Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-25

TO which my diploma entitled me, called
butseldom upon our mutual friends. Never
theless, / often heard her name mentioned.
People began to wonder at the acuity of
her disposition, and when | saw her on
rare occasions in society / noticed that she
was fading somewhat. | could not help
feeling sort of pity for her, which pre-
vented me from hating her, and yet she
did everything in her power to over
come my scruples in that respect as
you viii see. After FIVE years of this
long.range hostility, although l had but
little inclination to marry, was urged by
my family to solicit the hand of one of
Sophie's friends. The lady was highly
connected and rich, while l had nc for
tune. will affirm that, although / was
not in love, would have been ambitious
and honorable enough to secure the hap
piness of the worthy person whose dowry
would have put me on the road to success.
Sat that time was not in love with
any one. had in my heart only GER
tain leaven of hate, neutralized by pity l
was in those days civil engineer attached
to an important enterprise of which, with
the aid of the dowry of my prospective
wife, l could have become the proprietor.
! failed to get either wife or principalship,
for the young lady refused me on account
of my frightful disposition, and my
mother afterwards learned that the i'm
placable Sophie had pictured me in such a
light that the girls parents deemed them
selves very fortunate in having preserved
their adored child from the dread
full fate of marrying such monster. had
other proofs of the vindictiveness of the
handsome harpy, and, although would
not give ear to the voice of my anger, my
mind was completely occupied with
thoughts of my unassailable enemy. My
brain whirled with dreams of humiliating
and furnishing her-of winning her love,
only to disdain it. She was actually driy-
ing me Wild"
"My friend once more stopped in his
narrative to wipe the moisture that started
to his brow at the bare thought of those
days of trial.
"Your enemy was simply coquette p
l observed laughingly.
"Coquette! oh! no." he rejoined.
Whenever | met her she was always
plainly dressed, extremely circumspect
and absolutely Indifferent to the homage
which her noble name and certain
naughty grace attracted to her. 1t was
affirmed that she had declared her inten-
ton of remaining an old maid.
The following summer | happened to
be at Dieppe for short season of sea.
bathing, when believed | was really GO
ing to become enamored of the beautiful
Madame Querpont. l courted her very re.
spectfully and assiduously, and imagined
that my suit would be favorably received
when, one fine morning, the bewitching
widow advised me, in polite but irrevoc-
able terms, to cease my attentions, as one
of her schoolgirl friends had given her
such an insight into my character as would
preclude the possibility of any further
friendship between us.
$50 my relentless enemy had second
time thwarted my plans, and prevented
me from being loved.
1t was more than | could bear. Why
did she persecute me thus? felt all the
righteous indignation gallant man can
harbor towards a foe that can intrench
herself behind the prerogative of her sex.
My mind became so tormented with
thoughts of this beautiful adversary that
could no longer work. She seemed to be
constantly before me, scissors in hand, for
ever clipping the threads of my destiny.
At long intervals saw her, and inwardly
ragged to find her more impossible, slender,
and stately than ever. People still called
her pretty. l would have wished to think
her abominable. Would you believe it ?
/ actually resolved to leave the country p
"Why, you poor, deluded fellow! You
were in love with her~
"Very likely" replied my friend, "but
was not then conscious of the fact, and l
firmly believed that l hated her. | made
an application to the Minister of Public
Works for position in one of the mining
districts, and / thought that for once
Mademoiselle Sophie could not interfere.
But, alas the Minister'S Secretary was the
husband of one of her friends. She thus
discovered my project, and by some effect
i've calumny circumvented my wishes.
resolved to put an end to this guerilla-like
warfare, even at the risk of an unpleasant
scene, or some unusual proceeding. had
no idea what plan l would pursue, but
chance soon furnished me the desired OPP
portunity. 1t was actually at a ball given
by that very Minister of Public Works,
who required my presence as dancer, if
not as civil engineer | had accepted
the invitation through idleness, vexation
of spirit fatality, if you wish.
"As soon as | arrived / saw the object of
all my painful meditations sitting by her
mother at the other side of the hall. l
went over to them at once, and after
most formal salutation invited Madamoi-
selle Sophie to dance. must have had
very forbidding air, for | put on my most
formidable frown to suit the occasion. /
had not the slightest desire to dance, and
was quite certain that Sophie would give
me flat refusal, in which case would
make her discourtesy pretext for demand
ing, in the presence of her mother, an ex-
PLANTATION of her most extraordinary con-
duct. To my amazement, she accepted my
invitation almest gayly. l offered her nv
arm and we Joined the file of promenaders.
DO you care to dancer / asked, coldly.
when we were in the midst of the dancers.
No. replied she, in the same icy tone.
Suppose we talk
Very WE'LL still frigidly.
1--WE went stiffiy through the crowd,
arm-in-arm, though our hearts were beat
ing with anger, till we came to little par
Tor, or boudoir, where we found ourselves
alone. She seated herself calmly, but
remained standing. Have you ever had a
serious, recriminatiye conference with
woman? If So you must have noticed
how necessary it is for man, in order to
maintain his superiority, not to look his
feminine adversary in the face. 1t is so
painful, under any circumstances, to try to
speak to woman as one would speak to
man.
"If you see her turn pale, blush, grow
restless, protest. or supplieate, farewell
reproaches, or anathemasl | be-
gan, therefore, the projected explanation.
gazing at times toward the ceiling. then
at the floor / expressed. in
the first place, my establishment and Iegit
innate indignation. Could it be possible. |
inquired, that she was childish enough to
cherish rancor on account of the petty
quarrels of days gone by? Did she not
how cruel game she was
playing, irasmuch as | could not punish
her as | would man? Ny heart softened
as | proceeded, and / assured her that /
bore no ill-will towards her. Then, car
ried away by the desire of confounding her
by my magnanimity, | drew her portrait
as | would have wished it to be. | de-
scribed her smiling, expansive, loving.
bewitching with all her witchery. beauti-
full with all her beauty 'Ah, that Sophie ?
sighed, enraptured at my own eloauence.
how | could have respected and loved
har