The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-08-08
MISS ARNOLD.
Another Story Of Love that was True,
but Didn't Run Smooth.
BY THE AUTHOR OF 1.-TWO OLD MEMS
TALES" ETC.
CHAPTER V CONTINUED.

which we can not exactly bestow our
appreciation, buc which nevertheless
seemed to us in an unaccountable man.
ner to obtain the ear and attention of
a very crowded house, &c, &C., &C."
"There you are again! Why deuce
don't you pass over all that, and tell us
what the confounded blockheads on
that side did really sayT"
81 read this debate to you yesterday,
you know. These are only the editors
remarks upon it. Shall | give you the
summary of last nights debate"
"No, let's hear what the fool has to say
upon this cursed sugar question. He's
against the measure, that's one COM
fort"
"He does not seem to be so exactly"
glancing down the page.
"I'lI take the liberty of Judging that
matter myself, Mrs. Melwyn, if you'll
only be so particularly obliging as to read
on"
Which she did; now reproached for
reading in such low, cluttering man
ner, with that id soft voice of hers,
that it was impossible to hear; and when
she raised it, asked, "What the deuce was
the use of shouting so as to be heard by
the fellows in the servants hall"
In this style, the newspaper was at
last, for better or for worse, blundered
through in the most uncomfortable
manner possible by the terrified reader.
Lettice sat by, deeply attentive. She
was brave, high-spirited girl, and she
did not feel dismayed; her predominant
sentiment was self-congratulation that
she should be able to spare that sweet,
soft, kind Mrs. Melwyn the ungrateful
task.
She sat observing, and laying down her
own plans of proceeding. 1t was not the
first time in her life she had been exposed
to what is called scolding; thing every
day verify believe, and am most happy
to doso, going more and more out of fash
ion, though still retained, as habit, by
many people otherwise well-meaning
enough. 1t was retained in It's full vigor
hy the general, who WAS not well-mean-
ing at all; he usually meaning nothing
on earth but what he did,by the indulgence
of the present humor, good, bad or in
different Lettice had lived in sphere
of life where this sort of domestic
violence used to be very common; and
She had learned to bear it, even from the
lips of those she loved, with patience.
She knew this very well, and she thought
to herself, "If could get into the habit
of hardly caring for it from those very
| near and dear to me, surely it would be
easy enough to meet with The inditter-
ence from Il poor, cross, peeyish, suffer
| ing old man, whom | don't care for in
least. The way must be, to get into
the habit of it from the first, and let the
words
Pass by me as the idle wind, which regard not,
| must put all my vanity, all my spirit,
Ill my own little tempers, quietly out of
the way: and never trouble myself with
what he says, but 90 reading on in the
best way can, to please him, but with
the utmost unruflcd outward appearance
Of tranquility; and utmost secret inditier-
ence as to whether succeed or not. He
shall sooner be tired OF scolding than
Of looking as if | never heard it. He'll
give over if | can persevere, instead OF
looking all colors and all ways, as that
dear, gentle Mrs. Mclwyn does"
The trial at backgammon was, if such
a thing could be, worse. II seemed as if
it was impossible to give satisfaction
here. The general not only played his
own game, but insisted upon playing
that Of his adversary; and was by turns
angry at her stupidity in missing an ad.
vantage through want of skill, asking
"what could be the possible interest OF
pleasure of playing with .a mere child?
and vexed if the plan he pointed out
ended in his own discontinue, for he
could not bear to lose.
Backgammon, too, was an unlucky
game to be played with one of a temper
such as his. Every favorable throw O
the dice, it is true, filled him with ;
disagreeable sarcastic eXul alton; but {
positively bad one, and still more, a sue
cession Of bad ones, drove him furious
|After long course OF provoking throws
$ such as sometimes happen, he woul'
seem half mad, storw, curse, and swear
in Tie most ridiculous, if it had not beel
blasphemous, manner; and sometime
, end bv hanging the tables together, ant
t and vowing he would never play at thi
. confounded game again as long as h
lived.
There was an exhibition of this sor
y that very evening. Mrs. Melwyn locke
, much distressed, and almost ashamed, a
she glanced at Lettice to see how sh
: took it; but Lettice appeared to be to
much engaged with a knot in her nettin
(. to seem to take it at all, which evidentl
: relieved Mrs. Melwyn. This scene ha
=. not however, been lost upon our frienc
S, who had observed it with smile {
TT secret contempt; mentally, howeve
congratulating herself upon her goo'
:. robust nerves; such things, she we
is knew, being perilous to those cursed wit
5. delcacy of that sort. The best e.
Is deavors, the best intentions, would
= without avail in such cases; such suhe
ers would find their powers of enduran
DESTROYED by these successive acts
m violence, till it would be impossible
n. meet them tolerably. Again she look'
- at Mrs Melwvn, and with great pit
-, Again she rejoiced in the idea of savil
oi her from whatshe perceived was, indee
ne to such a frame and temper as hers,
Sc source of great suffering; and again s
'st resolved to keep up her own spirits, al
all maintain the only true defense, coura
and indifference. She felt sure, if S
could only, by a little effort, do this
A short time, the effort would termins
e in habit; after which it would cost b
"a. m little or nothing more.
bSis The general, though polite to Lett