The Osceola times., 1883-03-31
THE FIRST CLOUD.

at was to meet such difficulties as this
that tontines-" "Botherw
wrote the first sitting at my desk, and
said the last aloud, inpatient 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:
ooh, Dick, what shame! And you
promised to come up and dressr'
~ do wish you would not be so child
ish " cried, sAatching away her hands
'There's blot you've made on my man.
uscript"
"Don't be cross, sirw she said, laugh
ing, as she gave waltz round the room,
making her pretty silk dress whisk o, er
oae of the light chairs, which she mer-
rily picked up, and then, coming to my
writing table, she took a rose out of
basket of flowers and began to arrange
it in her hair
'I'm not cross" | said, coldly, "but en-
gagged in serious work of mercantile
and monetary nature. You seem to
think men ought always to be butter
flies"
"No, | don't Dick, DEAR" she cried.
There, will that do"
She held her head on one side for me
10 see the creamy rose nesting in her
crisp dark hair, but after glance ask
ance at it, let my eyes fall upon my
desk, and went on writing my pamphlet.
! saw that she was looking wistfully at
me, but l paid no heed, and then she
came and rested her hand upon my
shoulder.
"Arc you cross with me, Dick ?" she
said softly.
Gross? now jcrked out impaticntly.
"Only thought had married woman
and she has turned out to be a child"
There was silence then for few min
utes, 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 pro-
jectors of tontincs"-"R Richard NARROW,
how can you be such n disagrecablc
wretch ?" But of course ] did not write
it-only thought-and then felt Won
derfully disposed to turn round, snatch
the little graceful figure to my breast, and
kiss away the tears which | knew were
gathering in her eyes.
Somehow or another, though, l did
not do it-only went on glumly writing
for was cross, worried and annoyed.
had set myself task that necessitated
constant application, and was not get
ting on as ! could wish; so, like raany
more weak-minded individuals of the
male sex, instead of asking for the COM
fort and advice of my wife, visited my
disappointment upon the first weak OBJ
iect at hand, and that object was the lady
in question.
"Please, Dick dear, don't be angry with
me. l can't help feeling very young and
girlish, Though am your wife. do try,
OH so hard, to be womanly; but, Dick,
dear, Pm only eighteen and half"
Thirteen and half, should say" |
said scornfully, just as if some sour spirit
were urging Inc to say biting, sarcastic
things, that knew would pain the poor
girl, but for the life of me, could not
help it.
There was no answer-only a little
sigh-and the hands were withdrawn.
! went on writing-rubbish that
knew / should have to cancel.
"Had you not better get ready, Dick ?"
said Matte softly. "You said you would
come when went up stairs, and the
Wilson's won't like it if we are late"
'lIang the Wilsons!" growled
There was another pause, filled by the
scratch, scra ch of one of the noisiest pens
ever used, and another little sigh
Matte was standing close behind me
but | did not look rvund, and at last she
glided gently to a chair and sat down.
what are you going to do?" said,
roughly.
only TO wait for you, Dick DEAR" she