Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-07-11

Cditu 81 lusulcul. a silcuCe 81 insulting!
l would have beaten him il | had
dared"
You must have been naughty,
grandma
IL thought so. child; often thought
so. But don't think so now. Is much
to be expected at that age? A fine age,
all the samei'
"And then"
"Then-that continued for years
and years. |, still turbulent and giddy
with play; he, always reading and
pointing at us, until he was fifteen
years old and twelve. At that time
he had to leave Paris with his parents.
did not see him again for six or seven
years after. was no longer a little
girl. you know; my hair still curled,
and that was my despair, for the fash
ion OF head-dress a la Chinese had
come in-all the hair drawn to the top
and l could not succeed in smooth
ing mine according to the style. My
dresses had been heightened out
Printed calicoes were no longer worn,
but muslins, and very beautiful leg-of-
mutton sleeves. In the meantime l
had not ceased being sprightly and
jovial, and sometimes, only occasion
ally, noisy.
LAS for him he was the same fellow
as when he left except that he had
light whiskers, which were quite be-
coming. He pressed my hand ceremo-
niously instead of kissing me as l had
expected. which somewhat irritated
me, because had planned, as / still
detested him so much in memory, to
turn to him only the tip of the ear.
Then, with scant courtesy, he seemed
to pay no further attention to meme
whom everybody else was noticing.
felt outraged.
al saw that he limped little, hav-
ing recently fallen from his horse.
That passed away afterward. This
lameness | made up my mind to turn
to account for revenge. We were at
an uncle's in the country, where
made visit every year. Octave had
scarcely gone out before l began
walking round the parlor initiating
his halting step and formal manner.
1t set every one laughing. Elated with
my success, was trying it over again
when he came in and surprised me. l
expected reproaches. Wonder! He
did not appear to feel hurt, or to OBJ
serve my mischievousness. l never
detested him more.
''ln the evening there was grand
dinner, My cousins had brought one
OF their friends whom / considered q
coxcomb and whom avoided, especial
y as he took pains to single me out
for his pretentious compliments. He
attached himself to me with famil-
iarity and vanquishing airs which
would have put me beside myself il l
had not seen that Octave was frown-
ing. All! that displeases you, |
thought. Well, my lad, you may
plague yourself. Then got absorbed
with the idea of playing the amiable
with this reckless fellow. He took
advantage OF it and was so Troublesome
that went out in the dark to escape
his ridiculous attentions. He followed
me. Already the effects of drink ng a
good deal of champagne had been ap-
parent outside it was still worse.
The phrases which he addressed to me
| commenced finely. but did not finish.
The beginning were sufficient and l
wanted no more. l turned my back
and scampered away. Notwithstand-
ing my bravery | had had enough.
Alas! he ran after me, seizing my
hand and trying to stop me. This time
my fear was so strong that"
You began to cry?'
Not exactly. drew away my hand
and gave it to him again, not as he
wished, but on his face 'slap bangr'
bravo, grandma
"Do not applaud so quickly. Octave
WHO had rejoined us, had attended my
confirmation, and made that pre- text
to intervene between me and my pur-
suer. The next morning, held respon-
sible for my slap, he had tilt with the
impertincnt fellow and scratched him.
fortunately not very deeply, SO that the
adv enture ended better than might
have been feared
You did not detest him any longer,
grandma, did youp"
Quite the contrary. By what right
mad he interfered? | was furious about
it. the more furious rs everybody
scowled at me, attributing the trouble
to my flirting. So quite reused up, |
decided to go ana tell this officious
youth once for all what l thought of
him."
"Oh, grandma
"Sir. said to him could think OF
no term more fitting and disparaging
-''sir, you must tell me by what right
you persecute me sop
She looked at me slyly in silence,
for | was dumbfounded in my boyish
simplicity OF thirteen years, with
whom the feelings had yet natural
play.
1T was cheeky. wasn't it? For it
was l who had always prosecuted
him. But it always happens that one
talks nonsense when altogether wrong
and dying with rage for not being
right. l expected that he would get
angry, but he did not. His eyes were
fixed upon me with singular mildness.
and he said calmly and slowly:
Now what bava dana Iisap