Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-09-02

DO yUu see, LSttlCc, salu lOL1, LOT tnt
fifth or sixth time, ''that when the OLD
squire died he had got all his property com
fortably packed into a ring fence, and
when his first wife's step. daughter sue
: ceeded to her great.aunt, who. as told
you, was the squire's second cousin, once
removed-why, Letitia. do believe you
are nearly asleep; you were actually nod.
ding"
You are $3.50 entertaining, Tom
; How pretty the wild violets are"
Dog violets, you mean"
don't choose to call them So
J As You please. A violet or lettuce
by any other name-Letty, want to ask
you one thing"
"WeH?"
"Why are you SO contradictions and
quarrelsome %
" never was called quarrelseme before,
Tom. l never am quarrelsome, except,
perhaps"
When you are with me. understand.
4 Well, l have fellow-feeling. You rub
me up uncommosly."
"And you annoy me constantly"
81 get angry with you perpetually."
81 dislike you positively. Really, dear
Tom, you don't mind my speaking the
truth %
"Not in the least it relieves my mind.
Do you know, have often felt quite
alarmed at the strength of my aversion for
you?'
a. 1t cannot exceed mine for you"
"Well," said Tom, with half sigh,
This is the first subject we have ever
agreed on. Let US be satisfied, Tishy, to
think that we can agree in something"
Strangely enough, however, no woman
wishes to be disliked, even by the object of
her detestation.
81 wonder why you dislike me, Tom?"
l asked after pause. It was foolish of
me to ask, for of course Tom would ans
wer in his usual banterirg way. But no,
he spoke slowly and almost softly:
| 81 don't know, Tishy. It is owing to
some intricate law of moral repulsion,
! suppose sort of natural antipathy, the
absolute reverse of elective affinity, in fact
| al do not like thee, Doctor Fell,
Ihe reason why cannot tell"
But why do you dislike me, Letitia?"
"Oh, because you are rough and rude,
and bearish and obstinate, and generally
vexatious and detestsble," l answered
with energy.
Tom laughed. His momentsry softness
had evidently departed. He pushed back
| from his brown forehead the wooden Tam
| o Shanter that imprisoned his crisp, curly
| locks he turned an amused glance toward
me, and then he Rugged himself and
laughed in the absurd boisterous manner
that was peculiarly his own, displaying
| two rows Of strong white teeth, the most
perfect, surely, in all the world.
Here, hold the reins, cousin mine, and
/ will relieve you of my detestable COM
pany for Bit" He flung himself out of
the dog-cart as he spoke, and proceeded to
walk up the steep hill. Tom was singu-
larly active and 1.-the also he had noble
| bearing At the present time he was clad
in the most disgracefully old and badly
made clothes it was possible to wear his
| short rough coat was ragged and ill-titting,
! the sleeves and collar of his shirt were
| frayed at the edges, and there was an air,
almost ajesty of grace about him that
would have befitted palsdin of romance,
and that was plainly visible despite his
| garb. AS he strobe on, bis big sunburnt
! hand resting on the mares shaggy name,
whistling as he went for very lighthearted.
ness and Joy of life, | could not help won
| dering why | disiked Tom so much, and
whether indeed it were possible to recon
Gle thorough hatred Of our cousins with
certain curious pleasure in their society.
| wished that | could put my meditations
into words, for Toms benefit. Surely there
was such thing as progression by antag-
onism. What a pity, thought l, that
women are go weak at definition and argu-
| mrut.
In the very midst of my metaphysical
wonderipgs, Tome looked carelessIy back
over his shoulder, and my eyes met his.
he laughed, he absolutely laughed again.
a contemptuOus hooking laugh that ilrred
upon my feelings. With look of wither-
| ing scorn leaned back in my seat and de-
voted myself altogether to the contempla-
| ton of the scenery around US. 1t was
very lovely; we were nearing Eidiscombe,
quaint little town embowered in trees,
overlooking narrow stretch of inland sea.
| The gray roofs shone in the sun. a thou.
sand dancing lights cleaned in the ripping
water an orchard, full Of rosy, blossoming
trees, lay on our right hand to the left,
undulating green hills and slopes, while far
| beyond was the breezy moorland, and on
the horizon some brown sails of fishing
boats came skimming along the narrow
blue line that was the open sea.
pretty, amt it p asked Tom. "There's
no place like England, no place like home,
Lettice, after all"
But if you have never travelled. Tom ?"
"T That's the very reason why" he re-
! piled, somewhat systematically, and leaping
lightly into the dog cart, he gave the bride
reins shake, and we set of at swinging
| trot.
| There ere few things more delightful to
my mind than passing quickly through the
air, perched on the top of high vehicle,
the guidance of which is trusted to a steady
| hand. 1t is charming to close the ewes
and dream, secure and comfortably at ease,
| though the sense of swiftness almost
catches the breath.
Some time had gone by thus peacefully
when l said, How pleasant this is, Tom p
But even while | spoke there was a sud-
den strange sound as though something in
the rickety harness had gwen way, and a
black object swayed for a moment TO and
| fro about the mares neck, close to her
ears. The animal was frightened, doubt
| less. for our speed increased tenfold, and
the old dog.cart iurched and swung from
side to side.
"Oh, Tom, not go fast, not so fast t"
cried
"Hush," said Tom under his breath.
stared at him, q vague dread chilling
my heart He was sitting bolt upright,
nay, he was half standing. His lips, psrtIy
open, showed his tightly clenched teeth
his eyes were fixed, and he was frognins
terribly. His strong hands held the reius
in their powerful grasp, but the ribbons
were strained, and seemed almost about TO
break asuDder.
And then l knew that Jerry was running
away, and that we were in danger.
laid my hand upon the reins. ooh.
Tom, let me help" l whispered. But Tom
shook off my hand with no gentle move
ment.
GOOD Godl" he said fiercely, "let me
alone, viii you? Sit stIll-yes, you shall
Do as tell you do you hear ?"
He gazsd az me for moment; his blue
eyes flashed like steel, and his face was
! nniAa whita. | had neuar iraanred th.t