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

| Grandmother Ltse would not let me
take grandfather's miniature except
when had been very good. SO il was
considered by me as a sacred object
and to this DAY cannot look at it
without feelings OF tende ruess. 1t re-
calls not only its own environment,
but all that pertaincd to the dear old
lady-her little emaciated face, franz
cd with rioboned locks OF white hair,
which had the soft and golden tint of
a silk cocoon, the short, watered silk
dress, the yellow lace of her cap and
neckerchief.
/ see again. thanks to that picture,
her chamber close at hand; the great
bed. hung with figured Jouy curtains,
no longer made, though still initiated;
her easy chair covered with striped
velvet, OF a brilliant blue, over which
the light streaming through muslin
curtains, threw the hue of a silvery
gray; the chiffonier of rosewood where
her knitting lay. and where the bows
OF her huge gold spectscles doomed in
sight
The precious miniature was kept In
an old casket lined with faded rose
silk, which exalted the perfume o the
iris, so light and delicate that it APP
peared a sensation of the memory
rather than u real odor.
How many times l unused over the
precious ivory in weird. childish
dreams, in which respect was mingled
with large measure of lively Curl
osity. | used to think of the time
when my young grandfather had lived
for, not having seen him, l could
form no image of him but one young
and elegant, as he was pictured-a
time so different from ours, when
every man must have had larger eyes,
finer cut features, lips more reserved
and always smiling, and beardless
face. Full OF admiral ton for this fairy
grandfather. l scarcely dared smile ut
the coat with its monstrous collar, or
the cravat encroaching on the chin, in
which the neck appeared to be in
torture.
But did not say what l thought,
perhaps not to get laughed at for
notions which felt were absurd, but
which l cling to so much the more.
Such are children, and sometimes
children of larger growth. The
curiosity excited by the portr ait had
grow with my growth and strength
ened with my strength. / had entered
my teens the down on the lip was just
starting, and l had some vague
notions about love. | could not
imagine how Grandmother Lise, who.
1t seemed to me, must always have
been old and wrinkled. could ever
have been loved by the young and
brilliant original OF that portrait
turned to her abruptly and almost I'M
consciously:
Grandma Lise. how was it that you
came to marry Grandpa Octave?"
The question had scarcely escaped
my lips when | began to blush to the
roots of my hair. for l had perceiv ed
from grandmother one of those pleas
ant but penetrating looks with which
she was accustomed to read the
thoughts of her favorite grandson,
which, although affectionate, did not
on that account cause less embarrass-
ment. Instead of retort-the sharp
repartee which she knew how to use
In the style OF persons raised by par
ents imbued with the spirit OF the
eighteenth century. the search at
every turn for the quaint and keen
eXpression-her face was irradiated
by smile and her dull eyes were re-
animated by the luster of one of those
tears of the aged which are rounded,
but do not fall.
Had she understood me? Perhaps
so. At all events | had awakened
memories which she was willing to
review, in words at least, for which
the mischievous expression which
made her look young again, she an
swered me pleasantly:
How was it do you ask2 1t was
very simple. We deserted each other.
That was itl''
could not restrain my amazement
She expected it and continued viva
ciously:
Yes, my boy, Octave and l detested
each other. 1t was quite natural.
We were cousins-german, almost
brother and sister. but very unlike.
Lively, unruly. in exuberant health,
having black eyes always laughing.
was about the year 1910, one of the
most turbulent of the young creatures
who wore the hair curled la Titus,
frock OF printed calico fitting close
under the arms, and embroidered
pantalets playing loosely over laced
shoes Laugh laugh, my dear child,
but it was the exact costume that your
sister Camille would have sported il
she had lived half century earlier
He was pale. having blue veins run
ming over his forehead, and eyes bluer
yet; mild expression, almost sickly,
he was so sedate and reflective. He
resembled you, darling. and that is
why | have always preferred you to
others. Be careful not to boast of it,"
Her wrinkled hand fondled my hair
and neck, and her cold mouth brushed
my forehead with kiss. | was, as
ever, pleased, and yet impatient OF
this habitual caressing. which, too
often for my taste, interrupted the