Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-01-21
HIS LITTLE LOVE.
A snowy January afternoon.
BY ALFRED CRAYON.

"A SNOWY OduudIy d11cIAOOu'
Through the little windows of the
warm waiting-room two travellers saw
the snow blowing across the whitened
fields, and heard the sweep of the wind
among the leafess branches, and against
the window panes.
A gentleman of about thirty stood by
the window, one arm resting on little
shelf, and eyes bent on the girlish face
beside him. He was not handsome, yet
his was face one would look at with SIS
much or with more interest than if the
features were as perfect as Apollo's own.
The eyes and mouth were full of
power, the former especially, wonder
fully expressive, and, as he spoke now,
full of easy, quizzical regard.
"Are you afraid of me, Miss Marion ?
Do you think shall prove tyrannical
or lenient guardian ?"
II am not the least bit afraid of you,
sir!" the young lady called. Marion
answered, in a cold, business-like voice,
looking him in the eye.
"Not afraid? How strangel" he said,
the smile around his mouth deepening.
do you generally inspire those who
meet you with awe, Mr.. Vann?"
Il am lawyer" he replied, @there
fore blessed with second sight, of
course. Not only do we judge by the
outward evidence Of the thoughts in a
clients heart, but the inward working
of the vital organ is an open book to us.
Your thoughts now
He paused.
"Well?" she asked impatiertly.
"Are not fattering to me. You con-
slider me an unmitigated bore, very cold
and Professionalism good-looking.
the South, where days like this are I'M
heard of, and where the college students
serenade you and dedicate fowery SON
nets to your beauty"
The girl flushed and darted quick,
angry glance at him from the dark eyes
under the little tissue veil strapped
across her nose.
@You are pleased to be sarcastic" she
said, with little sheer and shrug; "bHt
of what matter is it? If it amuses you,
sir. it arluses me infinitely more. am
not afraid of your satire-neither do I
like yoDi'
Jerome Vann raised his brows in un-
feigned snrprise.
She - so petite, so childish in ap-
pearance, despite her eighteen years !;
and the open animosity she expressed
was so novel. It was all refreshing and
he watched her amusedly as she went to
a distant corner and buried herself in q
novel, to the complete exclusion of him
self.
All be could see beneath the book was
a pair OF extremely lovely red lips, and
these he watched steadily, scarcely
aware Of it. Five minutes passed, licked
slowly IF by the clock III the empty
waiting room, and brown curl appeared
above he rim of the book, than one
curious and brightly angry eye which
met his and disappeared like flash.
Jerome laughed. He knew that by
that outburst of mirth he totally lost all
vantage ground with her, but he could
not help it.
Still smiling he walked slowly to her
side.
"Do not freeze mel" he said patheti-
cally, holding out his hand; "we must
be friends, you know"
"Not at ALL" she said coldly. az am
absolutely sure that we shall never agree.
Better begin as we shall surely end!"
"You dislike me?"
81 have said OF" she answered, turn
ing the leaf.
"And why? Because have been un-
fortunate enough to have unwittingly
offended your"
"You have laughed at mel I do not
know what name they give that in the
North, but in Virginia we should call
that unmannerly."
"If I have been SO, Miss Romero, I
sincerely beg your pardon" Jerome
said, stiffly, and retired to the win dow
to whistlethe Exile of Erin" in the
most distracting discord, until the train
pulled in.
Jerome sat by the library fire, a cigar
between his lips, his hands clasped idly,
his eyes almost closed.
He was listening to story which in
tarested him.
younger man was also sitting by
the fire, cane i'll his hand and his chin
resting on the top of it. He was very
handsome young fellow. and the fire.
light, playing on his head, turned his
hair to gold, and made the intense,
earnest, blue eyes seem black.
II have loved her from the begin
ning," he said slowly. Through all the
past months / have loved Marion silent
ly; now will tell her of it, with your
permission and learn my fate. Better
ultimate rejection than this suspense. /"
"Ned Burlington, you love my ward ?"