The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-10-23
THE FIRST CLOUD.

"It was to meet such difficulties as
this that tontines-" "Bother!" |
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! Andyou
promised to come up and dress'
~ do wish you would not be so
childish" cried, snatching away her
hands. s'There's blot you've made
O.. my manuscript"
s'Don't be cross, sir!" she said, laugh
ing, as she gave O. waltz around the
room, making her pretty silk dress
whisk over one of the chairs, which she
merrily picked up, and then, comingto
my writing table, she took rose out
of basket of flowers and began to ar
range it in her hair.
'tI am not cross" I said, coldly,
''but engaged in a serious work of a
mercantile and monetary nature.
You seem to think men ought always
TO be butterflies"
''No, I don't Dick, DEAR" she cried.
'"There, will that do?"
She held her head on one side for me
to see the creamy rose nesting in her
crisp, dark hair; but after a glance at
it, let my eyes fall upon my desk,
and went on writing my pamphlet. I
saw that she was looking wistfully at
me, but I paid no heed and then she
came and rested her hands upon my
shoulder.
care you going to be cross with me,
Dick?" she said, softly.
."Cross? MOI" l jerked out Impatient
ty. "Only 1 thought had a married a
woman, and she has turned out to be
a. child"
There was silence then for a few min
utes, broken only by the scratching OF
my pen. The little hands twitched a
little as they lay upon my shoulder,
and nearly wrote down, instead of
1.-THE calculations arrived by the pro-
jecuors on tontines," "Richard Mar
low, how can you be such disagree
able wretch?" But, of course, 1 did
not write it--only thought it-and then
I felt wonderfully disposed to turn
around, snatch the little figure to my
breast, and kiss away the tears which I
knew were gathering in her eyes.
Somehow or other, though, did not
do it-only went on glumly writing
for was cross, worried and annoyed.
l had set myself a task that necessi-
tated constant application, and was
not getting on as | could wish; so, like
many more weak-minded individuals
of the male sex, instead of asking for
the comforts and advice of my wife,
visited my disappointment upon the
first weak object at hand, and that OBJ
ject was the lady in question.
"Please, Dick, dear, don't be angry
with me. 1 can't help feeling very
young and girlish; though l am your
wife. do try, oh, so hard, to be
womanly; but, Dick, am only eigh-
teen and half"
Thirteen and half I should say,"
Isaid scornfully, just as if some sour
spirit was urging me to say biting, sar-
castle things, that I knew would pain
the poor gir.; but for the life of me, /
could not help it.
sigh-and the hands were withdrawn.
went on writing-rubbish that I
knew should have to cancel
"Had you not better get ready,
Dick" said Matte, softly. "You said
and the Wilson's won't like it if we are
late"
Chang the Wilson's" growled
There was another pause, filled up
by the scratch, scratch of one of the
noisiest pens ever used, and another
little sigh.
Matte was standing close behind
me, but, did not look around, and
at last she glided gently to achair and
sat down. .aa
"What are you going to do?" said,
roughly.
Wait for you, Dick DEAR" she re-
piled.
"You need not wait. Go on,
shan't come. Say I've a headache
say anythingl"
"Dick, are you ill?" she said, tender
", as she came behind me once more
and rested her hand on my shoulder.
"Yes-no-pray don't bother. Go
on. Perhaps I'll come andfetchyo
There was another pause.
"Dick, dear, I'd rather not go with
out you," she said, meekly.
"And I'd rather you did go without
me-" I said, angrily. 'The Wilson's
are our best friends, and / won't have
them sighted"
"Then why not come, Dick?" said
the little woman. and I could see that