The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1909-12-23
The Bluebells


William Curtis felt that there wer
all the elements of quarrel in tn
situation. and although naturalt
headstrong he was determined not L
precipitate matters. He spoke slowl,
and quietly. and his manner was tina
OF the perfect wooer.
Mary. dear. do you really wan
those bluebellsf-
The girl In the boat with him knew
that as she lay back In the pillows
abe was delightful picture. She knew
It by reason OF the mans face. for his
blue eyes displayed hunger and his
mouth was expressive OF a desire to
please her.
She was right She looked very
handsome as she indolently watched
the aeecy clouds fieeting by In the
azure above her Her throat was warm
and delicately shaped. her skin was
perfect In curve and color. her hair
lazily moved to and fro In the sum-
mer breeze. the soft. cooling breeze
which caused the clouds to iutter
overhead and their reflections to glide
amid the scintillating ripples Of the
river
Surely no quarrel could generate
aud such surroundings. Nature shone
at he- falrest. In sky. in water. In YER
dure, but there was the suggestion OF
something untoward as Mary Lillfng-
ton raised herself with a gesture OF
Boredom and said In a sweet tone
which carried also a suggestion OF i'm
periousness:
Il do want them: certainly / do"
William Curtis was roused.. he
could see that by picking the particu-
lar flowers. which grew some distance
up the bank. he would probably get
his clothes torn and dirty, and there
was great risk Of falling into the
water. He mentally put the girls
wishes down to some erratic caprice.
which was calculated to excite her
vanity by showing her power over
him
In her mind Mary was asking her
self Of what use was a lover II he |
would not obey her every behest; the
foolishness OF her request was moth
Ing to her, It was the withholding Of
anything by her lover which ranked
VIII you not get them. WIZ T."
William Curtis heard the half-ap-
peal, halfcommand. and felt a surge
OF anger pass over him But he was
perfectly self-controlled and replied:
MY dear little girl. you"
II am not your dear little girl II
you win not do as / wish"
The words were hasty. and even as
they escaped her Mary felt that It
would have been better not to have
uttered them
Mary. Mary. what is It you are
saying2 Surely. my little girl does
not require me to"
Merely to sacrifice yourseIf7 Yes.
that is ALL" was her continuation.
Sacrifice myself? or course I VIII
when there is something to sacrifice
myself for"
Mary misunderstood him. What. not .
sacrifice himself for her. not give m
anything that he might please herr
Strange kind Of lover this; not like
hose ancient knights who went
through fire and water for their ladies'. /,
Her answer was snapped out. and her I
ace was red with anger.
II want theml"
Then. Mary" was the firm repIv. :,
I shall not humor you. You do NOT !
eed them. and can get others far :
etter."
He knew he was right and felt that a
e should not show any weakness. see q
lg he was convinced that the request II
Ias an unreasonable one. n
But he was not prepared for the i'm "
iediate resulr~%ahis attempt to dis u
Ipline her. :.
Mr.. Curtis"-the tone was cold and 9.
,rmal-"wilI you kindly row me to Al
ie boathouse. please?" n
Mary" ~
She held up her hand in the imperi- nj
Us manner which he had often adj n,
tired. but which now. stripped of its q
,mance. was cruel, and said: .,
mr.. Curtis. Will you please row me
} the boathouse?" or
The man was angry but proud. He he
as ready for an outburst OF her self tn
hness and unreasonableness, but he
I'D nothing; he rowed away from the ",
lteful bank and plunged his oars into II,
10 stream with vim and a celebrity fr
hich astonished the girl. Again she LEI
isunderstood him; she imagined that
was rowing fast to get rid Of her fol
iclkly. but he was not. 1t was his GU
ethod Of working on his temptr. for sh
riking yiciously at the water was pu
tier. he argued. than showing his rel