Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-05-28
Talfs and Sketehes.
WE'LL DONE.
| CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY.

long warm room just as Alice, with her
hands full of flowers, came in from the
greenhouse. While they fingered togeth-
er arranging the flowers. she wooed him on
to talk OF what she felt he loved. and
knowing that home would be near his
heart this Christmas tine, asked him of
his mother and sister.
IL never like to mention your sisters
name, Mr.. Vaughan" she said, "bccause
! do not know how to pronounce it.
have seen it ia il BOOK Of Yours, but |
never heard vou sav it,
The colol mounted slowly to Owens
brow, for something i'll Alce's gentle
words sounded like Il rebuke.
1--WE pronounce it Dnthga. he said; ait
| is an odd name, is it not 9' But it looks
worse than its sounds
81 like the sonnd of it, Alice answered
81 think should know your sister if l saw
her, Mr.. Vaughan, though do not fancy
her like you; no girl could have your kind
of face. Is she as tall as-am l ?"
"No,' answered Owen. smiling little
as he pictured the two girls--one in her
| she stood ironing in the cottage kitchen,
in her soft velvet dress, with the delicate
''Is she as fond of flowers as I am ?"
asked Alice, guessing nothing Of these
thoughts. f,as s.a.s5
Il cannot tell" said Owen, watching
the white fingers as they touched caress-
ingly the brilliant petals, s'for she has not
such flowers as these within her reach.n
There are some beautiful ferns to be
found at Tenby," said Alice, in quick fear
lest she had hurt him. "Papa and have
| found some choice ones there. Does she
know. | wonder; because--because your
home is not far from Tenby, YOU once told
me-
The girls voice grew unconsciously
| little wistful as she spoke, remembering
how seldom he had told her anything OF
his home, or of those whom she felt he
loved so dearly but just then her father
called Owen into his study, and she was
| left to wonder. She had misty impress
sion. though she could not tell how gath.
cred, that his mother did not like society,
and that her daughter could not leave her;
| but she knew that Owen had never def
nitely told her even this.
But Alice had forgotten this passing
cloud before the long and cheerful dinner
was over. The servants had lett the room,
when Owen, sitting next to Alice and lis
tening happily to her bright voice, felt a
sudden chill creep in upon the scene. The
words of one the doctors guests struck
quick his keen ear.
"Much as | want tutor in my schoollbe.
| fore next term, could not engage Leslie
because he cannot have been brought up Il
gentleman. His father, hear, was vii
lage tradesman. But what looks partcu-
larly bad is that he does not tell me that
fact himself In many ways he would
undoubtedly suit the post. He is gentle
manly looking, and he speaks well. be-
side having testimonials of the highest
class. Still, there is that insuperable OBJ
jecton.'
"Insuperable, muttered the doctor as
senting. IL would not entertain the idea
What do you think, Vaughan"
"If," said Owen, taking long time to
peel an atom of walnut. and looking down
upon it very intently. eff his words and
acts, as his appearance. are those of n gen.
tleman, l cannot see what difference is left
for his birth TO make. One can but look
and act and speak as a gentleman, let
ones birth be the noblest in the land; and
if we miss none of these things in each
other, what need have We to question far
| ther?'
"You speak warmly, Vaughan. In my
place you evidently would engage this son
of village shop-keeper to educate noble
men and gentlemen S sons.
1--WE men do not often question each
other on our birth and early lfe," said
Owen. land do not often volunteer to talk
of it unquestioned. Then will it never be
that we Judge men by what we find them
respect or despise them, according to
the part they act p
"Better in theory than in practice,
Vaughan" ," said DR.. Hope, lightly. "Still,
my objection is the want oftruthfulness at
starting
MANY of our highest families" said
Alice, 'have been founded by one man
who has risen from the people. and they
are proud to trace back to such an one.
Why, because we are his contemporaries.
| should we scorn him tos it p''
Suppose said Owen, glancing rapid.
| ly into Alices face, while his heart beat
gratefully for her words suppose, Dr.
Hope, that ono of your own masters had
come to live among you, of lower birth
even than this candidate you speak of, and
had told you nothing of his anteced-
ents, feeling that il he were suitable for
the post, that was all. and that If he were
not, you would soon discover it; suppose
you had liked him and associated freely
with him, giving him welcome always
in your house. and had then discovered
his history-shoald you blame him for his
silence ?''
Blame him ~ echoed the doctor hotly
II should turn my back upon him prompt.
ly, assure you, We're he the finest scholar
in England"
Slowly and darkly the color rose in
Ovens face. That is the general opin.
ion, ! suppose" he said and Alice was
not the only one who noticed the tone of
pain in his voice.
"What should you do Yourself. Mr.
Vaughan - asked Mrs. Hope merrily.
Come, next to the doctor himself, YOU
are the most likely to be placed in such a
position"
II think said Owen quietly. "that |
should merely care what the man himself
might be. 1t would signify as little to
me what his son would be years and wears
aiterward." a
wait until some one imposes anon