Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-02-20
His LITTLE LOVE.
A snowy January afternoon.

heard the sweep OF the WIND among the
leafess branches and against the win
dow pares. '''s.'+. '@ 'SG !. '' '''
A gentleman of about 30 stood at the
window, one arm resting on little shelf,
and eyes bent on the girlish face be-
side him. He was not handsome, yet
his was face one would look at with
as rauch or with more interest than if
the features were as perfect as Apouo's
own. ~ -
The eyes and mouth we're full of pow
er, tha former very expressive, and, as
he spoke now, full OF easy quizzic:l re-.
gard. N@ ,-t.<. :.
"Are you afraid of ine, Miss Marion
Do you think I shall prove tyranni
Cal or lenient guardian ?"
II ana not the least bit afraid of you,
sir!" the young lady called Marion an
swored in cold, business, like voice,
looking him in the eye.
"Not afraid? How strange!" he said,
The smile around his mouth deepening.
'tDo you generally nspire those who
meet you, with awe, Mr.. Vann?'
II 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 o
client. heart, but tho inner working of
the vital organ is an open book to us.
Your thoughts now"
He paused. =.
'Well," she asked impatiently. q
Are not hattering to me-, You con-
slider me an unmitigated bore, very
cold and professionalism good look
ing. You long for school left behind
in the south, where days like this were
unheard Of, and where the college stu
dents serenaded you and dedicated
fowery sonnets to your beauty"
The girl flushed and darted a quick,
angry glance Of him from the dark eyes
under the little tissue veil strapped
across her nose. i e-,
"You are pleased to be sarcastic,"
she said, with little sneer and shrug;
"but Of what matter is it, If it amuses
you, sir, lit annr1ses mo infinitely more.
1 am not afraid of your satire, neither
do ! like you'll"
Jerome Vann raised his brows in un-
feigned surprise.
She was so petite, so childish in APP
pearance Id spite OF her Is years, and
the open animosity was, so novel. It
was all refreshing and he watched her
amusedly as she went to a distant COR
ner and buried herself in a novel, to
the complete exclusion Of himself.
a@9 All he could see beneath tue book
was pair of extremely lovely red lips,
and these he watched steadily, scarcely
aware Of it., Five minutes passed, tick
ed slowly off by the clock in the empty
waiting, room, and "a brown curl appear
ed above the rim of tho book, then one
curious and brightly angry eye, which
met His gaze and disappeared like a
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. } 2 80
"Do not freeze mel" he said, patheti-
cally, holding out his hand; 1--WE must
be friends, you know"
mot at all" she said, coldly. q, IT am
absolutely sure that we shall never
agree. Better begin as we shall surely
end"
"You dislike me?" #fE. ] - sS5s
II have said So" she answered, turn
ing the leaf. ~, 4 -
and why? Because Ihave been un-.
fortunate enough. to have sunwilllngly
offended your" J %.S s@
"You have laughed at me. T. do not
know what name they give that in the.
North; but, in Virginia, we should call
that unmannerly." 3...
IF T have been so, Miss Romero, /
sincerely beg your PARDON" Jerome
said, stiffly, and retired to the window,
to whistle the Exile Of Erin, " in most
distracting discord, until the train pulled
in. -
Jerome sat by the library fire, cigar
between his lips, his hands clasped idly,
his eyes almost closed.
He was listening to story which in
terested him. u,
A younger man was sitting by the
fire, cane in his hand. and his chin
resting on the top of it. He was a very
handsome young fellow, and the fire.
light, playing on his head, turned his
hair to gold, and made the intense, earn
est blue eyes seem black. n
s..'1 have loved her from the begin
ming" he said. slowly. Through all
the past months I have loved Marion
silently; now I will tell her Of it, with
your permission, and learn my fate.
Better ultimate rejection than this sus-
pense" .55. .tl
Ned Buhing ton, syou love my ward 2"
jerome asked, calmly, and no evidence
that his heart was beating like a boys
could be seen in his face.
on love her truly, you say 2"
IT dol Upon my honor!? Ned re-
piled. !Ihat, surely is not strange.
Gould 8 man, seeing her constantly, as
q have done, not lose his heart to
her q" q u II 81 / n 4. ss3..54
Ton know, st course, that she was
left 3 fortune ~ Jerome asked again, in
the same quiet way. u . & n
have heard SO. Perhaps, indeed,
il is the only thing to be regretted, for.
4 love her and have abundance for
both, 4 Ned answered regretfullv
Her guardian stood mp, and his face,
was very pale.
& i 40 longer 70 Be regretted.