The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-10-15
II n E T T E.

the sculptor, that love IS eleVatlnS
and not degrading, and we, in con
sequence, grow strong when we are
in love-"
myself discovered it at the early
age of II, when as a boy I was sent
to the house of the able, where
drew pictures on blocks of birds and
animals. When I was sleepy from
my association with books the good
old man would open the door and say,
go, play"
There was besides me in the house
a young girl, the daughter of his
widowed sister; and under her in
fuence books now became a pleasure
and l began to study hard. In other
ways I lost what I gained, for she
was capricous creature, full of mis-.
chievous ideas, and every time she
upset the holy water or put pepper in
the sn bon B K11lted, Aad tq bear the blame:
mother wor' isay, "did you do that ?"
"No.'
And then 1 would be punished, for
she always said it was Jean.
One day, accused unjustly, l at
temped to defend myself, but Min
ette pinched me until the blood came.
She then scolded and called me tell
tale, until 1 preferred to be beaten
rather than to betray her.
had now become her slave, and
believed her when she said, in her
caressing tone, "There, now, I will
not do it again" Then she would
burst out with laugh, "Oh Jean,
moonstruck Jean p
She had gift for nicknames like
her mother and would utter them
with, malicious infection.
In the middle of the vacation a
nephew of the able arrived, young
fellow somewhat older than either oi
us, who wore military cape and uni.
form. You know what an effect a
uniform produces among women.
From that moment I ceased to ex'
ist. Minette never even looked al
me, and for this reason I went home
and announced that the lessons were
over till the end of the summer.
I awaited the departure of the
nephew before returning, but thai
did not suit my little persecutor.
Several times she came to the field tc
fetch me and woi1ld stand in front
of me and say:
ooh, Jean, moonstruck Jean, what
are you thinking about!'
And as I would not answer, but
sulked under my tree, she would pick
up a clod of earth, and throw it al
me, then running off, would cry
ooh, Jean, moonstruck Jean y
One morning I found her at oul
house, picking figs with my mother.
"See, said she, 81 am not angry
with you. 1 have come to you
They want you at the parsonage, ane
have promised to bring you.
.-!Secretlx.I / wished for nothing bet
reward from her.
"Now, come," said she, "other
wise you will make trouble for me.
She was mocking ME, though
did not perceive it.
"And your cousin 7" asked.
"Oh, he is at the parsonage, an6
we are going to be married. Blu
will you not come with me as far a!
the parsonage? am afraid to pas
the cemetery alone.'
We started going through the gar
den, to be as far from the tombs a
possible, and as it happened th'
gate of the parsonage was already
shut, but Minette would not let mi
ring the bell.
cit is not worth WHILE" she said
"Mother does not like to be disturbed
1 will slip through the fence, ant
open the gate for you. You mus
come in, for my uncle is waiting 70
you. Don't forget he is waiting"
She thrust her head through tn
iron bars and the rest Of her bod,
followed easily. 1 had often tried t.
follow her, but could not, and sh
knew it.
Once on the other side of the fence
Minette instead of opening the gat
for me, made face at me.
"Good-by, Jean, moonstruck Jean,
and she ran away toward the house.
saw that had been fooled ant
was furious. But 1 had not gone
hundred yards before saw my com
panion reappear on the top of a mar
row terrace which overlooked tn
road. Again she teased me.
"Good-by," she cried. "My cous
in and 1 will have fine times together,
and she repeated the old nickname
This time anger mastered me, AM
little savage that I was, I picked ii
a stone and threw it at her with al
my force.
I was rather adroit at this rusti
sport, but happily the stone misse,
her and, ricocheting on the wall
grazed her cheek as it rebounded
The wound was not severe, thougl
blood flowed freely, and with rage a
we'll as fear she screamed frightfully
For my part, fed, frightened a
what had done. I had hurt, pos
sibly blinded, my dear comrade, th'
niece of the able, and what woul'
happen TO me?
Nothing happened, however. Th
next day as 1 roamed about the par
sonage in much anxiety, trying t
get any news conld, Minette, VIII
was watching from the terrace, calle'
to me and held up her bandage'
cheek.
kiss and make up" said she
"my uncle wants to see YOU"
was thunderstruck.
"Your uncle-but what will h'
say?"
Nothing, he knows nothing.
said had fallen and hurt myself.
am not telltale, you see."