The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-12-11
THE FIRST CLOUD.

THE FIRST CLOUD.
ut was to meet such difficulties as
this that tontines- " 'Bother!" I
wrote the first sitting at my desk, and
said the last aloud, impatiently--well
there, angrily-for Mattiehad bounced
into the room, u to the back Of my
chair, and clapped her hands over my
eyes, exclaiming:
"Oh, Dick, what a shamei Andyou
promised to come up and dressl"
Il do wish you would not be so
childish" I cried, snatching away her
hands. 'sThere's a blot you've made
on my manuscript"
Don't be cross, sir!!" she said, laugh
ing, as she gave q waltz around the
room, making her pretty silk dress
whisk over one of the chairs, whichshe
merrily picked up, andthen, comingto
my writing table, she took rose out
OF a. basket OF flowers and began to ar
range it in her hair.
Sc am not cross" I said, coldly,
tsbut engaged in a serious work Of a
mercantile and monetary nature.
You seem to think men ought always
to be butterflies"
NO, don't Dick, DEAR" she cried.
E 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 Vent on writing my pamphlet. I
saw that she was looking wistfully at
me, but / paid no heed and then she
III and rested her hands upon my
shoulder.
care you going to be cross with me,
Dick?n she said, softly.
Gross? MOI" l jerked out impatient-
W only thought I had a married a
woman, and she has turned out to be
child
There was silence then for a few min
utes, broken only by the scratching Of
my pen. The little hands4twitched q
little as they lay upon my shoulder,
and / nearly wrote down, instead of
T'hecalculations arrived by the pro-
iectors on tontines,'' Orchard Mar
low, how raj you be such q disagree
able wretch?" But, of course. / did
not writeit-only thought ;t-andthen
felt wonderfully disposed to turn
around, snatch the little figure to my
breast, and kiss away the tears which I
knew gathering inher eyes.
Somehow or other, though didnot
do it-only went on glumly writing
tor ] was cross, worried and anncved.
l had set myself q task that nec4ssi-
tated constant application, and I was
not getting on as Icould wish; so, like
many more wcak-minded individuals
OF the male sex, instead of asking for
the comforts and advice of my wife, I
visited my disappointment upon the
first weak oblecta at hand, and that OBJ
ject wasthe lady in question.
please, Dick, dear, don't be angry
with me. / can't help feeling very
young and girlish; though am your
wife. lido try, oh, SO hard, to be
womanly; but, Dick, / am only eigh-
teen and a half"
aThirteen andahalf Ishould say"
Isaia scornfnlly, just as if some sour
spirit was urging me to say biting, sar-
castle things, that / knew would pain.
thepoor girl; butfor the life of me, /
could not help it.
There was no a~nswer-only q little
sigh-and the hands were Withdrawn.
1 went on writing-rubbish that |
knew should have to cancel.
Had you not better get ready,
Dick" said Matte, softly. aYou said
youwould come, when Invent upstairs,
and the Wilson'S won't Iikeit ii we are
late
Hang the Wilson's Igrowled.
There WAS another pause, filed 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 lastsshe glided gently to achair and
sat down.
What are you going to dor" I said,
roughly.
Wait Tor you, Dick DEAR she re-
piled.
You need not wait. Go on, i
shan't pm Say I've a headache
say anything"
dick, are you ill?n shesaid, 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 and fetchyou.''
There was another pause.
Dick, dear, I'd rather not 20 with
out YOU she said, meekly.
And I'd rather you did go without
me- said, angrily. 1.-THE Wilson's
are our best friends, and L won't have
them sighted
Then why not come, Dick?!,' said
the little woman, and l could see that
she was struggling bravely to keep
back the tears.
Because I've no time for such friy.
ollty. There, you've wasted enough
Of my time, sogo."
Scratch, scratch, went that exas.
peratinggpe rs Invent on writing more
stlf to cancel. and yet too weak and
angryto leave off like a sensible
run up and change my things, and ac.
company my little wifeto the pleasant
social gathering d few doors lower
down the road. 3
She had been looking forward to til,
vista is q treat. So had H. till tha1
gloomy fit came over me; but as Ihas
taken the step already made, I Tel