, 1878-04-19
Mathildc.

Miss Carlyle found her crying in an
intelligence office one day, and in a
spasm of philanthropy brought her home.
"What do you mean to do with herE
siid Mic, caressing his chin.
Mic aloays broke in on his cousins
little enthGsiaSmS in that way.
"Save herr said Miss Carlyle, mag
nifcenty.
Prom whati'
"From her friends, If course; just
what every pretty woman needs salvation
FROM
"Her friendsl Didn't know she had
any. Who are they"
"Men."
"Oh !" said Mic inDCcentIy.
Miss Carl, le had n genius for benevo.
lcncc. A kind Of breezy, contagious
benevolence that made every one she
talked with swear he would go the very
next day and commit some rash act Of
generosity. Every ore but Mic Somer-
Vile. His genius, if he had any, lay en-
tirey in the region of painting and idle.
pess.
Mic himself lad some faint gimmering
OF the inject Of his dormant ability, and
venturcd to question his cousin one day.
''Do you really think have any talent,
Inez2" he had said with astonishing
meekness.
"Yes, fr going to the dogs" said
Inez, cruelty, AMI the conversation
dropped.
Nevertheless Miss Carlyle conuived to
furnish him with luxurious apartments
and artists materials, and Mic lounged
on his way rejoicing. Privately, Inez
had great deal of faith in her cousins
genius. By and by, when he should ac-
cOmplish something WORTH while, she
meant to send him abroad. In tho mean,
time no amount of dependence could
crush Mics spirit. He sat in Miss Car
lyle's chairs with his feet on Miss Car
lyle's manel, and ridiculed Miss Car.
lyle's fondness for picturesque bcggary.
Yesterday ii was blind musician; to-
morrow it would be pennlcss poet;
to-day il was Muthilde.
81 mean to make her tidy, indus
trious servant, Mic; she is just the kind
of a girl to pick up foolish notions, and
mean to prevent it.
"But it will never do, Inez. There is
something ducedly impertinent in the
mare fact Of a servant being handsome.
Its an insult to ones friends. What
woman wants to be overshadOwed by u
maid2"
"Nonsense! Mathildc shall wear a
cap-something dainty and subducd.
The poor child is not to blame for her
beauty"
"Certainly not; what reason under
heaven is there for hiding it under a capl
What is the boasted freedom of this re-
public if every man with fine eyes must
put on spectacles, and every woman with
pretty foot wear wooden shoes2 You
astonish me, Inezw
"Nonsense!" repeated Inez.
Nevertheless Mathilde wore a cap.
The merest suggestion of lace and Paris
muslin, very dainty aud subdued in it.
self, but developing a demure coquetry
on Mathilde's Swedish gold hair. Miss
Carlyle contemplated the result and told
Mathilde she need rot wear caps, they
were bad for the scalp.
you see, was right, Inez; the girl
will never make over into servant
might as we'll try to make lady OF
Biddy Ryan in the kitchen. You cant
smother lot Of pale yellow hair and q
blush-rose complexion, with square Of
muslin and a yard of Velenciennes. It's 6
reform against nature"
"What would you have me to do
then" demanded Miss Carlyle; "th(
poor child must work or starye."
"Of course it's none of my business
Inez, but unless you can make lady o.
her 1t seems to me there would be
poetical propriety in letting her starve
II ! were girl with big slly-blue eyes
and long lashes I'm sure I'd rather die
IN tragic, horrible way, and be made
over into poem, than have my beauty
snuiied out with a cap. It's barbarous
Why not try making companion o
her.
"A companion Don'tmention it! WheI
am thoroughly tired of my own so
ciety will poison myself. Besides, sh
can neither read nor write. Women d,