Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1873-07-31

were reaQ OuI cNclf EAio"J a,
What has Clara Leslie ever seen Of the
world: I should like to know? Why,
theg tell me she's only dlstrlct.school
teacher in New York, and I don't sup.
pose she ever had silk dress, or went
to party in her life" -
Gs Eudocia marsirn s;n went down stairs
to tea, turning over these various n1eui-
tations in her mind, she met Mrs.
Elliott, the judges wife, the greatest
lady in all the hotel limits, bustllpg
down In her silver. gray silk, with the
old-fashioned pearls in her ears.
"Why, Mrs. Elliott; what's the mat
ter ?" cried Etdocia; as by the glimmer
OF the hall light she detected the traces
of tears on the lady's cheek. You
have been crying -
Mrs. Elliott laughed.
"And am not ashamed to confess
it either" bhe said. II haze been cry
Ing, Miss Martin, and I don't know who
could help it when they read 'Clarice's'
beautiful sketch this week in the Guest,
about little Willie's death. Have you
seen the Guest ."
"No, ma'am," said Miss Martin,
arching her upper lip with rather a
contemptuous curl
"No? Well, I'll send it into your
room tonight" And kindly Mrs.
Elliott passed on.
Eudocia did not divulge to Mrs.
Elliott that she had learned the secret
of "Clarice's' identity with simple little
Clara Leslie, who boarded at the farm
house and wore plan calico dresses
but she was more than ever confirmed
in her determination to enter the lists
of authorship, and eclipse Miss Lesle's
light at once.
She sat up late that night drafting
out rough sketch of the Moorish story,
and all the next day she shut herself up
in her own room writing. She culled
out the most resonant words in the die.
tionary-she carefully sought all man.
ner of synonyms-she sprinkled the
tale with Spanish phrases picked out of
the "Book of Quotations. to give q
general idea that she was familiar with
the Spanish language and made it
musical with the play of fountains in
paved courts, odorous with the heavy
scent Of orange groves, and luminous
with stars shining out OF purple mid
night heavens.
"There," said Miss Eudocia to her
self, wien she had read it over for the
third time, equally we'll pleased with
each perusal, eff that don't cut out
'Clarice,' there's no taste left in the
literary world. Of course they will
wish to engage me to write regularly for
them, and they must pay me well. How
nice it will be to have lots of money OF
my own, without being compelled to
coax papa, as if every dollar were drop
of blood out of a stone. I wonder what
Clara Leslie does with all the money
she must earn. I know I wouldn't wear
common calicoes and board at a farm
house, if had a piecein the New York
Guest every week."
"I am 80 sorry you were gone away
yesterday, Mr.. Wyford," said Miss
Eudocia, as she met him at the break
fast table one morning.
"IndeedP am much obliged toyou
for being so kind as to miss me, but l
can hardly comprehend why" said the
gentleman. =
al wanted to read you my story. I
sent it to The Guest by last evenings
mail"
"I have no doubt it would have been
a literary treat" said Mr.. Wyford,
courteously. =,
ooh, I'm not at all sure Of that, !"
said Miss Martin, tossing her head in
oil the conscious pride Of authorship |;
"but should really like to have had
your critical opinion Of it. l suppose
you read great deal ?"
GA little"
Though, of course, my own reading
has been extensive, and If l couldn't
write better than that chit of a Clara
Leslie, avould give up. I'll send you
a COPY of the Guest containing my
story, if you would like to see it in
print.
"Thank you," said Mr.. Wyford, with
rather queer look on his face, which
was half smile and half frown, "you
are very kind"
Miss Martin whispered her secret,
&" confdentially, of course" to every
gentleman at the Heathdale House, and
two-thirds of the ladies, and already be-
gan to feel the laurels of success encir-
cling her brow. But on the eighth
day thereafter huge envelope was
handed her by Sam, who always went
for the mails. Eudocia flushed up to
her forehead. Could it be possible that
the missive was distended with bank
billsp Did The Guest pay as literally
as all that?
The matter was speedily decided,
however. She tore off the envelope,
amid circle of admiring and expectant
friends, and out dropped "Black AL:
fonso with a strip of paper belted
round him, containing the simple words
Respectfully Declined"
If Eudocia Martin did not 60 into
Mysteries, it was only because she was
not constitutionally inclined to that es'
cape-valve for her feelings. Black
Alfonso" declined! "Black Alfonso
a drug in the literary market! "Blacb
Alfonso" unappreciated by public
taste! Eudocia swept out OF the room
biting her lip till you would have
thought the teeth would have met
through the quivering flesh.
She was unwontedly silent when she
came down to tea that night. Mortified
pride is by no means quickener to the
tongue, and Miss Martin would have
given the prettiest dress in her ward
robe if only she had had the sense tc
keep her own counsel respecting "Blacl
Alfonso"