The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-02-05
THE FIRST CLOUD.

III was TO meet Sucn dllncultleS as
this that tontines-" "Bother!"
wrote the first sitting ut my desk, and
said the last aloud, impatiently-wcll,
there, angrily-for Matte had bounced
into the room, run to the back of my
chair. and clapped her hands over my
eyes, exclaiming:
ooh, Dick, what n shame! And you
promised to come up md dress!"
II do wish you would not be SO
childish" l 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 q waltz around the
room, making her pretty silk dress
whisk over one of thechairs, which she
merrily picked up, and then, coming to
my writing table, she took rose out
of a basket of flowers and began to ar.
range it in her hair.
lam not cross" 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, don't Dick, DEAR" she cried
"There, will that do?"
She held her head OH one side for me
to see the creamy rose nesting in her
\ 10 ri. h0tr. 1,,,f a
it, ! let my eyes fall upon my desk
and went on writing my pamphlet.
saw that she waslooking wistfully at
me, but 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" jerked out Impatient
ly. "Only thought had a married a
woman, and she has turned out to bs
child"
There was silence then for few min
utes, broken only by the scratching O
my pen. The little hands twitched O
little as they lay upon my shoulder
and / nearly wrote down, instead O
'"The calculations arrived by the pro
jectors on tontines," Richard Mar
low, how can you be such disagree
able wretch?" But, of course, / die
not writeit-only thought it-and ther
I felt wonderfully disposed to turr
around, snatch the little figure to my
breast, and kiss away the tears which
knew We're gathering inner eyes.
Somehow or other, though, did moi
do it-only went on glumly writing
for l was cross, worried and annoyed
l had set myself task that necessi
tated constant application, and wa.
not getting ON as could wish; so, Xix,
many more weak-minded individual.
OF the male sex; instead OF asking fol
the comforts and advice of my wife,
visited my disappointment upon tn,
first weak object at hand, and that OBJ
ject was the lady in question.
"Please, Dick, dear, don't be angry
with me. I can't help feeling very
young and girlish; though am youl
wife. / do try, oh, 80 hard, to b.
womanly; but, Dick, am only eigh
teen and q half"
Thirteen and half should saw
Isaid scornfully, just as if some SOU
castle things that / knew would would pair nnl
the poor gir4; but for the life of ne,
could not help it.
There was no answer-only little
sigh-and the hands were Withdrawn
went on writing-rubbish that
knewI should have to cancel.
clad you not better get ready
Dick" said Matte, softly. "You safd
you would come, when Invent upstairs
and the Wilson's won't likeit il we art
late"
"Hang the Wilson's" growled.
There was another pause, filled ul
by the scratch, scratch of one of the
noisiest pens ever used, and another
little sigh.
Matte was standing close behind
me, but, I did not look around, and
at last she glided gently to achair and
sat down.
"What are you going to dor" said,
roughly.
Wait for you, Dick DEAR" she re-
piled.
"You need not wait. Go on, j
shan't come. Say I've a headache
say anything!"
"Dick, are you ill?" shesaid, tender.
ly, 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 andfetch YOU -
There was another pause.
"Dick, dear, I'd rather not 60 with.
out you," she said, meekly.
"And I'd rather you did go without
me-" l said, angrily. "The Wilson's
are our best friends, and I won't have
them sighted"
"Ihen 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 friv.
olity. There, you've wasted enough
Of my time, sogo."
! Scratch, scratch, went that exas-
peratingpen, as Invent on writing more
stuff to cancel, and yet too weak and
angry to leave off like a sensible man,
run up and change my things. and &C.
company my little wife to the pleasant
social gathering few doors lower
down the road.
She had been looking forward to the
visit Us treat. So had till that
gloomy fit came over me; but as 1had
taken the step already made, / felt
that 1 could not retreat without look.
ing foolish; so l acted with the usual
wisdom displayed by man under such
circumstances, and made matters
much worse.
"Did you hear me say that wished
you to 60 alone?" l said, angrily.
eyes, yes, Dick dear, I'll 70 If you
WISH" Matte said, very meekly; "but
indeed I'd far rather stay at home"
"You are desired to 90; you have a
rose in your hair" said, sarcastical-
ly-oh, what O poor satire when it was
put there to please me-"and they tx
pect you; so now 60 and enjoy your.
SELF" I added, by way OF a sting to
my sensible speech.