The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-08
A Little Temper.
HN COUSIN pisI,E.

his only fault Is his tpmprr.n This
/. WAS the text from which Mrs. Kcycs
had preached since tie time when
Willis was old enough to make his de-
mandS in broken, cooling words, and
beat has head upon the floor with loud
: screams if these demands wcrc not
complied with. Sisters, cousins and
jaunts had echoed the chorus, until, rs
Willis grew to manhood, II" began tC
look upon his uncomiOrtabl" DISPOSE
tinn Us an cnviable distinction, and
was quite free in his contemptuous al.
lusiOns to the boys 'whO hadn't bit
iOf spumk - In his own home, the
brief restraint he had experienced from
his futhrrcmdcd with the lattcr'S death
! when Tie hoy was five years of age
/ Neither mother nor sister dared ven.
ture to oppose his wishes, lest orpasi,
ton should bring on one OF his at
lacks and friends became cautious
and reserved in his presence, since the
people who we've attracted by his
bright, handsome face, his generous
open ways, were disCmchamlcd when
they came in contact with the stub
born sell-will ANA Srliishucss which
lay concealed under that prcp0ssessing
exterior.
Yet it seemed hard and uniind to
call Willis selfish. He never Shirkcd
his duties he was fair and generous
with his playnlates, ready to bear his
part i'm school or playground. He had
riSied his life more than once for his
fellows Oh the skating pond or i'll res
cuiny the inexperienced from the deep
waters in summer. He would watch
with Il sick SchOulnatr night after
night, tending him us kindly and care
fully rs woman; and he had Il natu-
raj aversion to what was low and base,
which made him Il sort Of mentor
among the younger boys. Counting
over to himself his numerous virtues,
;,s was often his custom, he could new
or understand why it was that the
boys feared him rather than loved him,
and shut him SO completely out Of
their c0niidcncrs. "Iou know / was
Il little out of TEMPER" seemed to him
un ample apology for any deed com-
mittcd during these frequent out
bursts.
Time went on, and Willis graduated
from the law school which had sue
cccdcd the academy. His family was
now in Strengthened circumstances :;
for not only had the expenses of his
education been heavy, but they had
met with rcvcrscs which swept away a
large part of their income. That vii.
lis should at once become scll-support
ing seemed an absolute necessity; and
his Joy was unbolndcd when he rr-
crivrd from an old friend of his father
"A famous lawyer in another part of
the StatC-a proposal to. enter his Of
flee.
81 make you this Offer" wrote Judge
Cation, "not only because Cf my old
friendship for your father, but because
T. have heard from your instructors
such favorable reports Of your talents,
morals and business habits. Without
these recon- mcndaiions, | should not
have felt justified in taking you into
my office, however strong my wish To
hclp the son of an old friend might
be.n
IT was q letter which stimulated
Willis self-conceit to the utmost. AS
he boarded the train which was to take
him to his destination, his only feeling
was. not that so great good fortune had
brfAllcn him, but that he so well de-
served it.
The depot at the junction where
they stopped for dinner was close and
crowded. The meal proved umsaliSiac.
tory; his ulster had been blackcncd by
a careless porter; he had an unplcaS-
ant alteration with the ticket agent
over the change, and rushed out on
the platform to see as he supposed, his
valise, which he had left for Il moment,
vani. .hing up the steps of the rear car
in the grasp of an elderly woman.
Willis anger was at its height. He
rushed through the crowd Of hurrying
Dasscngcrs, Glowing his way to left
and right, to the alarm and dismay of
the bclatcd host, pushing an oilicious
brakeman to one side, swung himself
to the platform, and, crowdng down
the aisle, brought the offender to Il
stand still, us he roughly snatched the
valiSc from her grasp.
"rhiS is my proverty, madam " he
began in thunder tones; "and | would
advise you in the future to he careful
as to whose belongings you appropri-
ate"
:'hc reused, indignant look III the
lady's eyes, as she turned toward him
only added to his wrath. Unhceding
her attempt at explanation, he poured
forth Il torrent Of rage and vitupera-
tion, until the conductors hand upon
lis coat collar brought him to his
sciiScS.
"rhis car is for ladies and gentle.
men, said that official, with Il quiet
emphasis on the last word. "Madam.
if this valiSc is your property, will you
kindly demonstrate ii by opening it:'
as she took Il key from her purse
and fitted il to the lock, Willis, rapid
" recovering his senses, saw how re-
fined and beautiful was the face turn
cd toward him, how elegant the finish
of the dark, plain travelling suit.
The lock yielded beneath her fingers,
and the satchel opened, revealing al
mass of tucked and rulllcd muslin,
which brought the color III Il sudden
flood to her accllsrr's checks.
els the young man satisfied: ~ she
asked with quiet irony.
And, followed 10y the iccring laugh
ter of his fellow passengers. Willis,
covered with shame and confusion,
sank into his scat to brood over his dis
comliturc.
He had not yet recovered his spirits
when he presented himself the next
morning mt his en- -loycr's Office, nor
WAS he treasured by the look of sur
prise and disappointment Judge Cation
bestowed Upon him.
u\ul ,-r,, orn Willis krvrs hcI