The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-11-03
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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
anywhere out of my sight. She is the
plague of my life"
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 fine, pale, grave face flushed little,
and half confused expression came into
his serious, gray eyes.
"This is the young vandaPs latest
achievement in the impertinent line y he
said, with short laugh of chagrin as he
pushed toward her big volume of some
abstruce work and turned the hy-leaf.
Thereon had been sketched an inimitable
portrait of himself, sitting in his familiar
and scholarly attitude in his lsathern 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 caricature the dexterous pencil
had not in the least exaggerated the pecu-
liarities of Frederick Ives, for he had his
own little eccentricities and mannerisms,
just as all have, if we chose to admit the
fact.
at is an amazing likeness Of yourself,
Fred" was his sisters laughing comment.
POSSIBLY" ne returned in that half NOR
tilted, half angry manner "and [ dare say
it may be good foF man to see himself
occasionally as Others see him. But this
sort of establishment is not precisely de-
sirable in a valuable book of science,
Jessie Evelyn is becoming quite too mis-
chievous, Carrie; and fear if you cannot
provide home elsewhere for her, shall
feel compelled to leave you
30, Fred p the gentle little lady cried
in dismay. "Surely you cannot mean that?
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 woman's way, sup
pose," she added humorously.
II know nothing about woman and their
ways" he answered grimly.
s'But you could try to win Jessie S
liking, Fred" she returned coaxingly.
II win her liking" he repeated in a
strange, harsh voice. "You suggest what
is impossible, Carrie is only too obvious
that our protege detests me"
Just then a dark, swift something rush
ed pass the window outside. 1t was only
handsome, smiling girl riding superb
black horse rapidly up the gravelled path
toward the stables but at the sight Carrie
uttered quick cry of surprise and amuse-
ment, and the man started to his feet, his
features ashy and his lips unsteady.
II advised Jessie not to ride at all. |
forebade her going near that horse" he
exclaimed after long incredulous stare at
the composed rider and admirably behaved
animal. II wonder she is not killed"
''She has subjugated your horse, Fred,
just as she manages to subjugate everything
else which opposes her." the lady said ad-
miringly. "Observe her and allow her
cleverness. She has netamorphosed my
old black cloth mantle into a really pretty
habit; with characteristic ingenuity she
has arranged your mans saddle to suit a
lady's seat and she has utilized your best
silk hat, Fred-it becomes her too with that
bit of deep gauze about the tall crown
II detest anything manish in a woman, .
Fred declared Grossly, as he resumed his
leathern chair.
Certainly the gentleman had experienced
very little peace since that perverse girl of
seventeen-that incarnation of audacity
and witchery, had invaded the tranquil coun.
try home of his indulgent spinster sister
If he wished little season of particular
quietude, the tinkle of the piano and dis
tractingly sweet voice would sound through
the house. If he consulted his labored
notes upon some especially favored histor-
ical or poetical work, his equanimity would
be disturbed by keen and pertinent inter,
polations that his own wit had never sug.
gested. II he attempted any remonstrance
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 diff
cult for his elucidation; she dared his opin
ions 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 a ready frowr
at the exquisite shape and charming bru