The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1883-12-13
"She has subjugated your horse,

pretty habit; with characteristic
ingenuity she has arranged your
mans saddle to suit lady's seat
and she has utilized your best silk
pat, Fred-it becomes her too with
that bit Of deep gauze about tho
tail crown
q detest anything mannish in 6
woman" Fred declared Grossly as
he resumed his leathern chair.
Certainly the gentleman had ex
perienced very little peace since
that perverse girl of seventeen
that incarnation Of audacity and
witchery, had invaded the tranquil
country home Of his indulgent
spinster sister. If he wished a lit.
tie season of particular quietudc
the tinkle of the piano and a dis
tractingly sweet voice would sound
through the house. If he consulted
his labored notes upon some es
pecially favored historical or poeti
; cal work, his equanimity would be
disturbed by keen and pertinent
interpretations that his own wit had
never suggested. If he attempted
any remonstrance, she would blunt
his censure with q pun and defy re,
buke 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 shape and
charming brunette face, perceiving
only the yellow gem he whimsically
abominated, glittering in her coal
black hair and amid the white laces
on her bosom.
GAS an amulet" she replied
quickly, merrily and meaningly.
"Itis a preservative against poison,
you know"
The speech was not quite civil /;
the laughing glance of the big
black eyes was saucy and s;gnif-
cant; but her manner was the per-
fection of innocent playfulness.
Fred's frowning face crimsoned.
"What monster Of iniquity would
wish to harm so gentle and gracious
lady ?" he retorted, with ungal-
liant irony.
She regarded him for a moment
with a curlously intent and ques-
tioning look, efore which his coun-
tenance sudt enly changed-sud-
denly he see:led defensive rather
than aggressive, as one who feared
his own weakness rather than the
strength of the enemy.
Perhaps she Giscerned some
thing in his uneasiness that she
wilfully declined to understand !;
perhaps she comprehended a pain
that thrilled her more than she
cared to acknowlt ;e-for she, too,
changed.
'Mr. Ives" sh> began at length,
with a singular new splendor in her
sweet smile and a singular new
sweetness in her voice, "any sar-
casm is absurd between you and
me. The candid truth is so much
better always, even if it be dis
agreeable. l am perfectly aware
that you detest me; that everything
I do displeases or annoys you.
You have given me abundant proof
of your dislike, and never yet
voucsafed me . kindness nor a cour-
tesy. 1t is you who are ungentle-
you who are u1gracious. Why you
are So, 4may not inquire; but 1
shall implore our dear Carrie to
send me away, and trust that you
may never again be afflicted with
the presence of so luckless per-
son as myself
And while he marveled in this
new amiability, this charming CON-
bination of humility and dignity,
without sincerity or snare, she had
gone, leaving him somewhat be-
wildered and wholly uncomfortable.
Il have a mind to try the subju.
gated black horse myself" he
thought presently, as he noted the
CLEAN of white dress and an am
ber scarf among the trees up the
long shady road.
But the black horss had not been
subiugated for Fred's pleasure, evi-
dently. The mettle than had been
obedient to the slightest command
of one dainty, daring girl, had not
been tanned for his control.
Jessie, pausing by the pleasant
wayside, was suddenly startled by
the unsteady tramp of hoofs, and
looked up to behold the unmanage-
able animal galloplng toward her.
The next instant he tossed his vi
cious head aloft and reared on his
launches; simultaneously, the sad
die girth snapped asunder, and the
unfortunate rider was precipitated
upon the level sward almost at her
very feet.
90 Fred, are yoa hurt ?" she in
quired in tones of tenderest con-
cern, as she knelt down besides
him and slipped her pretty arm be-
meath his fallen head.
ssYfs" he answered gazing straight