The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1873-01-02

human brute, the memory OF which
hung to his callous soul, or whatever
substitute for soul an idiot may be
supplied with, as moss docs to rock.
He was at this time Il sto1t youth Of
twenty, with a palc vacant face, red
hair, and small, snaky eyes. His temp
cr, when aroused, was something fear
full. Most people were afraid of Offend
ing him, through fear of summary ven
gcancc. But Anastasia never feared
him, She did not pine for his society,
certainly, yet she endured his daily Wis
its, not from apprehension of evil con-
sequences if they were forbidden, but
| she would not show discouEtesy even to
this forlon creature.
On sullcn mid December day Dicky
came ut Il later hour than usual. There
was IL glitter in his snally eyes akin to
/ fire, and the muscles of his face twitch-
ed rs those OF that skinlcss frog ON Pro-
fcssor Galyani's table may have done,
when the time for discovering II new
science had fully come Anastasia said
gently, /" How do you do, DicIiy?' and
| placed him chair by the fire.
lie swung the chair upon his shout
/ der us hund-organist does his mstru-
mcnt, and darted to the other sido Of
the room, where, setting it down with Il
crash, he dropped himself into it.
"Is it raining?" Anastosia inquired.
"Hoot Don't know-don't care eth
cr," was the uncivil answer
\ little pool of water was melting
from his huge boots upon the carpet,
Anastasia sighed softly, thinking of the
stain it would leave, and again asked
him to sit upon the hearth by the fire.
"Pooh! fire! Don't want no fire; got
enough of that inside Of me. Dash it.
/ I'll send him whore they say fuels
cheap. Dash him. he's II fool. Who
was it that was telling about Il smash-up
somewhere? I'll give something for Il
smash-up that would smash him. IIoot!
smash! xii"
All this was uttered in thick, rapid
tone, and with great violence Of man
nrr; with the concluding exclamation he
snapped his fingers and started upon his
feet.
What is the matter, Dicliy?' Anaa-
tasia inquired with her usual gcntlcncss.
A connected answer to her question
she could not get, but by piccemg out
Dicky's ycnomous muttcring5 with her
own previous knowledge she understood
at length what had happened. There
was railroad excursion that afternoon
to Il ncighboring village. An amateur
concert band from Skycborg, aud half
the towns people beside, made up the
party. 4 concert was to be given, and
special train would bring them back
at midnight. All this Anustasiu knew.
The smart young people living in her
house had gone, and she had felt MS if
she herself would like to be one of the
company, for even to solitary old maids
the impulse to mix with others for social
enjoyment sometimes come. But none
had asked her, and on second thought
she believed it was much better to stuy
ut home, it is SO dcsolatc being in Il
crowd of ones own towns-pcuplc, with
no one to speak to. What she learned
from DicIiy was, that he, too, had coyct.
ed ride and festive rcyclry with the
rest, but he had not proved an agrceabl,
addition to the company, and the con.
ductor, finding he had no ticket, put
, him off the train. 1t was against this
gentleman, then, that Dicky's muttcr.
ings brcathcd ont wrath. Anastnsu
tried her best to modify this passion,
setting before him in the simplest Ian.
, Guagc the divine prcccptsof forgiveness
of injuries, but had the modification ot
failing utterly in impressing their spirit
upon him; for at the very door, when
he went away, she heard him muttcl
with vindictiye intensity, " Hoot! dash
him. PoOf smash! ki!'
Anastasia felt some uncasincss, and
debated within herself whether it would
ho possible, and, if possible, quite
proper to send the conductor some
warning Of the fellows vindictivc spir-
it. But perhaps Dicky would soon for
get his anger, and she had Il dread oi
seeming bold and pushing-a thing
about as likely to happen as the hatch
ing of scorpions from doves eggs. She
determined, finally, to try to soften
Dicky by some extraordinary kindness,
and to win him to forgetfulness of his
passion. Thinking out this plan occu-
pied her mind until her usual bedtime.
She was Just going to lock mp the house
for the night when Dicky darted
in, veneerod with ice, for it was raining
now. and so cold that the drops were
instantly converted into slect. He went
/ to the stove, in which the fire burned
| low, and spread out his cIaw-lilie hands
for warmth.
"Poof! Cold work, ugh" muttercd
Dicky, thrusting his fingers into his
, hair as the warmth made them tingle,
, and twisting and writhing with pain.
"What have you been doing out ii
r the storm ?" asked Anastasia.
p "Think | tell? Fools tell. He's 4
[ fool. but he'll never tell what hurt him.