The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-12-07
TRIXY'S PUNISHMENT.

BERTHE, II won't have you say such
things to me! 1t is cruel, unkind, unjust
of you, and-'
Unjust! well, that's matter of
opinion, Trix. Unkind!-no, I can't
even allow that, for l mean nothing but
kindness to you, my dear, when | warn
you against playing with fire.
II am sure" stammered the girl, her
cheeks flushing, her red, ripe lips pout-
ed and forming themselves into a be-
witchingly mutinous shape, somewhat
belied, however, by the little quiver that
showed how near she was to tears, II
am sure l don't deserve such hard
Words
''Hard words are sometimes the best,
Trixy," answered her brother, and then
a little more softly, as he saw the tears
yelling up to her soft eyes, ''You know
it is only my love for you that prompts
me to speak ut all, Trix; l don't like to
see you copy the manners of such girls
as Flo Graham and her cousin, and play
fast and loose with the honest affection
of man like Gerald Hilton. If you
really care for him, and l think you do
he deserves better at your hands than
to be made plaything off,
"Bertier'
Il repeat it, and you know that / am
not accusing you without cause. Gerald
is my friend, and cannot look on and
see him made fool of, and hold my
peace. You are my sister-as dear "a
little sister in most things as man could
wish fOr-and l will not let you wrong
your own better nature and cause grief
to him that will surely recoil upon your
self, without making an effort to avert
the i'll | dread for both, if you will per-
sist in such foolish course"
''Ah, you are cruel, unkind," again
murmured Beatrice.
II hope not. Certainly I haven't in
tended to be so,'' her brother replied.
''rake my advice, Trix, and be your
own true self. A good mans honest
love is not to be lightly played with
Now, my little Trixy, you'd better lay
all this to heart"
This was the end of handsome BERTHE
Vane's long lecture to his pretty, CO.
quettish sister, Beatrice. He lounged
on the open door, and she sat upon the
lower stair in the hall, .pouting and
playing with daisy chain. 1t had been
a long and unusually serious lecture, all
about Gerald Hilton, the last of TriXy's
Summer lovers, whose heart she was
playing with as she had played with
score of other lovers since the lovely
season of Mossmere began.
''If he were noodle like Fitzgerald,
or fool like Markham, Trix, / would
MT care" BERTHE had said. ''But for
TO x-r,,y.-olf Of ,Nlo
hide-and-seek with fellow like Gerald
won't do; in fact, he won't stand it;
and you'll never have another such an
offer, you silly, spoiled little puss, as
long rs you live. So take my advice and
marry him off hand, like woman and
no more of this fiirting.'
BERTHE had turned away rs he spoke
and liz q cigar. TriX had twisted her
chain until she broke it. She was still
pouting, but the flush had died off her
dimbled cheeks, and there was a sus-
picious moisture in her blue eyes. She
did not speak. She could not tell BERTHE
that his shafts had gone home. She
knew well enough that Gerald Hilton
was all her brother claimed him to be.
She had learned it already by the man.
ly way with which he received her re-
fusal the previous evening.
':She liked him very much as friend
but she could not think of anything
further" she had said, her golden head
as high Us possible in the air. and her
gaze wandering as far as it could from
the serious attention of his handsome
grey eyes.
They were such clear, frank, beautiful
eyes. They haunted her sleep that
night. She woke up and thought by
the moonlight, and felt very small and
mean. What did make her such an in
sincere trifler she couldn't understand
She knew that there were not many men
like Gerald Hilton.
Instead of being grateful for his love,
why had she crested her head, like sill
ly yellow bird, and declinedit?
And he had not uttered an angry or
reproachful word-had not accused her
of flirting, called her ga heartless CO.
quettc," as the others did-only bowed
in silence and left her courteously.
But those clear, beautiful eyes would
not be forgotten. She sobbed Il little on
her pillow, trying to declare that she did
not care.
And now, with morning, comes Ber-
ties serious interference, though he
knew nothing about last evening
scene.
She was really frightened by what
she had done, and dared not tell him
good BERTHE who was the kindest elder
brother naughty girl ever had; fol
though she had said to herself, che will
come back" even as BERTHE lectured,
Gerald Hilton on his black horse, Turk
rode slowly below the terrace, and see
ing her, did not pause-only raised his
hat and passed on.
The season was at an end, the visit
ors going home. What if he went away
and she never saw him again?
A mist came over her eyes; the wine
soughed among the woodbine at thu
door with sound which made her shiv
er. Poor, remorseful little TriXy.
She sprang up and ran away at last
What if BERTHE should look around ant
see her weeping? She drenched her fac
with eau de cologne before she cam
down to lunch.
"Trixy," said BERTHE, helping her lib
orally to mayonnaise, by way of maxim:
up for the mornings scolding-for h
was very fond of this little sister of his
and very tender of her faults, good Bel
tie-''Trixy, we are invited to Mrs. 81
Roses for tomorrow night"
The color which Trixy had not bee
able to rub into her cheeks appeare
brightly now. Mrs. St. Rose was Gel
AIDS sister, the most delightful lady i
existence, who lived at a charming plac
called Homepark, and twice year CAV
large party, thus clearing off all he
social debts.
! .'She is rather late with her part