Smyrna times., 1885-02-18


last aloud, imprtiently-well, there,
Matte had bounced into
the room, run to the back of my chair,
and clapped her hands over my eyes,
"Oh, Dick, what a shame! And you
promised to come up and dress !"
II do wish you would not be so child
ish !" cried, snatching away her hands.
"Theres a 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, coming to
my writing table, she took a rose out of
IL basket Of flowers and began to arrange
it in her hair.
I'm not cross" said coldly, "but
engaged i'll a serious work of mercan-
tile and monetary nature. You seem to
think men ought al ays to be butter
flies.
"No, 1 don't Dick dear, " she cried
"There will that do?'
She held her head ON one side for me
to see the or amy rose nesting i'll her
crisp dark hair but after a glance at it,
I let my eyes fall upon my desk, and
went on writing my pamphlet. 1 saw
that she was looking wistfully at me,
but 1 paid no heed and then she came
AID rested her hands upon my shoul-
der
Are you going be cross with me,
Dick ?" she said softly
"Cross? MOI" l ierked out impa-
tiently. "Only thought l had mar
ried a woman, and she has turned out
to be child"
There was silence then for few min
utes, broken only by the scratching of
my pen. The little hands twitched a
little Us they lay upon my shoulder, aud
l nearly wrote down. instead of ''The
calculations arrived at by the projec.
tors of tontines" Richard NARROW
how can you be such a disagreeablt
wretch? But of course did not write
it-O only thought it-aud then 1 fell
wonderfully disposed to turn around
snatch the little figure to my breast
and kiss away the tears which knew
We're gathering in her eyes.
Somehow or other, though, did no
do it only went n glumly writing
for [ was cross, worried and annoyed
had set myself task that necessitate,
constant application, and l was no
getting on as l could wish; so, Hk
many n re weak-u inded individuals o
the male sex, instead of asking for til
comforts and advice of my wife, Wis
tied my disappointment upon the frs
weak object at hand, and that objeC
was the lady il question.
"Please, Dick dear, don't be angr
with me. ! can't help feeling yer
young and girlish, though 1 am you
wife. do try, oh, 50 hard, to be won
anly; but, Dick, am only eightee
and a half.
Thirteen and half, l should say
I said scornfully, just as if some sol
spirit were urging me to say biting, sa
castle things, that l knew would pal
the poor girl; but for the life of me
could not help it.
sigh-and the hands were withdrawn.
1 went on writing rubbish that
knew 1 should have to cancel
, "Had you not better getready, Dick
e said Matte, softly. You said W
y would come, when ! went upstairs, Al
the Wilson's won't like it if we a
e late.
!, "Hang the Wilson'sl" growled.
= There was another pause, filled up
the scratch, scratch of one of the nois
+ lest pens 1 ever used, and another lit
0 sigh.
Matte was standing close behind n
II but 1 did not look around, and at Ii
i she glided gently to a chair and
Il down.
il "What are you going to do?" 81
r roughly.
y "Wait fog you, Dick dear" she
rs piled
"You need not wait. Go on ] sha
come. Say I've a headache-say al
T, thingI"
"Dick, are You i'll ?" she said tender
as she came behind me once mcre 6
rested her hand on my shoulder
:, "Yes-no-pray don't bother
on. Perhaps I'll come and fetch yor
There was another pause.
= "Dick dear, I'd rather not go wi
out you, she said meekly.
"And I'd rathor You did go with
me- said angriiy. 1.-The Wi sons
our best friends, and won't have IL
sighted"
"Then why not come, Dick2"
ry. the little woman. and l could see
100 she was struggling bravely to keep b
Zoo Zoo the tears.
because I've no time for such
a. volity. There, you've wasted enoug
lay my time, so CO."
- Scratch, scratch, went that exas
10 ating pen, as 1 went on writing n
stuff to cancel, and yet too weak
angry to leave off like sensible L
I'VE run up and change my things anC
Ar company my little wife to the plea
Sls sTs social gathering few doors lower d
=, the road.
- She had been looking forward to
=, visit as a treat. So had l till that glo
Os fit came over me; but rs had II
the step already made, l felt tut
could not retreat without looking
ish so l acted with the usual WIS
FL. displayed hy man under suoh cr'
stances, and made matters much W.
Did you hear me say that WI
pp YOU to go alone ?" said angrily
tied yes yes, Dick dear, I'll go II
,iee ir,, wigh,' Matte said very meekly;
lEY indeed I'd far rather stay at home. "