The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-09-25
az EMMA A. oPPER.

Until her arrival the evening befor
Ralph had never seen her. The man
facts about her were that she was al
orphan and an heiress, and that whel
her guardian, with whom she lived
|, had gone with his family for a trip t
. Colorado, Hortense had declared he
preference for coming out to BlakeS
burg to Ralph's mother, and had hal
her way. 80
"A regular little lady said Ralph:
father, whose judgment was as a ruiz
rather sternly critical.
Ralph said nothing. He recalled {
certain singular twinkle in Hortense':
bright eyes. He reflected on the pc,
culiar circumstance of her jogging III:
elbow at the breakfast table, so thai
he had spilled some water, and ther
giggling, behind her napkin. But he
said nothing.
4 When he went out to the barn, pres
emily, to curry Betsey, he thought fo1
an instant that Betsey's colt had got
4 out of the STALL Hating in the door
i he perceived that it was Hortense De
Witt chasing several squawking hens
round and round.
She sat down on key, red checked
and disheveled. Il love to be where
can do as I've mind to- she declared.
| II guess you always do, don't your
said Ralph astutely, and Hortense
laughed. She felt at her neck.
I've lost my diamond stick-pin,' she
announced. Never mind. I'll find it.
I've lost two or three Come .onI let's
have some more fun" She cast look
around. Have you ever walked that
beam up there2'' she demanded. Ralph
had not 1t was a very high beam, and
narrow
well. I'm going to walk it" said
Hortense. ret -
You're not" said Ralph.
"Ain't II" HortenSe gave a light
spring and climbed into the hay loft,
! lifting herself by dextrous clutches.
She mounted to the high beam, and
stepped out upon it.
Don't Ralph begged.
why not?" She was half way across
| it.
IF you should fall you'd be killed, :"
said Ralph. Hortense increased her
pace and arrived safe at the beams
end. Come. on up. What are you
afraid OFF," Something in her voice
turned Ralph's cheeks redder, but he
answered steadily:
81 fell off roof and broke my arm
once, and I've never liked getting up
on high places since; L get dizzy
"Ohi'' said Hortense, with no little
scorn II don't Tn the best perform
er in the gymnasium at my boarding
school. Look here.'' She went back
across the beam. pirouetting as she
went, her arms spread. Ralph ceased
to look at her: it made him feel sick
I guess" Hortense De Witt called
down at him, you're a-er-a'fraid-
cati''
Maybe said Ralph, holly flushed.
Hortense descended, agilely. Yes
she repeated, 81 believe you are a
You know what!'' She snatched
Ralphs cap off and tossed it to a re-
mote corner, and ran into the house.
At dinner Hortense was demure. To
be sure, she caught Ralph's eye and
screwed her countenance to look like
the hired man, who was cross-eyed; but
nobody saw it but Ralph.
"She is very much like her Aunt
Martha Gale" said Ralph's mother,
admiringly. she was so quiet and
digniffed always,
Ralph smiled grimly II shan't
squeal on her. he thought.
Your father and l." said his moth
err ''are going down to John Warren's
a little while; he9i is sick. See how we'll
you can entertain Hortense, Ralph"
Hortense, Ralph reflected, would be
more likely to entertain him. She was
in the parlor, inspecting with apparent
gravity the pictures and the albums;
but Ralph's discerning eyes saw the
mischief in hers, suppressed and wait
ing.
she inquired, her impulsive hand on the
latch.
Some old books, and mothers grape
wine and fathers best Clothes Ralph
responded, rather stiff1y. He had not
forgotten that Hortense had called him
q 'fraid-cat.
Hortense opened the door a crack.
She studied the contents of the closet,
and. softly giggling, she took from its
hook a black broadcloth coat. She put
it on and buttoned it, and went waltz
ing around the room; the long tails
swung giddily as she whirled.
Father only wears that coat to fu-
nerals and Weddings" Ralph warned
her, family grinning. Something jim
gled in the pocket, and Hortense pulled
forth bunch of keys.
What do they unlock?" she queried.
Fathers desk, here, for one thing,
said Ralph, and was instantly sorry
for answering, for Hortense went i'm
mediately to the. desk.
Ralph followed. Look here" he
said, don't unlock that Father keeps
his papers there, and money some
times. Nobody ever goes to it but
him: I'm forbidden Don't touch it."
I'm not forbidden" Hortense retort-.
ed, and unlocked it before Ralph's eyes.
See here he protested, aghast, and
beginning to be indignant with his
madcap cousin. Hortense92 with gay
litter, took a bunch of papers out of
pigeonhole.
I'm going to read en-" said she;
but she did not. Her quick ear had
caught a sound. She dropped the pa
pers; she tore off the coat and fled
with it to the closet. And when the
steps which she had heard came closer
and Ralph's father opened the door, she
was sitting by a window, with His
tory of the Civil War opened on her
lap. And Ralph was left standing by
his feet.i
Ralph said his father Behind
him was Ralph's mother, looking in
with a startled face.
Red in the face his heart beating
painfully, Ralph stopped and gathered
up the papers. Ralph" said his
father, what are you doing in my
desl.?"
Ralph had heard him speak with that
voice once before. 1t was when a hired
man had, through hard driving and
carelessness, foundered a horse. He
did not answer "Well?" said his
father.
eI-don't know, sir" Ralph muir
INJURED.
you don't know. Give me that
key, said his father, warmly, and go
up TO your room and stay there till
vo- find out"
Ralph glanced at Hortense De Witt 4
She was looking at him with fright
ened ewes.