish; so l acted with that usual
wisdom displayed by man under such
circumstances, and made matters
worse.
Did you hear me say that I wished
you to 60 alone?" 1 said, angrily.
!" Yes, yes, Dick, dear, I'll go, if you
wish" Matte said, very meekly; "but
indeed Tdfar rather stay at home"
"You are desired to go; you have a
rose in your hair" | said, satirically-
oh. what poor satire, when it was put
there to please mel" and they expect
you; so now go-and enjoy yourself, y
/ added, by way of sting to my SEN
sible speech.
"I can't enjoy myself. Dick" she
said, gently, "unless you come too. Let
me stay"
al desire you to gop' 1 exclaimed
banging my hand down on the desk.
She looked at me with the great
tears standing in her piteous eyes, and
then, coming nearer, she bent over me
and kissed my forehead.
evil you come and fetch me
Dick2" she said softly.
"Yes-no-perhaps-I don't know
said roughly, as l repealed her car.
esses; and then, looking wistfully al
me, she went slowly to the door, glided
out and was gone.
That broke the spell and I started
from my seat, but more angry than
ever. L was wroth with her now fol
obeying me so meellly, and gently
opened the door to hear her call the
maid and tell her to accompany her a.
far as the Wilson's.
Then I heard them go-heard the
girl return, the door close, and 1 wa,
alone.
Alone? Well, not exactly; for, 81
to speak, was having an interview
with my angry self, as 1 felt that
was, asking how l could let a feeling
of annoyance act upon my better
nature and make me behave as 1 hat
to the sweet little girlish being who
during the six months we had beer
married, had never looked at me but
with the eyes Of love.
"Change your things and go after
her." something seemed to say but ]
repelled it, threw my writing aside
kicked off my boots, snatched my slip
pers out of the sideboard, thrust the
easy-chair in front Of the coy fire
threw myself into it, and then with my
feet in the fender and my hands in my
pockets, sat, morose, bitter and un
comfortable, gazing at the glowing
embers.
"She had no business to 60 p 1 ex
claimed. "She knew l was up al
last night, writing that abominabl,
book, and was out of sorts, and ought
to have stayed"
Then / reviewed the past half-hour
and grew calmer as l leaned back
knowing as l did, and well, that hat
forced her to go, poor child, and how
miserable she would be.
"She'n forget it among all those
people," ! said, bitterly but did not
believe it, and at last sat there calling
myself ass, idiot, blind, madman, t
plant. as / had. the first seeds of what
might grow into very upas tree Of
dissension and blight the whole of oul
married life.
"Poor little darling % said at last
"Tll wait up till she comes home, ant
then tell her how sorry L am for my
folly and ask her forgiveness"
But, as man, can do that?" ]
said. "Will it not be weak ?"
"Never mind" l exclaimed, "I'll dc
it Surely there can be no bravel
thing to do than own ones self in tn:
! L g-a. 1. 4 L "a