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

of hatred among men, and still less do
believe in woman's enmity. Men have
superabundance of pride, and women are
complication of nerves. When a mans
pride has been satisfied he sheathes his
sword, and when woman's nerves
are quieted the feminine heart cherishes
no further rancor.
was one day advancing this pet theory
of mine in the presence of one of my
friends, who appeared to be somewhat in
credulous; and, as invited him to discuss
the subject with me, he replied with a
smile:
Instead of discussing the question Twill
relate for you story which will be far
better than physiological or Psychological
arguments. l was once the object of a
woman's hate, ana it would have proved
my ruin had 1 not resolutely killed my
| fair enemy"
"Do you mean to say you killed a
woman ?' l exclaimed in amazement
| As my friend continued to smile, and did
not seem to be tormented by any remorse,
| begged him to proceed and to excuse the
interruption.
"luon Dieu, yes" he resumed, II killed a
handsome maiden, and it was the most
fortunate act of my life, for all my happi-
ness dates from that murder"
| The persistence of my friend in speaking
| of murder irritated me.
| "Can yon not make use of some other
| term?" l demanded.
"There is no other name for it." he re-
| piled, with the same mysterious smile.
"You shall Judge for yourself. l was
not 20 years old at the time, and was in
the country, visiting some friends, who
during the summer entertained large
/ number of guests. We young people
passed the time delightfully."-, organizing
! private theatricals, tableaux, and all kinds
of innocent amusements, and though our
hearts would sometimes thrill and our
| pulses beat faster at the sight of so much
grace and loveliness as were gathered to-
| gether in the old country-seat, we were,
nevertheless, like those greedy children
who gaze longingly at the dessert and dare
not ask for their portion before the signal
given by the punctiiious grandparents.
So, even though we did often look visit
fully on the peach bloom cheeks of our
! fair comrades, we were not tempted to
taste their beauty. Still, it must be con-
fessed that, while culling the roses and
marguerites, our hands would sometimes
chance to meet, and we bold youths i'm
proved the opportunity to gently press the
imprisoned fingers in manner which
caused the fair damsels to blush and our
selves to grow pale with sudden emotion.
Now, our ROBUSTNESS lasted only the length
of a sigh, and we were so inconstant to
these fancees of the moment and changed
sweethearts so frequently, that we sported
| innocently in the delicious atmosphere of
| love, but without loving"
gently carress his lips, as if seeking the re-
mains of the honey of his twentieth sum
mer. He is nearly go to-day.
| !" In such innocent familiarity" he re-
sumed, eve call each other voluntarily by
the baptismal name, rather than by the
family name, and it often happened that
we quarreled as earnestly as we amused
ourselves. Young folks of Is. 10 and even
20 years, when they are assembled in num-
bers, become children. They assume a
grave exterior, and essay the role of gen.
tlemen and ladies only when they are iso-
lated among serious people. We were as
gay and frolicsome crowd of children,
then, as you can imagine. Among my
young companions was one who used to de-
light in contradicting me, and l retaliated
by teasing her. Sophie, however, was I'M
usually witty, and did not spare me. She
had taken very fine course of study, and
ridiculed numerically my mediocre attain
ments. On my side, | was not fond of hav-
ing all my sayings taken up and my re-
parties despoiled. People matched us
against each other in contests of wit for
the amusement of the company, but con-
sidered her too pedantic, and she declared
| me altogether too stupid. Although we
had not as yet expressed any opinion con-
corning our physical advantages, it irri-
tated me to hear her called slender and
pretty. However, l made no comment
when compelled to listen to the praises of
my prosecutor. Sophie was less consider
| ate, discovered, for, entering the parlor
| one day without being observed, | heard
! shout of laughter greet the malicious
sprite as she ridiculed the hirsute append
ages which had previously been to me a
| source of secret complacency.
"'He does well. said she, to wear nut
ton chops on that sleeps head of his; it is
certainly the most appropriate style of
decoration
"The witticism seemed to me detestable,
and from that day on / was quite per-
suaded that my desire to tease Mademoi
selle Sophie was the outlet of deeply
rooted antipathy. As for her, emboldened
by the success of her programmes, and car
rled away by her keen sense of the ludi-
crous, she lost no opportunity of exposing
me to ridlcule. One evening we were
playing at forfeits, and the time seemed
propltious for my revenge. For over a
! week we had scarcely exchanged the
morning and evening salutations; we no
longer extended the hand at greeting, and
between us was fermenting deadly ami
mostly. As it came my turn to choose a
young lady in order to pay, by kiss, the
price Of forfeit, | purposely selected
Sophie. Our friends laughed immoder-
ately at the obligation under which she
found herself, of kissing me. She arose,
came rapidly toward me, and as the scene
occurred at the end of the drawing-room.
in the doorway, she pushed me without
by the force OF her glance, SO to speak
! and when We were outside the door:
"'What do you want p she demanded
iercely, her teeth clenched, no doubt to
resist the temptation of biting me.
10 let you taste my mutton chops, re-
piled, turning my cheek towards her as
spoke. l acknowledge that my answer was
not very spirituelle, but at that age, you
know, boy lacks culture.
"Sophie's eyes blazed with fury. Never ?
said she, in voice hollow with suppressed
rage.
Il tried to seize her hands and embrace
her by force. THE game permitted me to
act thus boldly.) She pressed her fingers
upon mine, and | felt the most pitiiess of
harry nails sink into my flesh till they
drew blood. The pain made me feel faint.
yet endeavored to smile, while she dared
to do so cruelty and ferociously in return.
l allowed her to go back to the drawing
room, where / Immediately followed.
keeping my hand in my pocket to conceal
the wound OF those spiteful nails. Every
one thought that we had embraced each
other modestly behind the scenes, and we
were in consequence merrily applauded
"As soon as | could steal away unob-
served | went to my room, washed the
blood from my hand, and having covered
the traces of my fair antagonists claws
with courtplaster, | returned to the hall.
When questioned soon after concern;no