Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-10-07
Gales aud Sketehes.
A DEVIL OF A TEMPER.


"If there is anything especially obnox-
ions to me.n avowed Miss Murphy in SOL
emn conclusion, lit is interference with
the affairs of others, but in this case
said to myself, duty. Mary Anne Murphy,
duty!''
.'Ohr' gasped Jessica. She had sunk
hack 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 Venetians.
Worthy even of pretty Jessica-it, with
its tiled hardwood floor. its silver fox and
bearskin Its Madras-draped windows
its quantity modern mantel of polished
oak, its grotesque tables. its dainty aquar-
relies. its Chinese cabinets, its slender but
admirably chosen collection of bisque and
Limoges And surely eye. however crit
ical, could crave no sweeter picture than
little Miss Ray made in her pale blue
!! surah tea gown, cascaded with Valencien-
mes and all her bronze-bright ripply hair
braided in childish fashion down her back.
But lust now the lovely face was curiously
colorless, the purple-blue eyes wide and
startled under their long lashes.
There was silence after that sharp excla-
; nation of Jessica's. Miss Murphy could
afford to be silent. She had dropped her
small she'll and it had exploded with a
most satisfactory report. She sat rigidly
erect in the consciousness of duty done,
every fo.d of her black-silk visiting cos
tune stiff with propriety, every pompon
on the brown biege bonnet bristling with
responsibility.
al dop,t ha1iayo uyord Of IL ti Aoolar
ed Jessica slowly.
Ii impolitic, the remark was in no de-
gree inSolent. 1t was simply an utterance
of conviction. Miss Murphy was not
offended. She removed her gaze from a
gem of Van Elton's on the opposite wall
to fasten it on the agitated little lady in
the rocker. 1t took some endurance on
Jessicas part to sit meekly under the
scrutiny of those faded blue eyes-eyes
tolerant, placid. beaming, as those of a
benignant old COW.
1T is true. my dear. He said it.
heard him with my own ears ~
This was really unanswerable.
They were in the front parlor," pur-
sued Miss Murphy, folding her plump,
n-gloved hands with aggravating leisure
and serenity. II sat sewing just behind the
portiere. never would have stayed could
only have toretold what was coming.
They had been talking about other things
and were silent for awhile. Suddenly
Ned burst out laughing. so you've
seen her. he said, and you don't fancy
: her, eh?' Fancy her. answered Jack,
Well. should say not
WELL" urged Jessica, steadily. She
would hear it out. she told herself-she
would-every word oft.
well, then" to heighten by suspense
the effect of her narrative, Med said, the
boys around here all like her immensely.
: Roy Pates says she's daisy!"
: "Ohn' 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-ust eighteen. What Ned said
: is of no importance. Please go on"
She sat erect again, very pale and i'm
perative indeed.
"lf you insist on hearing" hesitatingly !;
Jack replied, We'll, don't. did just
: at first. I confess, for awhile she deceiv-
ed me. But few days gave me enough
of her. Ned said, why, we all thought
you were in great luck to get her. 'Luckn
cried Jack, in answer, so loudly, my dear,
fairly 'umped. | assure you. Luck !
: yes, the most contounded 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't you
get out of it?' And Jack said 'Confound
it, no! That's just the worst of it. can't
break such a contract with any honor to
t myself. But | only wish some other fell
$ low stood in my shoes just now. I've
: promised to take her, and I've got to do
2 it. but it's deuced hard bardain'-oh,
my dear Jessica, you're not going to
: faint? ?''
Jessica put her hand out with a
slight repressing gesture.
"No. Miss Murphy, am not going to
faint. Is that all lp"
Miss Murphy was rather Disconnected
Her shell had exploded noisily, it is true.
But now that the smoke was clearing
away she, at whose feet il had been flung,
was not dead-not even wounded.
Yes, believe that was all, for Just
then some one summoned Jack. But as
, he went out he called to Ned, "I'll see
; you at Bryant's tomorrow night and talk
this unfortunate blunder over again. Be
in the study at ten. I'll meet you there "
And that really is all ~ queried Jes-
8 sica, quite her own possessed self again.
r Miss Murphy stared. To once more
? drop into SMILES her balloon which had
sailed up so straightly and securely at first
$ had suddenly collapsed and was falling
with startling rapidity.
81 should think" severely, at would
be quite enough"
Enough ?" airily. That's It'll It's too
much You know an overdose of poison
occasionally counteracts the effect of a
lesser quantity, and think" with smile
charmingly confidential. lit is something
the same way with gossip-don't you?"
1t was Miss Murphy's turn to gasp.
Such girl But then one never could
understand Jessica Raw.
al hope you don't infer" she began
frigidly. but her hostess stopped her with
wave of her Vatican fan and CAV dis
senting little laugh.
Il don't. | wouldn't tor the world
Have you never experienced the comfort
able sense of importance resulting from a
candid avowal of disapprovalP No? All,
you do not know all you have missed
The latter is most invigorating stimulus
to conceit. Mediocrity alone, you know,
is cacuro from, social 90