The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1877-05-17
In Spite Of Himself.

Tie roads were in splendid cOndi-
ton the lovely August afternoon that
was tue beginning OF the love drama
in Rutherford Hopes life, aud he and
his sister made very pretty picture
as they rode along in the little phRe-
ton, with the white reins lying easily
in Miss Hopes pretty, fair, strength
full hands, and the silver-plated har-
ness and white fy-net contrasting so
admirably with the pony's ietty, CLOS
sy cGat-a lovely afternoon, with faint
suggestions of coming autumn days
in the golden hazy sunlight, and the
cool breeze that made the aspens
Skinner whitley.
A fair, quiet, peaceful country
scene, with the level turnpike stretch
ing like band of silver gray between
the vivid emerald Of wooded hills and
wide spreading pasture lands at their
base on one side, and the quiet, CLASSY
sheen of the river, that followed the
roadside for miles, and was fringed
with graceful trees, and dotted with
islands, and frightened by groups of
sailing parties in gsyly-painted boats
"a sweet, restful scene, On which Mr..
Hope looked with lazy, cOntented
eyes, and leaned back on the navy
blue cushion of the phaeton, the very
tableau OF enjoyment.
Such a splendid-looking fellow as
he was, with his lazy, sleeping eyes
that could fire, and light and flash
enough when occasion demanded
with his dropping mustsche of tawny
am Der, his fair, blonde face, his dark.
ly amber hair, cut short to his fine
head-so short that saucy Iva, the
sister who was driving his lOrdship
out that day, declared he was barely
saved the necessity OF brushing it :;
with his faultless ature-the low,
white straw hat, with the broad, black
band, the immaculate, diamond
studded linen, white necktie, rough,
dark-blue suit, spotless, diamond-but.
toned cuffs, polished boots-every de-
tail Of the man was attractive and
harmonious and Iva Hope, his only
sister, his pet, his darling, looked at
him with flush OF warm pride on
her own charming face, so like his,
except for the delicate oleander flower
tint on her ch eeks, and the darker
tinge OF her violet eyes, that had the
same hint oflanguOr and suppressed
fire in them, the same heavy, WELL
shaped nose, the same curling LASH
es.
She looked at him, and thought
how grand it was to have him home
for good and alI-thought of what
Florence Sydney had said OF him
pretty, piquant Flo, who had been
Iva's bosom friend and cOnfidant for
years, who had read all of Ruther-
fond's letters to his sister, and WHO |
had fallen desperately iD love with |
his picture.
SO Iva thought of all this and q lit
tie smile parted her lips-making the |
lOveliest Gimple on one cheek-As she |
thought of Florence Sydney's daily |
expected arrival for long visit, and |
now her handsome brother would be |
sure to succumb, and give her Flor
eDce for a sister.
Mr.. Hope saw the smile, and looked |
CuriOusly at her.
"Well, tell me what is so pleasant |
for you to contemplate"
He had just the voice to complete |
his perfection-sweet as a Woman's,
but with not an effeminate note in it |
clear, rCsOnatc, carressing in its
quality.
Iva's smile developed into joyous
little laugh.
- al was thinking what 3 splendid
time We will have when Florence
comes. Oh, Rutherford, you must fall
in love with herI She is just as sweet
as sweet can be, and oh, heiress TO 1
can't tell how much :"
Her enthusiasm fell on very rocky
ground, for Mr. Hope only settled
himself more lsZily in the corner of
the phaeton, and pulled his hat over
bis eyes to shield them from the
sun.
"You are very cOnsideTate, my dear
in offering such charming tempta-
tation, but L may as well relieve your
anxious mind at once, and assure you
that OF all things / detest in this
world, one is your schoolgirl divinity,
and the other-an heireSs.n
a frOwn that was very becoming
wrink.ed Iva's low, white forehead.
"Oh, Rutherford The idea of de-
spising Miss Sydney because she has
money! Suppose, when 1 go out into
society, the same remarks are applied
to me 90
He showed his teeth for 8 second in
an amused smile.
"Don't be profound, Iva. lou are
sweet, pretty and refined"
She broke in exeitedIy:
"And Florence is q hundred times
more so! Rutherford, please don't
be ugly when she comes"
"Ugly Iugly {? Now, sis, that's
too bad But tell you frankly /
don't anticipate seeing much Of ner,
I can enjoy it in observation-disclosures
tant, naughty, vnlgsrly conscious Of
her personal and golden charms No,
thank you, Iva. When 4 marry, it
will be to a girl who never knew what
it was to have q second silk dress to
her name-one of your quiet, gentle,
sensitive fioweIets, who will have 70
owe everything that makes life pleas
ant and happy to me.h
After that, the driver didn't seem
so pleasant, and Iva's cheeks were
considerably more flushed than usual
when she threw the reins to the
groom in waiting, aud ran up the
marble steps to greet veiled young
lady, who had arrived q moment be-
fore.
In the elegsnt, large bedroom, to
which Iva conducted her guest
the girls had long confidential
talk.
sit is too awiully horrid in him,
Florence l know he would justi
vynrshfn vnu If he E-,,auy 1,or, br,f E,a |