The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-19

and set myself boorishly to my studies.
1t was substantial, instructive book that
had bought, by the late DR.. Heineccius,
In which l was to do . great deal of read
ing these next few days, and often very
glad that l had no one to question me of
what 1 read. Methought she bit her lip at
me a little, and that cut me. Indeed it
left her wholly solitary, the more as she
was very little Of reader and had never
q book. But what was to do?
So the rest of the evening flowed BY al
most without speech.
/ could have beat myself. could not
lie in my bed that night for rage and re-
pentance, but walked to and fro on my
bare feet till l was nearly persisted, for the
chimney was gone out and the frost keen.
The thought of her in the next room, the
thought that she might even hear me as l
walked, the remembrance Of my churlish-
ness, and that l must continue to practice
the same ungrateful course or be dishon-
ored, put me beside my reason. l stood
like man between Scylla and Chary5dis.
What must she think of me? was my one
thought that softened me continually into
weakness. What in to become of US? the
other which steeled me again to resolu-
ton. This was nv first night of wakeful-
ness and divided counsels of which l was
now to pass many, pacing like mailman,
sometimes weeping like childish boy,
like Christian.
But prayer is not very difficult, and the
hitch comes in practice. In her presence.
and above ali if allowed any beginning
of familiarity. Il found l had very little
command of what should follow. But to
sit all day in the same room with her and
feign to be engaged upon Heineccius sur
passed my strength. So that fell instead
upon the expedient of absenting myself SO
much as l was able; taking out classes
and sitting there regularly. often with
small attention. the test Of which | found
the other day in note book of that per-
iod, where had left of to follow an edi-
flying lecture and actually scrubbed in my
hook some very i'll verses, though the
Latinity is rather better than l thought
could ever have encompassed. The evil of
this course was near unhappily as great as
its advantage. ] had the less time of
trial. but l believe. while that time
lasted. l was tried the more extremely.
For she being so much left to solitude,
she came to greet my return with an in
creasing fervor that came nigh to over
master me. These friendly offers l must
barbarously cast back; and my rejection
sometimes wounded her so cruelty that
must unbend and seek to make it up to
her in kindness. So that our time passed
In ups and downs. tiffs and disappoint-
ments, upon the which could almost say
(if it may be said with reverence) that 1
was crucitied.
The base of my trouble was Catriona's
extraordinary innocence, at which | was
not 50 much surprised as filled with pity
and admiration. She seemed to have no
thought of our position. no sense of my
struggles: welcomed any mark of my
weakness with responsive Joy; and when
| was drove again to my retrench-
ments did not always dissemble her
-
thought to myself. "If she were over head
in love. and set her cap to catch me. she
would scarce behave much otherwise"
and then l would fall again into wonder at
the simplicity of woman. from whom
felt lin these moments) that was not
worthy to he descended.
There was one point in particular on
which our warfare turned and of all things
this was the question of her clothes Nv
baggage had soon followed me from Rot
terdam and hers from Helvoet She had
now, as il were, two wardrobes: and il
grew to be understood between US U could
never tell how that when she was friendly
she would wear my clothes, and when 9th
erwise, her own. / have seen her 20 out
OF the room in petulancy. when would
be at Heineccius, and return with a whole
change OF dress, even the clicked stock
ings being discarded. and for aught |
know she may have shifted to the skin. 1t
was meant for buffet, and las il were)
the remuneration of her gratitude: and
felt II so in my bosom. but was generally
more wise than to appear to have observed
the circumstance.
Once, indeed. I was BETRAYED into a
childishness greater than her own. IL fell
In this way: On nv return from classes
thinking upon her devoutly with a great
deal of love and n good deal of ANNOYANCE
N the bargain. the annoyance began to
fade away out of my mind and spylng in
window one OF those forced flowers of
which the Holianders are so skilled
in the artitice, | gave way to an
Impulse and bought IT for Catrion,
do not know the name of that
flower, b1t IL was OF the mint
color. and thought she would admire the
same. and carried II home TO her with
wonderful soft heart. had left her in
my clothes, and when returned To find
her ali changed and face to match. I cast
but the one look at her from head To foot
ground my teeth together. flung the win.
dow open. and my flower into the court
and then thetween rage and prudenceI
myself ON OF that room again of which I
slammed the door as | went out.
On the steep stair I came near falling
and tins brought me TO mvself. so that 7
began al once 10 see the folly of nv con.
duet went, not into the street as I had
ENA iAe~S't- 'At 40 the mouse court. which
was always solitary place, and where I
saw nv Hover Cha. had cost me vastly
more than II was WORTHY hanging in tho
leaiiess tree. | stood by the side of the cana,
ana looked upon the ice. Country neonia
went by on their skates and | euvied
them- could see no way out of the nickla
was IN. no wav so much as 20 return
10 me room had Just left No douht vac
IN nv MIND hut had now BETRAYED tho
secret ~ my feelings; and to make thinrs
worse | had shown AZ the same time ls,3
that with Nretched boyishnessl inciv;I;,r
10 my he pisss guest
| suppose she mus; have ssan ma g.
the omen window. II did ne; seem - ~, ~
that had stood there very long befors
heard the crunching Of footsteps on ~.
frozen snow. and. turning somawhat
angrlly {for Was in no spirit TO be in.a-
rupted(. saw Catriona drawing near So
was all changed again. 10 the clockad
stockings.
Are We nor going 20 have our walk To-
dav >" said she.
WAS looking 81 her in maze "Where
is your brooch >" saws |.
She carried her hand TO her bosom and
colored high. II will have forgotten II =
sald she. Il will run up stairs for II
quick, and then surely We can ave our
walk"
There was note Of pleading in tina. last
that staggered ne: | had neither word.
nor voice 10 utter them: | could do no
more than nod by way OF answer; and the
monens SIZE had .e.t me, cAlluoed into the