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

TO follow her standard.
"You like flowers, suppose, Mrs
Jordan" ! said to my hostess. as | 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
Glare does. She brought IL away from
home with her. and has taken the great
est care Of Il ever since"
Then this Is not her home," re-
marked indiferently
"oh, no; she only boards here for a
while"
Mrs Jerdan Is right" spoke Miss
Clare's tuneful voice from the doorway.
81 am here as long as wish to stay. Ny
home Is in Boston"
Was it her particular province to dis
compose and confuse me1 II It had been,
she could not have succeeded more en-
tirely.
Hooked down at the girls eyes and
said:
you have discovered that am inter
ested in you"
81 have discovered that you experience
a feeling, which, II you were q woman,
should surely call curiosity" she an.
swered, advancing toward me and stop
ping by her plant, fondling II with
dainty fingers.
II don't like to have you call the feel.
ing by that name," said, with an air
that implied that she could awaken u
stronger sensation than mere curiosity
| found that every such gallant at
tempt was lost upon her.
She looked up In my face and indif,
ferently asked:
"Why mott Docs the imputation
wound your dignityT'
Inoted that, now that the pupils were
contracted, her eyes were hazel gray.
replied to her Yankee directness by an
indistinct murmur, for In truth did not
know what to say Then remarked:
"Your heliotrope Is getting too large
for this pot; you must transplant It.
unless you want 1t to blossom itself to
death"
"Yes, IL was for this pet Of mine that
I was wounded this morning; am going
to put 1t in q box tomorrow. 1t viii
flourish greenly and bless me with sweet
ness In return for my love. It is not
human at all, Mr.. Perrom."
"You are too young to be a cynic," !
said, secretly glad Of this remark she had
volunteered, and astonished at myself
that was so glad.
ut Is not years that make q cynic,"
was the reply; ''it is life, and there is so
much Of life sometimes In day"
did not hazard q response to that re.
mark, though wished to speak In terms
feared she would resent as too per-
sonal. A silence Of several minutes fol.
lowed. The harsh lines around her mouth,
the retrospective appearance Of her face,
made me imagine her to be thinking Of
something disagreeable In her past.
At last ! said:
"Can l be Of any assistance In trans
planting, tomorrow"
Her face did not change as she said:
Thank you, none whatever" and
walked away.
What vagary had taken possession Of
me, prompting me to like this girl?
Something that felt would soon develop
itself into that which would prove more
vital than a mere freak. Though could
not, with any reason, decide why I had
become 30 conscious Of this attraction,
yet l felt It to be, II erratic as lightning,
as powerful and as sure to its mark. /
did not love the girl. | do not think
believe in the idea Of the growth Of any
thing so complete, 80 perfect as love, in
one or two days I do not deny Its pos
sibility for some natures, where the
whole previous life seems to have been
attuned by invisible hands for this meet
ing and this love. But for me, who have
groped in earth's dryness and drstiness.
l did not expect q sudden publication for
the reception Of the glorious guest.
l had been at the isolated farm house
fortnight, and had seen very little Of
Miss Glare. In the meantime, when
sat at my reading or writing l occasion
ally heard the report Of q pistol from
somewhere back Of the house For q
long time wondered what boy or young
man was practicing shooting, or what
pigeons and quails were suffering from
his expertness. At last, one morning,
as an incessant "crack, crackT came up
against my window, took my little re-
volver from It's case and went out in
search Of the marksman. The air was
cool and frosty and came against my
face with the very essence Of winter in
IL Hurrying on to keep warm, came
upon Miss Clare, who was standing
about dozen PAGES from q target board
nailed upon q tree. When I came up
she was standing with her face turned
from me, loading her pistol Size wore
q short, loose, double breasted fur jacket
and fur cap The cap did not become
her; her face was too proudly, coldly cut
for such q half jaunty thing. I took
out my own pistol and examined Il,
while she asked me II was q good shot
"ordinary," l answered.
"Well, let me see. she said, and stood
aside for me to take her place and shoot.
l did 80, and was sufficiently mortified
at seeing that my shot went 90 wide Of
the mark as to emphasize my remark
that was ordinarily skilled. However,
knew could do better and fired two
more charges, both Of which went full
upon the eye Of the target
THAT is o great deal better than
can do" remarked Miss Clare. stepping
up and firing with so little appear.
ance Of taking aim that wondered her
bullet came so near-within a quarter
Of an inch Of tho mark. We practiced
for half an hour. and proved myself
more clever at the art than Miss Clare
| wished 10 offer myself as instructor and
nnnnnnu.in.. hut de Honn al hoinn ~