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

at was to meet such difficulties as
this that tontines-" Botherp
wrote the first sitting at my desk,
and said the last aloud, impatiently-
well, there, angrily-for Matte had
bounced into the room, run to the back
of my chair and clapped her hands
over my eyes, exclaiming:
"Oh, Dick, what a shame And
you promised to come up and dress n
"I do wish you would not be so
childish r cried, snatching away her
hands. "There's blot you've made.
on my manuscript"
"Don't be so cross, sir - she said,
laughing, as she gave waltz round the
room, making her pretty silk dress
whisk over one of the light chairs,
which she merrily picked up, and then,
coming to my writing-table, she took a
rose out of basket of flowers and be-
gan TO arrange it in her hair.
"Tm not cross" l said, coldly, "but
engaged in a serious work of a mer-
camille and monetary nature. You
seem TO think men ought always to be
butterflies"
"No, l don't, Dick, DEAR" she cried.
"There, viii that do?"
She held her head on one side for
me tosee the creamy rose nesting in
her crisp dark hair but, after glance
at it, let my eyes fall on my desk,
and went on writing my pamphlet. 1
saw that she was looking wistfully at
me, but paid no heed, and then she
came and rested her hands upon my
shoulder.
care you cross with me, Dick ?" she
said, softly.
"Cross? nor 1 jerl1ed out, i'm
patiently. "Only 1 thought had
married woman and she has turned
out to be child"
There was silence then for o few
minutes, only broken by the scratching
Of my pen. The little hands twitched
little as they lay upon my shoulder,
and very nearly wrote down, instead
Of 'The calculations arrived at by the
projectors of tontines"- "Richard Mar
low, how can you be such disagree
able wretch?" But of course did
not write it-only thought-and then
felt wonderfully disposed to turn
round, snatch the little graceful figure
to my breast and kiss away the tears
which i knew were gathering in her
eyes.
Somehow or another, though, I did
not do it-only went on gluInly writ
ing-for / was cross, worried and an
noyed. / had set myself a task that
necessitated constant application, and
l was not getting on as l could wish
so, like many more weak-minded in,
dividuals of the male sex, instead OF
asking for the comfort and advice OF
my wife, visited my disappointment
upon the first weak object at hand, anC
chat object was the ladyin question.
please, Dick, dear, don't be angry
with me. can't help feeling very
young and girlish, though am you
wife. 1 do try, oh so hard, to bt
womanly; but, Dick dear, Pm only
eighteen and a half"
"Thirteen and half, / should say,
said scornfully, just as if some SOU
spirit were urging me on to say biting
sarcastic things that knew would
pam tuS pOoI BIl DuIJ AOI luS llIS u
me, could not help it.
There was no answer-only a littl'
lgh-and the hands were withdrawn
1 went on writing rubbish that
knew l should have to cancel.
Had you not better get ready
Dick?" said Matte, softly. "You saiC
you would come when l went upstairs
and the Wilson's won't like it if we ar,
late"
Hang the Wilson's (" I growled.
There was another pause, filled VI
py the scratch, scratch Of one of thl
noisiest pensE ever used, and another
little sigh.
Matte was st nding close behin(
sas but I did VA N9k ,ound, and q