Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-12-19
A Little Heroine.

1t was paradox of ours that JESSIE
strong point was her weakness. She
was pretty little thing, as timid as a
mouse. She was afraid of thunder, of
the dark, of rats, and Of spiders. She
was afraid of policemen, of being left
alone, Of getting run over, and she was
afraid, especially, of firearms in any
shape.
Jessie was my younger brother
wife. ALI used, more than any of US,
to ridicule her timidness. But don't
know that we liked her any the less
for it.
She was a beautiful, tender.hearted
child, and simplicity itself. No one
could be much annoyed by Jessie.
ALT was sincerely sorry, however, that
she was 80 afraid Of firearms, for he
thought it we'll that woman should
know how to use pistol.
Men, he said, consider it desirable to
learn how to handle one, yet are no
oftener called to protect themselves
than are women. He considered it q
rare and valuable accomplishment in o
lady. Yet no urgency could prevail on
Jessie to touch one.
81 don't know anything about revol-
vers, and l don't want to know, dear
ALI, she would say appealingly, tears
OF actual distress in her pleading eyes
when he scolded, reproaching her
with the usefulness of his lessons.
But I'll get you pretty little pis-
tol-a mere toy" he said. "Some
giris-girls of pluck and courage
would be delighted to be taught the
use OF, and own a nice one, Je sic !"
know am dreadful coward.
dear. don't wonder that you don't
love me, and prefer girls of more
spirit, whimpered Jessie, beginning
to cry.
ooh, we'll, there, there, there !"
soothed soft-hearted ALT.
And then perhaps he would refrain
from returning to the attack for nearly
week, for it was hard for him to give
mp anything he had set his mind
upon. II
At length be brought home little
revolver and tried to tempt Jessie into
the use of it.
"Oh, please-please, excuse me,
dear y she cried so earnestly, that | |
pitied and interceded in her behalf.
Don't tease her so, Alf. Where is
the need OF woman learning to pro.
tect herself when she has husband to
protect her ?"
But should think she would like
to use this !" rejoined ALT, rather fret
fully, as he took up the elegant little
instrument.
"As Jessie and I never expect to
fight duel, or shoot bandit at tifty
PAGES, we don't see the fascination as
you do 1 said, still parrying on Jes.
sizes side, for she was looking rather
dismal after her scolding.
She loved ALT devotedly, and it
wounded her tender soul to have him
displeased with her. She stood, with
varying color, wishing, no doubt, that
the noisy, dangerous things did not so
fill her heart with horrible alarms.
She Liked nothing SO we'll as crafty
ing Aft. Nothing depressed her SO
much as having him disappointed.
"Oh, wish 1 wasn't afraid !" she
cried, SO pathetically that her husband
took pity on her, and caught her up in
his arms with kiss.
N' oSooto, - Wou prague you
any more. Ill try to always, be on
hsnd to do your fighting for you," he
He put the pistol on the mantel-
piece, warning us not to touch it, as it
was loaded, and poor little Jessie's re-.
lief was evident, for the end of her
troubles in this direction had come.
Al! summer we had been expecting
atCyprus Lawn, the visit of q school.
trlerd OF hers, and, few days after
TINS, a note came from Miss Fairlie. saw.
ing she would be with US the following
day.
As the young lady was beauty and
an helress, Jessie laughingly warned
my two manageable brothers, who re-.
sided with us, to get themselves up in
their most killing style.
For there's no knowing what NAV
come OF Lily's coming down here to
visit US, boys" she said. ~ shall be
busy with baby, and you'll have to
beau her about, you know. Chris
Carl, am sure she'll be wild to 20 out
IN your boat after waterliliies."
could not but notice that these hints
were not thrown away upon them, who
so!emnly promised to put on their war
paint and feathers upon Miss Fairlie's
arrival.
yessie's baby was but four months
old-a very tiny bit of wax work-and
she next morning the young mother
bathed and dressed it carefully, with
brave show OF embroidery and blue
sash, and put it in its carriage for
Dorothy, the maid, to wheel up and
down the road, while her mistress was
busy within doors.
Don't take the baby out of sight.