Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-13

ZOE WAS swISeING LAzILY IN THE HAMMOCK.
Zoe was swinging laZily in the hammock and
was standing by her. The atmosphere had evil
IDENTIFY oppressed her, for she would not talk.
but lay there with shut eyes almost as if sleep
ing. and disturbed to pctulance if Ispoke to
her. But could see the shining line between
her half-ciosed iashes and knew that she was
not asleep. For some reason unknown to me
she was pouting-I will call il by no harsher
name-and when she was in this kind OF mood
she was what the French call impossible"
and neither to be reasoned with nor coaxed
out Of -her mood. l had offended her by some
unsupported gaucherie. some masterful word
or look, and she was taking her revenge.
wonder if she knew how much she panied me!
do not think she could!
Suddenly Lindsay Kershaw vawned, stretched
himself. and lounged up from the tiger skin
where he had been lying.
Il say, old fellows, this is slow work enough"
he said, laughing. LET us do something"
AN right" sang out Algernon. "what shall
it be?"
Yes, lotus do some hing," cried Zoe, throw
ing off her pretense Of sleep as if it had been a
ribbon over her eyes,
'Let US take u ride" said Lindsay.
mo. said l; "a storm is coming on and every
one will be drenched."
You need not come. Justin" flashed ont
Zoe. If you are afraid of few drops Of rain
stay at home-no one wants you"
Il was thinking more of you than Of myself"
answered, but felt kind OF spasm 60 over
my face and knew turned pale
Much obliged. I'm sure, old fellow"
drawled Algernon; but / think We may be
trusted to take care OF our sister"
You shall not come, Justin" said 70, with
per pretty little peremptOry manner.
did my best to smile as at a good Joke. but
l made very poor affair Of it.
why this comedy" asked, with the awk-
wardness of a man trying TO conceal pain and
modification under a joking manner.
II want to go with Algy, :" said Zoe
and i should be do trop?" asked.
Very much de trop," said Zoe, with mock
gravity. ~ never see Algy alone now, and
want to talk to him today very seriously"
Il am sorry,"I began and then stopped;
something choked my words and could not
utter another sound.
Zoe looked ut me and for a moment seemed
as II she was about to say somet hing pleasant
sweet, soothing. Then the mutinous little ex-
preston came over her face again and she
turned her eyes from me to her brother.
you are not quite married yet" said Al
gernon to me. dlsagreeably. las Zoe says,
she and are never together now; and il she
wants to be with me she shall not be thwarted."
Il do not wish to Interfere" l said, with the
same sense Of choking in my throat.
well then, don't" was tho reply.
All this time Lindsay kershaw had been
standing silent but attentive to what was going
on. He was deeply flushed. but save for this
his face had mo message" to me nor to any
one else.
Come, Zoe, run and put on your habit +"
then said Algernon. II Will 90 TO the stables
and get the beasts saddlcd. James"-to his
eldes, brother-'you will come? and Lindsay,
you?"
Yes" said both the men at once.
The earth reeled under my feet should
have fallen had not caught hold OF branch
OF the lime tree which formed ono OF the ''up-
rights" for Zoes hammock
Il shall know what to think, Zoe, il you
a IN 10
said In q low voice to my little love, who by
this time had sprung to her feet and was stand
ing near me. II ask-1 entreat you not to go
or at least IL you do to include me-" con-
tinued earnestly. IF you do not"
There was my false move. My unfinished
threat reused all there was of recalcitrant and
mischievous. self-willed and thoughtless in this
hayward child. Her bright eyes flashed, her
little figure stiffened.
You may think what you like, and I don't
care what you do think" she said. II am
going all the same, and you shall not come. II
you do shall stay at home"
On which she ran across the lawn and dis
appeared into the house,
lfelt half mad and wholly bewildered
Knew 70 my cost what 1t was to quarrel with
Zoe Whatever had gone wrong was made ten
times worse. III she had struck me with n
| whip before she then struck me with q braid
| OF scorpions. And all these little tiffs-which
are, suppose, inevitable to the time Of court
| ship-had only reduced me still more to A
| state OF aoject slavery, and increased her
power and Predominance. And if / dared not
resent this anront on her. still less could l on
her brothers This would be to have her az
well as them against me, and could not AFFORD
| that.
IL was terrible moment; but in all the press
and passion of my thought came the one warn
ing thought, like m inner voice speaking to
me- 'fatience. bear with patience" And,
ike shining strip Of light reaching in the far
distance beyond the dark and dreary immedi-
ate surroundings, was the faith. the belief, the
knowledge that, in spite of all her wayward-
ness she loved me. II had not known tina.
would have nung mp the whole thing. even
though had blown out NV brains the next
moment But knew that abe loved me. She
was hayward and her pretty petty tyranny was
meant for my discom6ture-but she loved me.
| Bewifdered by passion, dazed with suffering,
1 stood there scorning myself and scorned by
| them. What was but slave taking from an
| adored mistress such blows and buffets m shs