The Portland daily press., 1880-05-31

| Angel-years of drilling in les cOnUenduceS,
| of systematic snubbing and scolding and
| suppression, which failed to crush F'that
| proud, self-asserting nature.' She actually
refused to wear her cousins discarded cloth
ing-this chit who depended upon them for
her daily bread. (Arthur's entreaties to be
| allowed to pay part of his sisters expenses
had been decined). "She even gains enough
| by the sale of her miserable daubs to be able
| to gain the favor of the vilagers-very fit
ting companions" Mrs. Treherne relieved
| herself by remarking. The village people
adored Angel, and to them she devoted
what would otherwise have been drearv
existence. Still she led lonely life. and It
was little wonder that even to a PASSING
lrlend, like Leslie, who had shown some
kindly sympathy, she would open her heart
anu saik WIN childish simplicity; and little
sence, her joy was somewhat excessive
When at last Leslie's tall figure was seen
strlding along over the hill. Her ewes shone
with gladdest welcome as he wished her
good morning." remarkng in a tone of sat
isfaction:
1t is jolly to get daubing morning once
more; suppose you will have gone on far
ahead OF me by this time?"
Not so very far:I have been working
Slowly, IN the hope you might come back
ana heip me in bit of foliage can't make
eHectiVe. ! was sure you would come,
though might have to wait some time,''
added she simply.
Leslie looked amused.
es, somehow ones time gets filled up
without ones knowing it in this pleasant
mousse. But now to work. Do you mean
you really care for my help?"
"Of course do" replied Angel opening
her eyes. why else should l have been so
glad to see you%'
Leslie looked up in bewilderment. Was
this girl an arrant and rather clumsy CO.
quette? Or was she as utterly ignorant of
the ways of the world and it's forms of sneech
as her lnnocent-looking eyes proclaimed?
Angel seemed to notice neither the look nor
the silence that followed, and continued:
L may have some talent, but that does
not go TOR much when one is ignorant of all
but the rudiments of art.
"Yo on know you are not ignorant: why
| then, talk in that strain? However. if Won
think may help viii not let mock modes
ty waste my time and yours. Will you lend
me your brush moment?'
And so once more they were hard at work
silently at first. Angel was thinking over
the letter she had had from her brother that
morning, full of plans for their future life /;
Leslie, OF this curious little being, and her
many talents. He was the first to speak and
then SIMPLY carried on aloud the thoughts
that had been passing through his mind.
| Forgive my saying SO. Miss Treherne,
put cannot think how, with your wonder
1ui musical talents, you can give yourself to
any other profession"
"Oh, wish my friends would allow me
| to follow the art lovep'
'Your friends do not consider the profess
sion OF professional singer So so respecta-
ble?'' o0'''
es; can you believe in such false pride?
ihey VIII allow my name to appear before
the public as very Indifferent painter whose
| pictures people only buy for charity. but
they refuse to allow it to appear as a singer,
where l believe it would rank high and be
respected, just, forsooth, because they con-
slider 1t is not ladylike to be singer. LADY,
IKE! as though He who gives both gifts,
and gives both to help us on in the world.
ever meant one particularly for ladies and
one for women who are not ladiesp And
Anglers flashing eyes told how deeply she
felt the opposition to her deepest wish.
Leslie listened in silence he would have been
ashamed to confess his thoughts lust then.
Tor his opinion was very much the same as
the Trehernes', but he admired the girls in
dependent spirit none the less.
Angel continued: 81 don't think the cir
cumstances of my life will be favorable to
were my own mistress l would ioin the
profession at once.''
The circumstances of her life" meaning
OF course the slight obstacle of husband
and household. 'Lucky man to possess
such treasure as this little enthusiastic
not what Leslie would have thought a week
ago!
The circumstances of your life not being
favorable, how do you think of beguiling the
tedlum OF your time when you have a home
OF your own?' asked Leslie, smiling.
How? Why would teach all the dirty
little Neapolitan boys to swim, only they
have the sense to learn as soon as they can
walk, answered Angel, quite coolly,
Leslie laughed outright
why do you laugh?" asked she, looking
annoyed, 81 consider half the world to be
tempting Providence! Here is every one
born with the power and the possibility,
wherever wateris, of learning to swim-with
the power and the probability Of drowning
II he does not, and yet, not nine persons out
OF ten could save their own or felow-crea-
ture's life''
wen, hope, considering the number of
t Time am Oh the water, that the probable
tues you SO ominously speak of may be few,
for cannot swim.'
Then Pm very sorry for you," said An
gel, with energy. 81 would not ike to dis
plse you, so please don't tell me it is because
you will not"
Perhaps you think, then, that swimming
IS an accomplishment for ladies also?'' Les
lie was not so sure this was such lucky
man after also enthusiastic Young Wo-
man might become terrible at times.
An accomplishment! l consider it du-
ty How do you-how do any of us-know
when an accomplishment as you call it.
may not become an awful necessity? How
would you feel if you saw little child drown
before your eyes, just becausey you have been
too lazy to learn how to save it? Oh. YOU
don't know what you are saying, in talking
OF swimming only as an accomplishment
wen, after all, you know, the very fact
OF lady knowing she can swim would only
be pain to her in case such as you men
ton. How could lady on such an emer-
gency Jump into the water in a moment, like
man? Her dress and skirts would prevent
her.
'Oh yes, of course they would doubtless
prevent many ladies'" said Angel, with a
peculiar smile.
Most OF them, l should say" responded
Leslie; and then the conversation dropped.
each thinking the other unreasonable.
After this they met oftener and never
again touched upon any dangerous topic.
Angel keeping the conversation carefully to
matters OF general interest She talked well
on most subjects, and was an excellent lis
tener, so the two became real friends, and
then as natural consequence something
more; for Leslie gradually forgot that An
gers future home was to be in Naples, and
sometimes wondered to himself how she
would get on in London home as a doctors
wife.
Celia, meanwhile, was happy, having de-
cided that Leslie was her unobtrusive but
none the less very humble slave, else why
should he be stopping on from day to day?
She was glad now that Leslie had been led
to believe from the first in some mysterious
engagement of AngePs-from that very first
evening when Jack had told them of the
finding of that gold locket, and Will Ire
herne had jokingly told him that was Cous-
in Angels lord and master. No one had
undeceived them since, of that Celia felt
sure. It was not so very long since Leslie
had alluded to the fact when they were rid
ind together, and she, half joking still, but
also not unwilling he should believe, had
kept up the delusion.
So Leslie remained at the Grange too alb
sorbed in his own affairs to see what was
expected ofhim, and needless of the storm
which must burst sometime if things went
on as they were doing.