The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-09-04

In lew weeks he was very regular
vititor at Lepel's studio. He said he
enjoyed these visits, and it is probable
he did. Bees costumes and characters,
her sunny good temper, her queer criti-
cisms on players, politicians, artists,
and the world in general, made it a con-
stantly changing entertainment.
If Bee suspected that she had inter
ested Mr.. Belmar-whichi it is likely she
discovered at once-Lepel certainly
never did. He considered his patron
as. genuine lover of art, and peculiar
admirer of his own peculiar style and
coloring. That he should admire Bees
htten-hke movements, and applaud all
her clever, keen little epigrams, was
natural enough he did that himself,
and everybody else did it.
Thus the winter passed pleasantly and
pro6tably away. Bee had saved little
money, and was taking singing lessons.
I" If she was to have career, she said,
spitefully, to Lepel, cit should not be
with any Montana" SO now in her
intervals of rest she sang scales and
astonishing exercises; she said the lofty
rooms suited her, and they objected to
her practice in her boarding-house.
Lepel had no objections to her rich
musical intervals; besides, it gave him
occasionally the pleasure of saying,
"That is false note, Bee."
1t was again June, and Lepel had put
the finishing touches to Mr.. Belmars
last picture. He met that gentleman
one warm afternoon in Union Square,
and told him so. Then they turned
toward the studio, and went up to look
at it. 1t was an Italian scene, and Bee,
dressed as O Tuscan peasant with q
basket of grapes on her left shoulder,
was the only figure.
"She is beautiful girl" said Mr..
Belmar, thoughtfully, Either as
Princess Bee or Peasant Bee she is per-
feet. By-the-bye, what is her ma ne2"
Her name," said Lepel, coldly, "is
eatrice ErliDg."
"Erling2 ErlingP Not Tom Erling's
daughter2"
"Tom Erling's daughter. Did you
know Tom?"
"We were brought up in the same
Connecticut village, and went to the same
district school. Tom beat me in all the
classes, and 1 whipped him out of them.
Then he fell in love with my sister-in
short, there was a quarrel, and Tom
CdIu0 bO N0W 1OTks I16 u1ubO D0 poor,
to let his daughter"
she is dead. His wife was an italian
singer who died soon after Bees birth.
The poor child has no relatives"
81 will tell my sister about her. She
is an invalid now, with very few pleas
ures or interests. am sure she will be
glad to befriend Tom Erling's daugh-
ter"
In this way it came to pass that Bee
was soon constantly visiting at Miss
Belmar's pretty cottage on the Hudson,
and that whenever she was there, Miss
Belmar's brother also found it convenient
to come out with few new books or
some early fruit. Indeed, the maiden
lady, almost confined to her house, had
given her heart very rea lily to this
bright, pretty child of the only man she
had ever loved. She could befriend
Bee, and do something for her; and this
in itself was great pleasure to the poor
invalid, so long the recipient and not
the giver of kindness.
So when in early July Lepel shut his
studio and went away for four months,
Bees small personal effects were remov-
ed to Miss Belmar's, and she spent the
summer there. And it was amusing to
see what easily detected little plots and
plans this lady laid in order to bring
about a marriage that had been already
determined upon.
Bee had never been so happy in all
her life; the sweetness and GOODNESS and
repose, the tender love and ceaseless at
tentions, the riding and boating and
moonlight strolls, made the time pass
like an enchanted dream. Mr.. Belmar
watched her constantly. but found moth
ing in which itwas necessary to direct or
advise her, for with that wonderful
adaptive tact inherent in American wo-
men she caught not only the habit but
the tone of the circumstances surround
ing her, and made them a psrt of her
self.
Early in November she went one
morning into the city and climbed again
the familiar stairway lealing to Lepel's
studio. He had resumed work, and met
her with petulant complaint "Where
on earth have you been, BeeP have
written three times for you"
She did not answer Immediately; but
sitting down before the fire, and putting
her feet on the fender in her old way,
she turned her head and looked rather
SdOly uOWu bi4o AOuB IOOhs Aopoli
what charm is there is this life, won
der? Who that has lived in Bohemia
ever left it without a sigh 2"
"You don't mean to say that you are
leaving it?"
eyes, came to say farewell.
shall never make money or make merry
in this dear old room again. 1 am going
to be married"
"To Clifford ?"
"What an idea No, Sir, to Mr..
Belmar. 1 shall order pictures of you
now, Lepel, and patronize you dread
fully"
"Don't pull my prices down, Bee.
That is all ask. "
But that is exactly what L shall do.