Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-09-03
From the Chicago Tribune.1
A DEVIL OF A TEMPER.
BY KATE CLEARY.

eff there is anything especially OBJ
noxious to me-" avowed Miss Murphy
in solemn conclusion, sit is inter
ference with the affairs of others; but
in this case I said to myself, Duty,
Mary Ann Murphy, dutyp
"OhI" gasped Jessica.. She had sunk
back in her rose-ribboned rattan rocker
in quite tremor of dismay.
A very charming room this suburban
parlor into which gold bars of sunshine
slanted through the half-closed Vene-
tians. Worthy even of pretty Jessica
it, with its tiled hardwood floors, its
silvor-fox and bear-skin rugs, it's Mad
as-draped windows, it's quantity modern
mantel of polished oak, its eccentric
chairs, it's grotesque tables, its dainty
aquarelles, it's Chinese cabinets, it's
slender but admirably chosen collection
of bisque and Limoges. And surely
eye, however critical, could crave no
sweeter picture than little Miss Ray
made in her pale blue surah tea-gown,
cascaded with Valenciennes, and all
her bronze bright ripply hair braided in
childish fashion down her back. But
just now the lovely face was curiously
colorless, the purple-blue eyes wide and
startled under their long lashes.
There was silence after that sharp
exclamation of Jessica's. Miss Murphy
could afford to be silent. She had
dropped her small shell and it had ex-
ploded with most satisfactory report
She sat rigidly erect in the conscious
ness of duty done, every fold of her
black silk visiting costume stiff with
propriety, every pompon on the brown
beige bonnet bristling with respecta-
bility.
Il don't believe word of itp de-
clared Jessica slowly.
If impolite, the remark was in no
degree. insolent. Ii was simply the
utterance of a conviction. Miss Muir
ply was not offended. She removed
her gaze from a gem of Van Eiton's on
the opposite wall to fas6en it on the
agitated little lady in the rocker. It
took some endurance on Jessica's part
to sit meekly under the scrutiny OF
those faded blue eyes-eyes tolerant
placid, beaming, as those of a benignant
old COW.
ut is true, r.y dear. He said it. I
heard him with my own earsT'
This was really unanswerable.
"They were in the front parlor," pur-
sued Miss Murphy, folding her plump,
tan-gloved hands with aggravating
leisure and serenity. "I sat sewing
just behind the portiere. I never
would have staid could Z only have fore
told what was coming. They had been
talking about other things, and were
silent for while. Suddenly my Ned
burst out laughing. so you've seen
her. he said, and you don't fancy her.
eh?' Fancy her?' echoed Jack. We'll
I should say notp" fk s81 "a
"Well?" urged Jessica, steadily.
She would hear it out she told her
self-she would-every word of It'll
well, then" slowly, to heighten by
suspense the effect of her narrative
Ned said, The boys around here al
like her immensely. Roy Pates says
she's daisy"
"Oh!" moaned Jessica. "You must
excuse that nephew of mine, my dear
you really must. Ned but repeats what
he hears. Besides, you know, he is
only boy yet-iust Is. What Ned
said is of no Importance. Please go on
She sat erect again very pale and i'm
perative, indeed. fFA F@F% = ~
eff you insist on hearing, hesitantly
f'Jack replied, We'll, I don't. I did just
at first. I confess for while she de-
ceived me. But a few days gave me
enough of her. Ned said, why, we al
thought you were in great luck to gel
her. sLuckP cried Jack in answer, sc
loud, my dear, fairly jumped, I assure
you. Luck! Yes, the most confound
ed piece of bad luck ever struck.' ]
am ashamed to say, my dear, but to be
veracious must, that here Ned, quite
carried away by his youthful sympathies
inquired, 'Can'tyou get of it?' Anc
Jack said, 'Confoundi it, mol That's the
worst of it. [ can't break such con
tract with any honor to myself. But
only wish some other fellow stood in my
shoes just now. I've promised to take
her and I've got to do it, but it's (
deuced hard bargain'-oh, my dear
Jessica, you're not going to faint!'
Jessica put out her hand with slight
depressing gesture. 1r kn1S
No, Miss Murphy, am not gong tx
faint. Is that all ?" 2tsAEf&k &
Miss Murphy was rather disconnected
Her shell had exploded noisily, it il
true. But now that the smoke wa
clearing away she, at whose feet it hat
been flung, was not dead-not ever
wounded.
eyes, I believe that was all, for jus
then some one summoned Jack. Blu
as he went out he called back to Ned
iii see you at Bryant's. tomorrow
night and talk this unfortunate b1unde
over again. Be in the study at 10. II
meet you there
"And that really is all ?" queried Jes
sica, quite her own possessed self again
Miss Murphy stared. To once NOR
drop into SMILES, her balloon which
had sailed up SO straightly and securel,