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

run up and change my things, and ac-
company my little wife to the pleasant
social gathering few doors lower
down the road.
She had been looking forward to the
visit as a treat. So had till that gloomy
llt came over me /; but as had TAX
On the step already made, felt that l
could not retreat without looking fool
ish so l acted with the usual wis
dom displayed by man under such cir
cumstances, and made matters much
worse.
did you hear me say that I wished
you to 90 alone 7" l said angrilY.
"Yes, yes, Dick dear, I'll 60 II you
WISH" Matte said very meekly "but
indeed III far rather stay at home"
"You ars desired to 60 {; you have
rose In your hair" said sarcastical-
ly-oh, what poor satire when it was
put there to please me land they ex-
pect you so now 60, and enjoy your.
SELF" I added. by way OF a sting to my
sensible speech.
II can't enjoy myself, Dick" she
said gently, ''unless you come too.
Let me stay"
II desire you to 60 I" I exclaimed,
banging my hand down on the desk.
She looked at me with the great tears
standing in her eyes. and then, coming
nearer, she bent over and kissed my
forehead.
"Will you come and fetch me-
Dick ?" she said softly.
"Yes-no -perhaps-I don't KNOW
I said roughly, as / repelled her caress-
es. And then, looking wistfully at me,
she went slowly to the door, ,glided out,
and was gone.
That broke the spell, and I started
from my seat, more angry than ever, l
was wroth with her now for obeying
me so meekly, and | gently opened the
door, to hear hef call the maid to ac-
company her as far as the Wilson's.
Then heard them 20 heard the girl
return, and was alone.
Alone :? Well, not exactly for so
to speak, l was having an interview
with my angry self, asking how I could
let feeling of ammo Aance act upon my
better nature, and make me behave as
had to the sweet girlish being who
during the six months we had beeh
married, had meyer looked at me but
with eyes of love.
"Change your things and 60 after
her," something seemed to say but
repelled it, threw my writing aside
kicked off my boots, snatched my slip
pers out of the closet, thrust the easy
chair 10 front of the FIRE, threw myself
into it, and then, with my feet on the
fender and my hands In my pockets, l
sat, morose, bitter and uncom Portable
gazing at the glowing embers.
"She had no business to 60 !" l ex-
claimed. "She knew I was up all last
night writing that miserable book, and,
was out of sorts, and she ought to have
stayed"
Then I reviewed the past half hour,
and grew calmer as I leaned back,
knowinn as did that had forced her
to 60, poor child, and how miserable
she would be.
"She'll forget it among all those peo-
ple," I said bitterly.
But did not believe it, and at last
sat there calling myself idiot, blind,
madman, to plant as / had the first
seeds of what might grow into very
apas tree of dissension, and blight the
whole of our married life.
"Poor little darling !" I said at last
"I'll wait up till she comes home, AID
then tell her how sorry am for my
folly, and ask her forgiveness. But as
a man can I do that Will it not be
weak -? Neysr mind" I exclaimed,
"I'n do it ! Surely there can be no
brayer thing t;:an to own ones self in
the wrong. Life is short to blurr it
with petty quarrels. And suppose she
we're taken i'll to.night-my darling
whom love with all my heart ? Or
suppose she went too near the FIRE and
her dress caught alight I There, how
absurd | Thank goodness, she is in
silk. and not in one Of those fy-away
muslins -
sat on, musing, till suddenly there
was a buzz outside the house, and then
the rush of feet, fancied I heard the
word "Hre !" repeated again and again,
and, turning to the window, there was
a glow which lighted up the whole
place.
I dashed down the stairs and out Of
the door. to find the road throHged, for
house little lower down was in
flames, and to my horror had not ia
Ken a dozen steps, before found it was
our friends the Wilson.
There was no engine, but crowd Of
excited people talked eagerly !; and
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