Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-11-13
The Plague of his Life.

That girl has done nothing but provoke
and annoy me ever since she came from
school three months ago. / wish, Carrie,
you would send her away somewhere any
where out of my sight She is the plague
of my life
Miss Carrie Ives looked pleasantly up
from her readiLg, her plump finger mark
ing the paragri. oh that has been interrupted
by her brothers impatient speech.
why, Fred, what has tha child done
now? p she inquired.
His fine, pale, grave face flushed little,
and half confused expression came into
his serious, gray eyes
This is the young vandal's latest achieve
ment in the impertinent liner he said, with
a short laugh of chagrin as he pushed to-
ward her big volume of some abstruse
work and turned the fly-leaf
Thereon had been sketched an inimtabe
portrait of himself, sitting in his familiar
and scholarly attitude in his leathern chair
before his library table--an inelegant study
gown hanging ungracefully from his large
shoulders-and the hand that supported a
Websterian head clutchIng an untidy shock
of hair. 1t was too consummate resem-
blance to be gratifying, and altogether too
exact for carlcature; the dexterouS pencil
had not in the least exaggerated the pecu-
liarities of Frederick Ives, for he bad his
own little eccentricties and mannersms,
just as we all have, if we chose to admit the
fact.
1T is an amazing likeness of yourself
Fred was his sisters aughing comment.
Possibly he returned in that half morti-
fed, half angry manner; 'and l dare say it
may be good for man to see himself oc-
aae tptb P,,+4 ~
of establishment is not precisely desirable
in valuable book of science. Jessie Evelyn
is becoming quite too mischevous, Carrie;
and I fear if you cannot provide home
elsewhere for her, l shall feel compelled to
leave you
20, Fred = the gentle little lady cried in
dismay. Surely you cannot mean that p
Jessie must really stay with me while she
is minor and remains unmarried. If you
would be less captious toward her, perhaps
she would be more amiable toward you.-
You treat her as if she were little vixen,
and she resents it by being as vixenly as
possible; but that is a woman's way, sup
pose, she added humorously.
I know nothing about women and their
ways he answered grimly.
But you could try to win Jessie's liking,
Fred, she returned coaxingly.
1 win her liking he repeated in strange,
harsh voice. You suggest what is impos-
sible, Garrett is only too obvious that
our protege detests me-
just then dark, swift something rushed
passed the window outside 1t was only a
handsome, smiling girl riding a supurb
black horse rapidly up the gravelled path
toward the stables, but at the sight Carrie
uttered a quick cry of surprise aud amuse-
merit, and the man started to his feet, his
features ashy and his limbs unsteady.
Il advised Jessie not t. ride at all. fore
bade her going near that horse, heiexclaim-
ed after long, incredulous stare at the com
posed rider and admirably behaved animal.
Il wonder she is not kllls d.
She has subjugated your horse, Fred,
just as she manages to subjngate everything
else which opposes her. the lady said ad-
miringly. Observe her and allow her clever
ness. She has metamorphosed my old black
cloth mantle into a really pretty habit, with
characteristic ingenuity she has arranged
your man 'sssaddle to suit lad, IS seat, and
she has utilized your best silk hat, Fred
it becomes her too with that bit of deep
gauze about the tall crown