Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-08-17
WHETHER SHE WOULD OR NO.

She had been chri~tcncd Beatrice
Bcnningham Earle. Her own baby
lips had shortened 10 10 " Bite" and
the name. somehow. 80 fitted the wee
mortal that IL clung. and she is Bittic
still, and always will be- now, / suppose,
there being nothing about her dignified
enough To need 90 stately title rs
- Hcltricr.'
| wonder II there Is NOR delightful
place for condolences than hammock
ON "a sleepy summer afternoon; not that
morn than ordinarily favorable circum-
stances are required to loosen the
tongues Of two young ladies, bosom
friends. who have not seen each other
Tor eight long months. hut however
much the mellOVing influences Of time
and place may have added 60 the pleas
urc Of mutual condolences. they do not
seem tO have had n soothing effect up-
ON The temper Of Miss Bittig Earle; GER
tainly the angry Lush ON her check. the
defiant poise of her head. and the cncr-
gctic Kick with which she sets the ham
mock rocking like row-boat struck by
u breaker has nothing If slccpiness I'm n.
Ella Manning laws cool hand ON the
arm Of her excited friend.
"Sit still. Bittic. you make me sea-
sick. What's his namo?"
"Oh. just what YOU might expect:
horrid and prosy. like himself. John
Howard! John with infinite disgust
Whoever heard II anything interest
ing. handsome, or amusing that was
named John.
Miss Manning laughs mcrrily. "Oh.
the law Of contrast n wouldn't bc
quite So commonplace n Raymond
l.aiuntainc' were not so very rumantic.r
Jolly old Rayl What good timGs
We did have last SUMMER aud Bittic
signs as she thinks of the longcd-for trip
To The mountains with the LafOntaincs,
which has been vetoed by the heads of
the house OF Earle. ON account Of the
violence Of the Irritation which was
carried ON during the preceding SIM
mcr 10y Bittio and young Lafontainc. "a
handsome but rather fast youth. who is
not regarded with favor by the elder
Earlcs.
And while you, and I. and Ray, and
the rest were having no end of fun con
the heights this poky old muil Of n
lawyer was boarding here and behaving
like such n model of propricty that papa
aud mamma just naturally adopted him.
just ~ II he had chance To be any
thing else but strictly moral and steady
IN this stupid, dead-and-alivc old place!
Mamma cant talk OF ANYTHING else but
John, John. John! How I hate il, IL
makes my mouth taste bad. The very
name suggests musty law-papcrs. and
secdy coats, and spcctaclcs, and un-
limited responsibility. Bah! The old
Chumpr'
Poor Beauty But take heart: the
Beast may not be- so very dreadful after
all. When does hc Gomez
Tonight And | am expected to
be IN my most bcwitching toys. and fall
IN love with him ON the spot | wish
YOU could have heard papa and mamma
go ON last night when they thought
was safe i'm bed Our Bittie will suit
John. ! think; she is sensible girl.
though little ly-away as vet Think
ct II. l sensible | always dill hate
sensible people! And ~ for Bittie. she
cant help liking John; he is so true and
genuine. And then they went on td
plan u all Out-whCrc we would live
alter We were married, and all. Ugh!
" = disgusting and Bittic waves her
hands rs II the subject was too revolving
for further consideration.
How dO YOU intend treating him?N
"Oh, | shall try the csthctic role: pose
and roll up my eyes and talk utterly
sOuliully-intcnsc nonsense. | had some
practice last winter. when we got up
Patience at school. II that doesn't
sickcu him. III try a little of my angelic
temper Onhm.'
"Oh. Bittic. You're n terror ~
When Miss Manning has taken her
leave. with n promise Ia drive over
again soon aud make the Beasts ac-
puaintancc, Bittic picks up pillow
frpm the grOunl. where il hsa fallen.
aud. having bestowed upon il several
vigorous punches with rs much zcst as
10 wcrv Che hcgid IT the much -dcspiscd
John. deposits her head thereon. closes
her eyes. and courts forgctfulncss of her
troubles in slumber.
mot an unpleasant picture" thinks
young man with valisc and buster
IN his hand rs he comes up the walk
an hour later. tic pauscs moment.
sees She Is asleep. and walks ON to the
house. The door. and windows stand
open. but mo- sign of life is visible; Mr..
aud Mrs. Earle arr taking their after
noon drive. anil Martha. the one scrv-
ant, ~ heeXplains later. 4" lust stcppcd
over to Miss smiths - borry apnticrn-
book /"
Having explored the lower rooms.
with the mir of one well acquainted with
their situation. the Young man leaves
hi. luggage In the hall and goes ont
again ia The direction Of the hammock.
"Quitc case % sleeping beauty he
muses. smilingfy Co himself. rs he stands
N..aN.s IL. "a.
hands in the pockets of his sack-coat
and his head critically ON one side. a.
wonder II I dare wake her in princelv
fashion, and John Howard LOOKS ap-
provingly ut his Princess. rs IL reflect
ing that the act. though fraught with
danger. would not be disagrecable.
One sottwhitc arm Is thrown above
the timblcd lrrnd. the other hangs with
languid. graceful curve over the edge
IT the hammock; with sleep has evil
IDENTIFY come forgetfulucss, and the
pretty face wears It's most childlike.
peaceful expression. No one would
think To sec her now that the sweet Inns.
through which the soft breath comes so
evenly and quietly. were SD recently
wreathed with intensest scurn and Il s.
gust nj the thought ~ the man who
stands at this moment regarding her
with--certainly not scorn and disgusf.
Tho mir has grown warm and sultry,
and the flies are evidently disturbing
Miss Earle's slumbers; for suddenly,
without warning. the PLACID face con-
tracts and the hand which hung so limp
and languid is brought up 10 the rounded
cheek In n rosounding slap. The fiy,
unhurt, Of course, retircs 20 n safe dis
gust and waits his opportunity. The
color called up by the blow has not en-
rtlfely faded when the fly makes another
sally; another slap follows, and an angry
little hounce.
Plague take the horrid flies! One
might as well try to sleep in hornet: