The Monmouth inquirer., 1889-05-09

4
ing in place; the nail glanced from its
position, and she drove it through the
flesh part of one of the fingers of her left
hand. I uttered an exclamation, and en-
deayored to take the hammer from
her hand. She smiled little strange
smile, and clenched her fingers over the
handle to prevent my getting it-then
she drew the nail from her bleeding fin
gers and pounded it in its place with an
energy that had something of spite in it.
"What can one do with such a woman
as thatF' almost burst from my lips, so
impetuously did it cross my mind.
She rose from her knees and began
binding up her hand with her handker-
chief very tenderly, and with an express
sion of soft, self pity on her face. / took
the hand in mine and swathed it in the
gossamer handkerchief; as did SO saw
a name marked in its corner. Thinking
that if I wanted to know her I must take
advantage of every circumstance scru-
tinized the marking and read aloud
'sViviane Clare" s.
"Excuse me, Miss Clare" said; 81
know I am very rude, but I wish to be-
come possessed Of the right to speak to
you, and you see am bold enough to
seize the first opportunity of learning
your name"
She withdrew her hand with a sud-
denness that was almost jerk, and in
stantly became absorbed in tending it
again.
81 wish I had persisted in my intention
of doing your carpentering for you," !
said.
II suppose you think if you had per-
sisted you would have succeeded, don't
you?" she asked, with laugh that was
very musical, while it was slightly sa-
tirical.
81 realize now that should have been
defeated in my humane DESIRE" re-
piled. "You have not yet pardoned me
for discovering your name by stratagem,'
continued. SIN atonement let me tell
you that the name by which men know
me is Jarl Perrom."
bowed as ceased speaking; she did
not look up to perceive it; she only said:
'.Thank you, Mr.. Perrom, f" with an in
describable accent of polite derision, that
pierced me like sharp steel.
''I hope you will experience no evil
effects from the wound" said, lower
ing my eyelids to hide my vexed eyes.
"With your permission, will lead my
horse from the stall, as he wants groom
ing"
thought she would so out at that;
but she said:
y,,1 40 f,1r. .fr, ha1
boards and nails again.
There she crouched, graceful as a
couchant leopard, fumbling with her
bandaged left hand, and making quick,
telling strokes with her right. never
groomed horse with SO distracted a
mind before. Under my hands he grew
pettish and fractions, and narrowly es-
capped being kicked several times. At
length in pet, tied him up to his crib,
and was turning to come out, when Miss
Clare spoke. Apparently she had not
looked at me before since I took the horse
out.
She said, with mirthful voice:
"You have given that horse rope
enough to get tangled about his fore legs
if he is SO inclined, and cause catastro-
phe."
With burning face saw my blum
der, and rectifed it, feeling very much
like chopping off my hands for having
been SO awkward.
81 confess I am not used to being my
own groom" said; "your knowledge is
as useful as it is uncommon"
She did not reply; and as I had no
pretense to stay longer, I stalked out Of
the barn, with frivolous, secret wonder
in my mind as to whether she was going
to transplant her heliotrope, for she
seemed now preparing to fill her box
with earth. settled the question, how
ever, with grunt Of sarcasm, by mutt
tering to myself that 'tshe was going to
have another womanish plant to dawdle
over"
had to admit, though, that she did
not look like a woman to dawdle about
anything.
| With this admission in my mind I
went into the house, and looked round
70. rho heliotrope. found it by sunny
| window.
For some reason ! liked this plant.