The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-18

any good to walk right over me 1 would
lie down under his feet indeed would
That is very strong Language" said /.
II can't see how that would do him any
good, and it would hurt Won.
II should want it to hurt me!'' she ex-
canned, passionately. 81 can't do any
thing Tor him except to be hurt!''
nut after season this feeling seemed 10
aUate somewhat; for Nina went to school,
ana the new interest and excitement di-
verted her TIL she; began to hate her les
sons ana DEFY her nteacher, and presently
10 peg to stay at home. And when Ralph
toid her she was his little girl, and must
have an education suitable to his little
girl, she declared she was nothing Of the
sort, but was his little servant. Aunt Ju-
liet had said so, and she needed and would
have no education at all.
vi course this phase ended by the teach
err giving her q reprimand before the
other children; and with that she became,
rs you may say, uproarious. She after
that was more likely to be found wading
in the river up to her neck when the
school bell rang, or swinging in the top
most bough of tree, or walking around
the caves OF the house with her arms bal
ancing her steps, than picking up her hat
and books. Once, indeed, having her
school luncheon strapped over her Shout
ders, she staid up in the tree all day and
all night in spite OF my efforts, Ralph
happening TO be absent, and felt that she
might not have come down at all ifshe had
not seen the doctor call for little Effie-of
whom she was passionately fond, and into
whom she had confidentially told me she
was sure the soul of the little dead baby
must have gone--which sight brought her
down so incontinently as TO bring multi
tude OF bruises and scratches with her.
Neither entreaty nor force could bring her
to leave the room after that until Ellie was
pronounced TO be out of danger
Ii was OF no use TO tell her that she
| panied us by her conduct-it was we who
panied her. II was no use to tell her that
she was disgracing the name We had given
her; she said we could take back our
name and she would take another. And
she could be brought 70 see no use in book
learning. or demure behavior, or in any
obedience she did not see iii TO render.
The years were soon long struggle with
her. don't know how she managed to
learn anything during this course, unless
she absorbed II at the pores, although she
listened, to be sure, pretty intelligently in
the corner OF the hearth, when Ralph
read aloud evenings.
Its just as ! said," declared Aunt
Juliet, who, being the person of means in
the connection, took the liberty OF saying
what she liked. you've taken little
hussy that YOU don't know anything about
into your hearts TO break them"
Nina was still, at fifteen years, little
lean, brown thing with owls eyes, and as
farorche and shyas anything OF the woods
when Lance came home. Lance was
Ralph's brother and had been away at the
naval school and then sailed around the
world, and had not been at our home
these six years. "Wcll," he said, "what
imp OF darkness Is this?' And she heard
him. And nothing could bring her into
the same room vita him during the whole
time OF his stay But by-and-by she hung
over the ballustrade 10 listen TO his voice,
or she hung over the balcony TO see him
on the lawn-all II he were not looking
or she flashed like FREELY from window
to window to watch him II he stroled
around the river path and behind the
fringe Of birch and beech with Flora
Denny, our pretty neighbor. III always
did hate white girl" she muttered ~
like the dark people" she said, "like YOU
Once or twice during Iance's stay Nina
went into the kitchen, and with n strong
hand compelled old Rose, the cook, TO
show her how TO prepare certain dishes,
and then she watched outside the kitchen
door ofthe luncheon-room 10 learn Of their
reception, which was tolcrably favorable
~ always knew could do Il IL I wanted
TO, 'she said. And then she might have
corners till she had finished little purse
Of steel beads. "lIere," she cried over
the bannisten the morning lance was 90
ing away. "You take this! There's a
lucky penny IN H." He looked up and
saw her bending there. the strangcsi lady
NO serious, and dark and witch-like, that
ever sent knight on his deyoir.
III will take H." he said III you will
come down and give Il 10 Inc.
And step by step she came down, Ms II
he drew her forward and some unwilling
power held her back, and laid the little
brown leaf OF hand in his And then
Lance drew her little nearer and bending
from his lordly hight 10 kiss me good by,
turned and bent and gravely kissed her,
too.
In another instant she had broken away
and had raced out into the orchard aud
hidden herself in the long grass, and when
she came In, some hours afterward, she
announced that she was never going 10
wash the spot upon her face that Lance
had kissed.
THAT girl Is fool" said Aunt Juliet,
who had dropped In. | don't know
whether the fact that her foot caught In a
croquet wicket and threw her down n her
way 20 the gate afterward had anything TO
do with her remark or not.
shortly after this Nina said: "You know
always said anybody could do ANYTHING
II they only wanted TO 40 Il. wanted 10
cook those things; and you know what he
said about them. | wanted 10 make him
n pure, and there wasn't knot In tho
silk. Now | want 10 learn French and
music and all that white thing Flora
Denny knows. And you'll See" And
she did.
Not all nj once. OF course, did we see the
desired proficiency; but she had a natural
aptitude for music and for art. And pres.
emily n strange quictude seemed 10 have
fallen on the house; and now, instead Of a
little brown imp, there WIS slender, dark
Young girl, whose angles were turning into
curves. on whose olive check ruddy tint
was blossomine, whose lips were bow
knot Of scarlet and whose cycs-ther
never were such eyes out Of gypsy's
head! The swift capriciousncss Of move
meni hnd become a sort Of flashing grace;
Indifference TO dress had changed TO
wondrous taste for the picturesque, and
carclessncss for the feelings Of others had
vanished before her intense tenderness for