The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-03-13

velvet, of a brilliant blue, wei which
the light, streaming through muslin
curtains, threw the hue of q silvery
gray; the chiffonier of rosewood where
her knitting lay, and where the bows of
her huge gold spectacles loomed in
sight.
The precious miniature was kept in
an old casket lined with faded rose silk,
which exalted the perfume of the iris,
so light and delicate that it appeared a
sensation of the memory rather than q
real odor.
How many times I unused over the
precious ivory in weird, childish
dreams, in which respect was mingled
with a large measure of lively curiosity.
T used to think OF the time when my
young grandfather had lived-for, not
having seen him, I 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
q beardless face. Full of admiration
for this fairy grandfather, I scarcely
dared smile at the coat with its mons
trous collar, or the cravat ~encroaching
on the chin, in which the neck appeared
to be in torture.
But I did not say what I thought,
perhaps not to annoy grandmother, per-
hapa not to get laughed at for notions
which I felt were absurd, but which I
cling to so much the more. Such are
children, and sometimes children Of q
larger growth. The curiosity. excited
by the portrait had grown with my
growth and strengthened with my
strength. I had just entered my teens,
the down on the lip was just starting,
and I had some vague notions about
love. I could not imagine how Grand
mother Lise, who, it seemed to me,
must always have been old and wrin-
killed., could ever have been loved by the
Young and brilliant original of that por-
trait. I turned to her abruptly and al
most unconsciously:
1Glandma Lise, how was it that you
cam to marry Grandpa Octave?"
Tie question had scarcely escaped
my lips when I began to blush to the
roots of my hair, for I had received
from grandmother one of those pleasant
hat penetrating LOOKS with which she
was accustomed to read the thoughts OF
her tavorite grandson, which, although
sffectionate, did not on that account
cause less embarrassment. Instead Of
= rAtort-tha sharp repartee which she
answ howfto use in the style Of persons
raised by parents imbued with the spirit
Of the eighteenth century, the search al
every turn for the quaint and keen ex'
pre-sion-her face was irradiated by {
smile and her dull eyes were terminated
by the luster of.one of those tears of the
aged which are rounded, but do moi
fall.
Had she understood me? Perhaps
20. At all events I had awakened mem
cries which she was willing to review
in words at least, for With mischievoul
expression which made her look young
again, she answered me pleasantly;
Allow was it, do yon ask? It wa
very simple. We detested each other
That wos i'll"
/ could not restrain my amazement
She expected it and continued viva
ciously:
each other. TWAS quite natural. w
we're couslns-german, almost brothe
AMI sister, but very unlike. Lively
nnrniS. in exuberant health, HAY
ing black eyes always laugh
ine. I was, about the year 1916, n 0
tho most turbulent young creatures VIII
wore the hair carled q la Titns. q frocl
of printed calico fitting close under tn
arms, and embroidered pantalets play