Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-11-04
NO. 26l.
Gales ano Skettbes.
PHEMA'S WAY.
BY ROSE TERRY COOKE.

You are very silly. Euphemia.
Il dare say you don't think me very
wise. Mamma; but person can't be con-
victed Of extreme stiffness on one COUNT
Let the matter drop, my dear, if you
please. We won't argue it. You have
consented to wait Till September before a
final decision and the thing is too disa-
greeable for discussion. Mrs. Bavarl
drew her soft shawl gracefully about her
and left the room.
! If ever anybody was '.born to the pur-
pie in this republican country. Euphe-
mia Bayard had been. Her father be-
longed to one of the Oldest families. her
mother counted Dutch ancestors back 10
the time when that stolid nation "took
Holland" The Nandeveers had been
rich before Mrs. Bayard's time. She was
the seventh daughter of ninth son. and
the family wealth would not bear such in
fnitesimal division as this, for all the nine
sons had their own families. and million
will fade fast under division and subdiyis-
ion. Sh' married Mr.. Bayard because he
had position and money, and why he had
married her nobody knew. Perhaps he
did not know.
She was sallow, skinny, green-cyed,
dull-haired and cold-blooded rs a fish:
graceful and stylish. il is true. but. to
travesty an old quotation. Look in her
face. and you forget it all" Mr.. Bayard
was Handsome. genial. prosperous Young
fellow when they were married, and Eu.
phemia their only child, was tended and
educated like a princess. Velvet and Va
lencicnncs, swansdown and linen cambric
were scarcely good enough TO lap her tiny,
lovely shape. and two nurses combined
itxsit hn,. fhn To-
she inherited from her father. keen sense
quick perception. humor, generosity, and
deep feeling. These went far TO atone
for the high temper. the educated selfish
ness, and the wiltul disposition of Miss
Phema.
1t would have been better for her if her
lafher had lived, but at six years old she
lost him. lie was instantly killed by a
fall from too spirited horse which he
was trying. and Phema had only a child
ish memory left.
She grew up under the most expensive
governess into the most fashionable. finish
ing schools, petted. admired. pampered
with every luxury, and her vanity fed fos-
tered from hour to hour. Tha. she had
her own way was foregone conclusion
but her character was so strong that IL As
serted itself even in its wifulncss. and
'Phema' sway was proverbial, both at
home and at school.
At eighteen she came out into society.
beautiful, accomplished, and headstrong.
Mrs. Bayard had spent all these wears
since her husbands death in a recklessly
extravagant life, and now. to her great
surprise, found her property was de-
precate and her income suddenly lcssened
She repaired at once to her husbands
lawyer. and, having learned the full state
of the case, determined, entirely against
his advice, to sell everything she owned
and buy an annuity. In vain old Paine
represented to her daughter. in case Of
her own death.
II cannot help that" she replied, with
a cool seliishness that chilled him. II
can never live. nor can Phema. without
our accustomed luxures. She must mar
ry well and she cannot do that without
an entrance of the right sort into society.
| trust she will not need much more. |
think not And Mrs. Bayard's green
eyes flashed with a pride that might be
called maternal, but did not deserve so
sacred a name. So she bought hand
some annuity, without consulting or even
informing Eupbemia. the property having
been all left in her hands, and then gave
the young lady triumphant introduction
into society
But scarcely had she appeared on the
stage when Mrs. Bayard's mother died
and, since Phema must be Withdrawn at
once from the scene of her glories. Mrs
Bayard resolved to send her for the early
part of the summer out to Desborough. n
country town of some importance, high
among the Massachusetts hills. Here.
under the wing of an old aunt of Mr.. Bay
ards. she would not be seen too much TO
make her future debut stale and unprof-
table, and she would acquire freshness
Of complexion that boarding-scho up to
Easter and a fortnight Of balls directly
after had a good deal impaired.
Aunt Allen was clergyman's widow,
q lovely, gentle old lady, living in a
square white house. set in its grassy ward
like a flower on Leaf and canopied with
dropping elms. Phema was charmed.
Her city elegancies and affectations fell
back like the calyx from rosebud,
and she delighted dear Aunt Allen bv her
keen enjoyment her common sense, her
eager desire to learn all wholesome coun-
try ways, and her unaffected interest in
everything.
Nobody in Desborough knew any thing
about this pretty Miss Bayard than the fact
that she was Mrs. Aliens niece and ,as she
laid away the finery her mother
had packed into her trunk, and contented
herself with gowns Of delicate lawn and
printed cambric. with now and then a
white dress for Sundays. and nobody there
knew enough to recognize the hand of an
artist in the exquisite simplicity of these
garments or to know that the little chip
hat, with its gold buckle and floating feath
er, was really fresh from Paris, she was
not suspected of being rich and fashiona.
Bile; and. being very pretty. merry. and
good natured, she soon made friends ir
Desborough, and. moreover carried away
captive the heart Of Mr.. Mather, the onl,
lawyer of the place, a handsome, intelli
gent young fellow. come of good race
sturdy. and self-reliant, only-he wa.
poor! But even this did not disturb Euphe
mia. She fell in love with him as utterl,
and simply as If Arcadia was her birth
place; and before her signals Of recall
came both were plunged fathoms deep il
an honest. old fashioned passion, witt
which society and money had no more {
do than they have with Heaven.