The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-04-21
A TERRIBLE TEMPER.

- ] uOAlouS " me- dNOWtu MISS Nlul pla
in solemn conclusion, 1t is interference
with the affairs Of others; but in thi
case | said to myself, Duty, Mary Ann
= Murphy, duty,
oh. gasped Jessica She had sun
back in her rose-ribboned rattan rookie
in quite a tremor of dismay
A very charming room this suburban
parlor into which gold bars of SUNSHINE
slanted through the half-closed Vene
tians. Worthy even Of pretty Jessiea-
it, with its tiled hardwood floor, its sill
ver-foX and bearskin rugs, its Madras
draped windows, its quantity modern
mantel of polished oak, its eccentri,
chairs, its grotesque tables its dainty
aquarelles, its Chinese cabinets, its
slender but admirably chosen collection
of bisque and Limoges. And surely
eye, however critical, could crave nc
sweeter picture than little Miss Ray
made in her pale blue surah tea-gown
cascaded with Valenciennes, and all
her bronze-bright ripply hair braidedin
childish fashion down her back But
| just now the lovely face was curiously
! colorless, the purple-blue eyes wide and
startled under their long lashes.
There was silence after that sharp
exclamation of Jessica's $. Miss Murphy
could afford to be silent. She had
| had dropped her small shell and it had
exploded with most satisfactory re-
port. She sat rigidly erect in the con-
seriousness of duty done, every fold Of
her black silk visiting costume stiff
with propriety, every pompon on the
brown biege bonnet bristling with re-
spectability
4 don't believe a word of it," de-
Clared Jessica, slowly.
II impolite, the remark was in no de-
gree insolent. 1t was simply the ut
terance Of a conviction Miss Murphy
was not offended. She removed her
gaze from a gem Of Van Elton's on the
opposite wall 10 fasten it on the agita-
ted little lady in the rocker It took
some endurance on Jessicas part to
sit meekly under the scrutiny of those
faded blue eyes--eyes tolerant, placid,
beaming, as those Of a benignant old
COW.
ut IS true, my dear He said it.
heard him with my own ears!7
This really was unanswerable.
They were in the front parlor pur-
sued Miss Murphy, folding her plump,
tan-gloyed hands with aggravating leis-
ure and serenity. Il sat sewing Just
behind the portiere. l never would
have stayed could | only have foretold
what was coming. They had been talk |
ing about other things, and where sill
ent for awhile. Suddenly my Ned
burst out laughing. So you've seen
her he said, and you don't fancy her,
eh?' Fancy herr? echoed Jack. Well /
should say not!'
"Woll?" urged Jessca, steadily.
She would hear it out, she told her
self-she would-eyery word Of it,
Well, then" slowly, to heighten by
the effect OF her narrative,
Ned said The boys around here all I
like her immensely. Roy Pates says
she's daisy,'"
OH moaned Jesslca. you must
excuse that nephew Of mine, my dear;
you really must. Ned but repeats
what he hears. Besides, you know, he
is only boy yet-iust eighteen. What
Ned said is Of no importance. Please
go on"
She sat erect again very pale and i'm.
indeed,
If you insist on hearing" hesitantly,
Jack replied, We'll, | don't | did Just
at first. I confess for while she de-
1eiyed me. But a few days gave me
enough Of her Ned said, Why we
al thought you were in great luck to
get her Luck! cried Jack in answer.
so loud, my dear I fairly jumped.
Luck, Yes, the most COMPOUNDED piece
Of bad luck | ever struck" / am
ashamed to say, my dear, but to be ,
| must say that here Ned,
lutte carried away by his youthful sym
1athies, inquired, CAM you get out of
{" And Jack said, 'Confound it, no,
hats the worst OF it. | can't break !
UGH a contract with any honor to N.Y. q
eIi' DuL Only WISH some other fell
y" H'oou III my shoes Just now I've
u oiillSeu 10 take her ana I've got to
- H. Dul II 5 deuced bad bargain
w. my uear JessIca' you're not going d
PANT
Jesslca PUT out her hand with a a
'lsnl' depressing gesture
NO. MISS Murphy, l am not going to d
an W., T. - lIat an
ror 's sbe Hgi baG was aatheG aSconcerted