The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1880-12-18

uy 0C4uAiHthACe: HOW you ever uhU
time to add to your gentlemanly tastes
any feminine pleasures, must confess
puzzles met"
She turned toward him 1--WE were
walking back to the house, now, and be
was by her side), with very kind
amusement in her gray eyes.
"And it seems to me-" she said,
'that you, in common with most OF your
sex, are very unreasonable on this sort
Of subject And so my pistol shooting
is to follow my riding and swimming,
under the ban of unqualified condema-
ton! Unconventional, such tastes may
be in women, l grant you; but unwom-
anly am sure they are not. Gentle.
women will not need teaching as 70
how and where to indulge them; but
properly exercised, such sport brings a
strength Of muscle and power Of nerve
which women, as well as men, need
sorely enough in the hard places Of their
lives! And think that women who
use every means in their power to make
healthy their bodies for healthy minds
to dwell in should be helped, and not
laughed at. beg your PARDON" she
ended, abruptly, as the silence about
her warned her how earnestly she had
been speaking. ''Indeed, l didn't mean
to make speech. But I don't like to
be laughed at as eccentric, when am
only using the right, natural means
which believe exist to boys, men and
women alike, to strength and usefulness,
and in the truest sense, self-possession!'
We had arrived at the hall door as
Eleanor finished speaking; and as it
opened, the warm freight flashed out
ruddily across the twilight snow.
Stuart stood aside for Eleanor to pass in,
and taking of his cap, stood uncovered,
~ owe you an apology for my rudeness,
Miss Eleanor" he said, "and I don't
know how best to make it. Only per-
haps you can fancy that q man
who would gladly be of service
to q wo-to wOmankind-and feels
how little he could ever serve them
in the high things Of mind and spirit,
may feel resentful, q little, when we see
them so 'arm'd and we'll prepared
against physical evils; also, that he can
not hope to serve them even there!"
Was it the freight gave Eleanor's
face that rosy glow, as she passed him
with no answer but a bend Of her fair
head?
"Oh yes, his apology was all very
pretty" ! said, resentfully, to Aunt
Hester, as We went up stairs together.
but I don't see why Mr.. Alec Stuart
need, in the least concern himself with
Eleanor Forrester's tastes and inclina-
tons, in the first place."
"Unless, indeed" Aunt Hester an
swered, smiling down into my vexed
face, "unless, indeed, Mr.. Alec Stuart
has come TO look upon Eleanor's tastes
and inclinations as upon those OF the
woman he would make his wife. l have
thought he might be 80 looking at them
this many month, my dear!"
CHATTER II.
Think it happened on . Tuesday aft
ernOon- that little episode under the fir
trees. The following Saturday the
6ercest storm Of that winter swept over
Ayr. Even the solid, sturdy old Hey.
wood House shook under the raging as
sault of the north wind that, charged
with sharp rain and sleet, flung itself
against the wall, and roared at the win.
dows. remember that early in the
afternoon q few Of ~, impatient Mt the
dr0wsiness with which the heat Of in.
doors weighed down their eyelids,
merrily dared each other to . walk-or
wade, rather-round the barn through
the snow; but 20 deep was the snow,
and 20 strong was tho wind, and 50
sharp the sleet, which cut ones face
like millions Of tiny spears, that I WAS
g,ad to turn back before l had left the
l..il door thirty feet behind, and when l
had staggered up the steps, I found my.
self 20 faint With bufletinK and loss Of
breath, that Uncle Philip took me up
like . baby IN bis strong arms and car.
ried me 10 the settle by the blazing FIRE.
We tried NO more ''excursioning"
that day.
In the evening, after candles were
brought, No sat around the great fire.
place; singing . little at 6rst with no
accompaniment but the raging wind
outside; and by.and.by driited
into storytelling; such stories ~
seem afoat in The very air Of
such Wild blask nights - that-of I'd.
venture by mountain and sea-of visit.
ants whose feet "loaye no traces on the
sea sand or the winters saow;" and
whose presence only the watch-dogs
know. And can assure you that with
the storm, and our evenings entertain.
msnt, weak-minded lolks like va were
In small humor for sleep when sleep
6ms came; and ] fancy that even the
gentlemsn looked forward With more
Ihan usual satasction 70 their nightly
cigar In the library 70 have . soothing
effect not wholly unwelcome. A the
l1bDs0 " - sAXAeseD8 VIZ O0&AAVVSD VOasAS0oy
heard Dick Francis say, IN answer to
.ome question Of Uncle Philips: "No
ID, they've not caught hin yet; I heard
he aTooms saying this afternoon that
hey had traced him into this neighbor-
hood, and thought be must be In hiding
Domewhere hsreabout. ! haven't . frag.
ment q ny usual sympathy With justice
hunted men, IN hls case. The man b
} cold-bloodsd seoundrel, and I hope
lhey'll have him-&he sooner the better"
@M whom % you speaking!" sever
u Of ~ asked, In : breath.
"M that rascal, Burroughs, Who g.
ssped from tAs county jail lat Thurs.
day." said Dick. "The one Who beat
md robbed that old man at
Lsstsr-leit him for dead, you know
and I believe they had other
charges 10 bring forward against
him & Ii txial usxt week. Some q the