The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-11-15
THE PLAGUE OF HIS LIFE.
BY ETTIE ROGERS.


Miss Carrie Ives looked pleasantly up
from her reading, her plump finger
marking the paragraph that had been
interrupted by her brothers impatient
speech.
'.Why, Fred, what has the child done
now?" she inquired.
His fire, pale, grave face flushed a
little, aid half-confused expression
came into his serious gray eyes.
This is the young vandals latest
achievement in the impertinent Gne,"
he said, with short laugh of chagrin,
as he pushed toward her big volume
of some abstruse work, and turned the
fy-leaf.
Thereon had been sketched an inimit-
able portrait of himself, sitting in his
familiar and scholarly attitude in his
leathern chair before his library table
an elegant study gown hanging un-
gracefully from his large shoulders
and the hand that supported a Webster
ian head clutching an untidy shock of
hair 1t was too consummate resem-
blance TO be gratifying, and altogether
too exact for caricature; the dexterous
pencil had not in the least exaggerated
the peculiarities of Frederick ives, for
he had his own little eccentricities and
mannerisms, Just as we all have, if we
chose to admit the fact.
''It is an amazing likeness of your
self, Fred" was his sisters laughing
comment.
Possibly" he returned, in that half
mortified, half angry manner; land l
dare say it may be good for man to
see himself occasionally as Others see
him But this sort of establishment is
not precisely desirable in valuable
book of science. Jessie Evelyn is be-
| coming quite too mischievous, Carrie;
and ! fear if you cannot provide home
elsewhere for her | shall feel compelled
| to leave you"
ooh, Fred!' the gentle lady cried, in
dismay. Surely you cannot mean
that? Jesse must really stay with me
while she is minor and remains ur-
married. If you would be less captious
toward her, perhaps she would be more
amiable to you. You treat her as if she
were vixen, and she resents it by be-
ing as vixenly as possible; but that is a
woman's way, [ suppose she added,
musingly.
Il know nothing about women and
their ways" he answered grimly.
'But you could try to win Jessie's
liking, Fred" she returned coaxingly.
Il win her liking" he repeated in a
strange, harsh voice. You suggest
what is impossible, Garrett is only
too obvious that your protege detests
me-"
just then dark, swift something
rushed past the window outside. 1t was
only handsome, smiling girl riding a
superb black horse rapidly up the gray
eled path toward the stables; but at the
sight Carrie uttered quick cry of sur
prise and amazement, and the man start
ed to his feet, his features ashy and his
| limbs unsteady
II advised Jessie not to ride at all.
forbade her going near that horse"
he exclaimed, after long incredulous
stare at the composed rider and admir-
ably behaved animal. Il wonder she is
not killed.
''She has subjugated your horse, Fred
Just as she manages to subjugate every
thing which opposes her." the lady said,
admiringly. .'Observe her and allow her
| cleverness. She has metamorphosed
my old black cloth mantle into a really
pretty habit; with characteristic ingenu-
| ity she has arranged your saddle to suit
lady's seat; and she has utilized your
| best silk hat, Fred-it becomes her, too,
with that bit of deep green gauze about
the tall crown"
II detest anything mannish in a wo-
man." Fred declared, GROSSLY, as he re-
sumed his leathern chair.
Certainly the gentleman had expert
10 ,,r lo+
verse girl of 17-that incarnation of
audacity and witchery-had invaded the
tranquil country home of his indulgent
| spinster sister. If he wished little
season of particular quietude, the tinkle
of the piano and a distractingly sweet
voice would sound through the house.
| If he consulted his labored notes upon
some especially favored historical or
poetical work, his equanimity would be
| disturbed by keen and pertinent inter-
polations that his own wit had never
suggested. If he attempted any remon-
STRANGE she would blunt his censure with
| pun and defy rebuke by an ingenious
repartee. She would affect scientific
themes that she might disconcert him
by some problem too difficult for his
elucidation; she dared his opinions and
| challenged his sentiments; she wore the
colors, the flowers, the gems she knew
he most disliked; and she was indeed
| the plague of his life.
''Why do you always wear the topaz,
Miss Evelyn?" he asked her later that
day.
He had glanced up with ready frown
at the exquisite brunette face, perceiv-
ing only the yellsw gem he whimsically
abominated glittering in her coal-black
hair and amid the white laces on her
bosom.
''As an amulet" she replied quickly,
merrily and meaningly. ut is a pre-
servative against poison, you know"
The speech was not quite civil; the
laughing glance of her big black eyes
was saucy and significant; but her man
ner was the perfection of innocent play
fulness.
Fred's frowning face crimsoned.
What monster of iniquity would wish
to harm so gentle and gracious laiyP"
he retorted, with ungallant irony.
She regarded him for moment with
curiously intent and questioning look,
before which his countenance suddenly
changed; suddenly he seemed defensive
rather than aggressive, as one who fear
ed his own weakness rather than the
strength of the enemy.
Perhaps she discerned something in
| his uneasiness that she willfully declin-
ed to understand; perhaps she compre-
hended a pain that thrilled her more
than she cared to acknowledge, for she
too, had changed.
''Mr. Ives, she began at length, with
a singular new splendor in her sweet
smile and u singular new sweetness in
her voice. ''any sarcasm is absurd be-
tween YOU and me. The candid truth
is much better always, even if it be dis
agreeable. Lam perfectly aware that
you detest me; that everything do dis
pleases or annoys you. You have given
me abundant proof of your dislike, and
never yet vouchsafed me kindness nor