The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-03-26
A PROUD WOMAN.

JUnn AMOR SKY Hdu always DeeI
clouIless. He had seen life through q
rose-lined haze, and had walked rough
shod over its meadow bloom. Naturally
he forgot or never knew that somewhere
and sometimes there were sodden paths
to tread, that the meadow bloom turned
to rustliug broomstalks, and the sky to
under-roof of doleful grey. He was
sunshiny because he had never peered
| into the shadows TO have a purse well
filled without knowing who fills it, to
open your hand to a gift of fortune and
have it drop in carelessly, to win love
without seeking it-iD short, to play at
living is pleasant occupation, but very
poor discipline Perhaps John Vandor
was tlihe selfish, in spite of his mex
hanstibe good nature, his intelligence,
his inyariabIe Good form."
Agnes Earle was the sort of girl men
call dashing, aud wonen-out of respect
to their own preferences-dare not class
ify. She had dark aud unreadable eyes,
matched to shade by profusion of
crinkled hair, and set off by long, almost
curly lashes that would have made the
Sistine Madonna a half coquette. Her
complexion was that rich, deep, yet per-
fectly clear olive one sees more often in
the best Spa,,ish portraits than in Amer
lean life From remote ancestors she
had perhaps Spanish blood in her veins.
In figure she was neither so tall as Diana
nor 50 mature as Juno; neither 1.-the nor
willowy describe her exactly, though
either may help to Indicate the subtle
something in her carriage which made
her as graceful in movement as in re-
pose, in speech as in silence, in alert at
tentinn rs in self-saturated reverie. In
deed, Agnes Earle would have been al
most beautifulif she had no other charm
than the wonderfully pretty hands which
had made John Vandor fail half in love
with her when they first met, and had
helped to persuade him that he loved
her even after.
Vandor was not exactly handsome.
He was fine-looking One could not but
admire his physique, and one could not
help noticing, in looking him full in the
face, that he had brains.
These two began by liking each other
somewhat blindly and altogether unrea-
sonably. He liked in her the brillianee
and dash of her style, the suggestive
fuency of her small talk, and above all,
her compelling beauty. She liked in
him certain strength, a certain sug-
gestion of restrained power, which
seemed to underlie his obvious conceit
aud his superficial empiricism of think
ing, and she liked his open handedness,
his big, brave ways, his love of dogs and
horses and of call outdoors"
These young people were second cous-
ins, but they had not met or known
much of each other until he was man
of twenty-six and she woman of nine
teen. He bad come to California for no
good reason-for no reason. One Satur-
day afternoon, after a week of some
comprehensive ",loing" of San Francis
co, he walked into Richard Earle's study
at Berkeley, bearing note of introduc-
ton from Cousin Mary, who lived in
Albany He found bronzed grizzly,
curt and gruf, who scowled him dubi-
Gus welcome without rising.
Glow long have you been in the State,
young man. asked the host.
"Jnst ten days-two in Sacramento;
eight in San Francisco"
Are you broke?
do YOU mean out of fundsY' asked
the guest, smiling in spite of himself.
az mean broke-b-r-o-k-e; busted,
p'r'aps you say. Come here to borrowr'
''No, thank you. | came to pay you
my respects, and wish you very good
day." And second cousin Vandor, turn
ing on his heel, quietly left the room.
In the hall he vas arrested by the un-
mistakable rustic of feminine drapery,
Just in time to avoid collision with a
lady.
Il beg your pardon" he said, rather
stiff1y.
"Have you been quarreling with pa
pap
The young lady smiled while she asked
the question, and all the stiffness had
gone from his voice as he replied:
mot exactly; / am cousin of your
father's-of yours, too by the way-and
had come to be very civil to my rela-
tive. Your father thought | had come to
borrow money"
He had forgotten his anger; forgot
ten that he ought to have been in full
retreat.
ssCome back with me, and let me ex-
plain. I'll make him apologize. Our
cousin must not go away in such FASH
ion, with the afternoon sun about to 70
down upon his wrath. / don't wonder
you were angry; but then, twas only
father
Your cousin had much rather accept
the family apology from you, said VAN
dor, laughing. "However, III 20 back,
and try and explain that I'm not
broke. 2
Agnes led the way, and marched
-. .s.@fx4 - H.1~ g. - =
and kissed him lightly, and then, stand.
ing directly in front of him, she shook
at him one taper finger, saying, with an
inimitable drawls 8 Aren't you ashamed
of yourself7 2
dWhy didn't he come here at once,
then, snarled the bronzed grizzly.
All, ha and that's the reason you
send our cousin away With your awful
bluntness. Now please understand, Da, z
she called him aDa'-..that / shall
permit no such high-handed acting.
Come here, cousin, and notice how meek
II be shakes hands
By this time both men were laughing,
and Agnes smiled complacently and Left
the ROOM The second cousin masculine
shook hands and the elder soon became
interested ii news from his old home.
When Hiss Earle Fe-entered the TOonl,
an hour later, she saw that the cousins
were on the best Of terms with each
efher, and Iudicr0usly invited the young
man 70 60 ont On the porch with her
and watch one Of their show sunsets
s1udiciouslg means that the wise young
woman did not intend that either should
have chaneeto become bored with the
oEhes.