Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-01-29
The First Cloud.

ut was to meet such difficulties as
this that tontines -" s'Brother ~
wrote the first sitting ut 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 shame And
you promised to come up and dress ~
~ 10 wish you would not be so
childish !" cried, snatching away her
hands. "There's blot you've made
on my manuscript"
Don't be cross, sir |" she said laugh
ing, as she gave waltz around the
room, making her pretty silk dress
whisk over one of the chairs, which
she merrily picked up, and then, com.
ing to my writing table, she took a rose
out of a basket Of flowers and began
to arrange 1t in her hair.
"I'm not cross" I said coldly, "but
engaged in serious work of mercan-
tile and monetary nature. You seem
to think men ought always to be but.
terflies."
mo, I don't Dick DEAR" she cried.
"There, will that do p'
She held her head on one side for m 9
to see the creamy rose nesting in her
crisp dark hair but after glance at
it let my eyes fall upon my desk, and
went on writing my pamphlet. saw
that she was looking wistfully at me,
but paid no heed and then she came
and rested her hands upon my shoul-
der.
"Are you going to be cross with me,
Dick ?" she said softly.
"Cross ? No |" jerked out impa-
tiently. "Only thought had mar
ried a woman, and she has turned out
to be child"
There was silence then for q few
minutes, broken only by the scratching
of my pen. The little hands twitched
little as they lay upon my shoulder,
and nearly wrote down, insteads of
"The calculations arrived at by the
projectors of tontines." "Richard
NARROW. how can you he such disa-
greeable wretch I? But of course did
not write it-only thought it-and
felt wonderfully disposed to turn a
round, snatch the little figure to my
breast, and kiss away the tears which /
knew were gathering in her eyes.
Somehow or other, though, I did not
do it-only went on glumly writing
for was cross, worried and annoyed.
l had set myself task that necessita-
ted constant application, and was not
getting on as I could wish 30, like
many more weak minded individuals of
the male sex, instead Of asking for tn.
comforts and advice of wife, visited
my disappointment upon the first weak
object at hand, and that object was
the lady in question.
"Please, Dick dear, don't be angry
with me. I can't help feeling very
young and girlish, though l am your
wife. do try, oh, so hard, to be wom-
anly but. Dick, I am only eighteen
and half"
Thirteen and half, l should say"
said scoinfully, just as if some sour
spirit were urging me to say biting,
sarcastic things. that l knew would
psiu the poor girl but for the life of
me could Lot help it.
There was no answer only little
sigh-and the hands were Withdrawn.
Invent on writing rubbish that I
knew l 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"
"Hang the Wilson's !" I growled.
There was another pause, filed up by
the scratch, scratch of one of the noise
lest pens ever used, aud another little
sigh.
Matte was standing close behind me,
but did not look around, and at last
she glided gently to chair and sat
down.
"What are you going to do ?" said
roughly.
swat for you, Dick DEAR" she re.
piled.
"You need not wait, Go on, shan't
come. Say I've headache-say any.
thing ~
"Dick are you i'll 2'' she said tend
erly, 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 and fetch yon."
There was another pause.
"Dick dear, I'd rather not 60 with
out you," she said meekly.
"And I'd rather you did g without
me,"I said angrily. 1.-THE Wilson's
are our best friends, and / won't have