Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-09-26

81 know very well, ~ he said, ''that my
work is very imperfect. I am not so pre-
sumptuous as to suppose that the work
of man who has had SO little real op-
portunity for training as have had can
have any permanent value; but then it is
impossible to improve except through
practice. But Portia need not take such
pains to display my failures
"But this is not failure said Mrs.
Barham. cat least it pleases me, and
thought that may not be very d1stin-
guished success" she added, laughing
sit makes me feel sorry to hear you
speak of the work as failure"
He bowed and smiled good-natured-
ly.
81 never will again." he said, 'since
certainly the picture must have merit if
it has found favor in your eyes,"
Florence left soon after, and as she
trlpped down the steps to her carriage,
she had only the faintest perception that
the world was quite different world to
her from what it was when she had gone
up those same steps. She persevered in
her intent, however, to become the pos
SCISSOR of the picture, and it was safely
hung in her sitting-room before she left
for her visit to the Pentwaters.
''Dear me-" said Mrs. Pentwater to her
brother, on the morning of the expected
arrival, 'if you only knew how I dread
this VISIT
"You will like Mrs. Barham. I am
Sure.' said Mr.. Leicester.
s'No, I shall not. She is stranger, and
I hate all strangers
Mrs. Pentwater's home was not very
happy one, and there was reason for her
not giving strangers very cordial well
come in it.
"But,,' said Mr.. Leicester, "you should
remember the advantages of cordial rela-
tons with Mrs. Barham. From inqui-
rles which made, 1 judge that she must
be worth good deal more than twenty
thousand pounds. She Is young and
handsome, and I think easily ruled. She
has lovely home, and in time you will no
doubt have the advantage OF it during
the summer season: and you must know,
Laura, that at Harry's present rate of
making away with money, you cannot
always afford to spend your summers at
watering places. I hope, indeed, that
Mrs. Barham will be induced, in some
perfectly discreet way, OF course, to join
US this summer and contribute her quota
towards the expense. She evidently
knows very little of the world, and if
you give her the entree Of society, OF
course she ought to do something for
you in return
This was precisely the motive which
Mr.. Leicester had had in view in seeking
to make favor with Florence Barham.
His own funds were waxing low, his sis
ter's husband was spendthrift, and the
family Golfers must soon be replenished,
or disaster would ensue. For years he
had said he was not a marrying man, but
since he had met Mrs. Barham, he had
more than once declared jocularly among
his companions at the club, that while
there was life there was hope.
''But all these dlsagreeable things" he
continued saying to Mrs. Pentwater,
| must be kept out Of sight as much as pos
sible. She must not be allowed to sup
pose that any motive was concerned in
our invitation other than the most disin-
terested regard for her as our cousin.
'Oh, of course said Mrs. Pentwater
I am not an IDIOT"
When Florence arrived that evening,
therefore, she was not less surprised al
| the elegance of Mrs. Pent-
| waters establishment than at the cordi-
| atty OF her welcome.
Mrs. Pentwater met her with an en-
| brace, and then holding her off at arms
length, exclaimed:
'sMy brother prepared me to find you
beautiful, but did not expect to see a
| revival of the old Leicester beauty. II
was something fabulous, and I, you see,
have no trace of it. Look at this pic.
ture," and she led her to stand before
q fine old portrait, -"It is the likeness OF
our grandmother. She was a wonder
full belle IN her day, and you are as like
her as possible. Why, you could lay
off your weeds, and appear in colors, you
might carry the world by storm.''
Florence laughed.
"Why,' she said, 'you win spoil me.
But understand that it is family pride,
and so shall not expect the world in gen
eral to share your enthusiasm"
Mr.. Leicester was at hand with quiet,
cordial greeting, and Mr.. Pentwater, who
had had little curiosity, to see this fair
creature, in whom the famous Leicester
beauty is said to be revived, came forward
and offered her his hand with languid
grace.
ssShe is a trump card said he to his
wife, later. "Played with skill she will
win your game. It is Leicester, however,
who has the winning points. By Jove!
I'd like to take his chances
Which agreeable speech for conipgal
ears produced far less effect upon Mrs.
Pentwater than might have been mag
ined by the reader.
The Pentwater home, with all its skel-
etons locked safely out of sight, was one
of elegance and refinement. Florence,
with her narrow experience of life, fan
cied it quite paradise, and her cousin
Simon was always at hand with his quiet
ways and universal wisdom, to help her
over any little difficulties that might rise.
"Florence," said Lanra, one day, chow
long do you intend to wear that deep
mourning? Isn't it possible to dispense
with some of its gloominess9"
9Whv.n said Florence. ssthat has been