Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-05-02

handle to prevent my getting it-then
she drew the nail from her bleeding fin
gers and pounded it in its place with en-
energy that had something of spite in it.
what can one do with such woman
as that" 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; rs did SO saw
name marked in its corner. Thinking
that if wanted to know her must take
advantage of every circumstance scru-
tinized the marking and read aloud
"Viviane Clare"
Excuse me, Miss Clare" l said: II
know am very rude. but l wish to be-
come possessed of the right to speak to
you, and you sec am bold enough to
seize the first opportunity of learning
your name.
She withdrew her hand with sud-
denness that was almost jerk, and in
stantly became al. '',od in tending it
again
Il wish l had per. . In my intention
Of doing your carpenter: 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.
Il realize now that should have been
defeated in my humane DESIRE" l re-
piled. "You have not yet pardoned me
for discovering your name by stratagem,"
continued. "In atonement let me tell
you that the name by which men know
mo is Jarl Perrom."
bowed as ceased speaking; she did
not look up to perceive It; she only said:
THANK you, Mr.. Perrom, with ON in
describable accent Of polite derision, that
pierced me like sharp steel.
II 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 go out at that:
but she said:
II don't mind it," and turned to her
boards and nails again.
There she crouched, graceful as q
couchant leopard. fumbling with her
bandaged left hand, and making quick.
telling strokes with her right. I never
yroomed a horse with 90 distracted a
mind before. Under my hands he grew
pettish and fractions, and narrowly cs-
capped being kicked several times. At
length in q 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 b 20 inclined. and cause catastro-
phe."
With burning face I saw my blum
der, and rectified it, feeling very much
like chopping off my hands for having
been so awkward.
II confess 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. stalked out of
the barn, with q 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 o grunt Of sarcasm, by mutt
tering to myself that ''she was going to
have another womanish plant to dawdle
over"
had to admit, though, that she did
not look like woman to dawdle about
anything.
With this admission In my mind !
went into the house, and looked round
for tho heliozopa ! found It by sunny
window.
For some reason I liked this plant
Something In it, royal violet appealed to
me as tho insignia Of Miss Clare's idlosyn-
crasies: its rich perfume was the fitting
aroma Of her imperial nature; It bore
itself a. the princely gonfalon Of the
hosts Of her heart and head: under such
an ensign did already wish to enlist
thought with smile, that. though Miss
Care was not a blonde. yet would like
to follow her standard.
you like flowers, I suppose, Mrs.
Jordan" ] said to my hostess. rs stood
over the blossom. inhaling with cpl
curean breaths its incompatible richness.
"Yes. well enough. But never should
think Of fussing about that thing as Miss
Clare does She brought it away from
home with her. and has taken the great
est care of it ever since"
Then this is not her home" I re.
marked indifferently.
"Oh. no: she only boards here for q
while"
Mrs Jordan Is right" spoke Mis-.
Clarc's tuneful voice from the doorway.
~ am here as longas wish to stay. Ny
home Is in Boston"
Was it her particular province to dis
compose and confuse mc2 II it had been
she could not have succeeded more en-.
tirely.
looked down at the girls eyes and
said:
You have discovered that am inter
ested in you"
II have discovered that you experiences
feeling. which. II you were o woman
I should surely call curiosity" she an.
swered. advancing toward me and stop
ping by her plant. fondling it with
dainty fingers.
~ don't like to have you call the feel
ing BY that name" I said, with an ali
that implied that she could awaken 8
stronger sensation than mere curiosity.
I found that every such gallant at
tempt was lost upon her.
She looked up In my face and indif
ferently asked:
why mott Does the imputatiou
wound your dignity9
noted that, now that the pupils were
contracted, her eyes were hazel gray.
replied to her Yankee directness BY ar
indistinct murmur, for in truth did moi
know what to say. Then remarked:
"Your heliotrope Is getting too Large
for this pot; you must transplant It
unless you want It to blossom itself t.
death"
"Yes. it was for this pet Of mine that
Twas wounded this morning; I am going
to put 1t In a box tomorrow. It will
flourish greenly and bless me with sweet.
ness in return for my. love. It is mol
human at all. Mr.. Perrom."
"You are too young to be a cynic," ]
said, secretly glad of this remark abe had
volunteered. and astonished at mvnelf