The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-05-29

As I looked at her, she raised her ham
mer and struck It on a nail she was hold
ing in place; the nail glanced from itS
position, and she drove Il through the
desh part Of ono Of the fingers Of her left
hand. uttered an exclamation, and on.
deavored to take the hammer from
her hand. She smiled a little strange
smile, and clenched bar fingers over the
handle to prevent my getting it-then
she drew the nail tron her bleeding fin
gers and pounded It in Its place with an
energy that had something Of spite in II.
what can one do with such a woman
as thatT' almost burst from my lips, D.
impetuously did 1t cross my mind.
She rose from her knees and began
binding up her hand with her handker-
chief very tenderly, and with an expires
sion Of soft, self pity on her face. took
the hand in mine and swathed IL In the
gossamer handkerchief; as did 90 saw
a name marked in its corner. Thinking
that II wanted to know her must take
advantage Of every circumstance scru.
tinized the marking and read aloud
"Viviane Clare"
Excuse me. Miss Clare" said; ~
know am very rude, but I wish to be-
come possessed Of the right to SPEAK to
you, and you see am bold enough to
seize the first opportunity Of learning
your name"
She withdrew her hand with a sud-
denness that was almost q jerk, and In.
stantly became absorbed in tending It
again.
81 wish had persisted In my intention
Of doing your carpentering for you" ]
said.
~ suppose you think II you had per,
sisted you would have succeeded, don't
your" she asked, with laugh that was
very musical, while It was slightly ga
tirical.
II realize now that should have been
defeated in my humane DESIRE" re.
piled. "You have not yet pardoned me
for discovering your name by stratagem, y
continued. "In atonement let mo tel
you that the name by which men know
me is Jarl Perrom."
Ibowed as ceased speaking; she die
not look up to perceive Il; she only said
Thank you, Mr.. PeTTom, with an In
describable accent Of polite derision, thai
pierced me like sharp steel
II hope you will experience no evil
effects from the wound" !" I said, lower.
ing my eyelids to hide my vexed eyes.
with your permission, l will lead my
horse from the stall, as he wants groom
ing"
Thought she would 60 out at that;
but she said:
~ don't mind IT." and turned to her
boards and nails again.
There she crouched, graceful as a
couchant leopard, fumbling with her
bandaged left hand, and making quick,
telling strokes with her right. / never
groomed horse with so distracted q
mind before. Under my hands he grew
pettish and fractions, and l narrowly es-
capped being kicked several times At
length In q pet, I tied him up to his crib,
and was turning to come out, when Miss
Clare spoke. Apparently she had not
looked ct me before since / took the horse
out.
She said, with mirthful voice;
"You have given that horse rope
enough to get tangled about his fore legs
II he Is so inclined, and cause catastro-
phe."
With burning face l sow my blum.
der, and rectified It, feeling very much
like chopplng of my hands for having
been 90 awkward
81 confess am not used to being my
own groom" said; your knowledge is
as useful as Il is uncommon"
She did not reply. and as | had no
pretense to stay long"r, | stalked out Of
the barn, with q frivolous, secret wonder
In my mind as TO wh.ther she was going
to transplant her nNliotrope, for she
seemed now preparing to iill her box
with earth. settled the question, how
ever, with grunt Of sarcasm, by NUT
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 I
went into the house. and looked round
for the heliotrope. | found It BY a sunny
window.
For some reason liked this plant