Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-03-12

OA's 0~~A~Ao
to New York. he must be poor, to let
his daughter
"He is dead. His wife was an Italian
singer who died soon after Bees birth.
The poor child has no relatives
-. II will tell my sister about her. She
is an invalid now, with very few pleas
ures or interests. Tam sure she will be
glad to befriend Tom Erling's daughter"
In this way it came to pass that Bee
was soon constantly visiting at Miss Bel
mars pretty cottage on the Hudson, and
that whenever she was there, Miss Bel,
mars 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 readily 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. 49,.
So when in early July Lepel shut his
studio and went away for four months,
Bees small personal effects were removed
to Miss Belmar's, and she spent the sum-
mcr there. And it was amusing to sec
what easily detected little plots and
plans this lady laid In order to bring
about marriage that had already been
determined upon.
Bee had never been so happy IN all her
life; the sweetness and GOODNESS and re-
pose, the tender love and ceaseless at
fo,,
moonlight strolls, made the time pass
like an enchanted dream. MIR. Belmar
watched her constantly, but found moth
ing in which i: was 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 part ofherself.
Early in November she went one
morning into the city and climbed again
the familiar stairway leading to Lepel's
studio. He had resumed work, and met
her with petulent complaint: 'Where
ON earth have you been, Beey have writ
ten 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 why, she
turned her head and looked rather sadly
down the long room. "Lepcl, what
charm is there in this life, I wonder?
Who has ever lived in Bohemia that ever
left it without sigh?''
'Yeu don't, mean to say that you are
leaving it?''
Yes I came to say FAREWELL I shall
never make money or make merry in this
dear old room again. am going to be
married.
ITO Cliford?''
"What an idea! No, Sir, to Mr.. Belmar.
l shall order pictures of you now, Lepel,
and patroniz- you dreadfully.''
Don't pull my prices down, Bee.
That is all ask"
''But that is exactly what shall do.
Mr.. Belmar will have great many ex-
penses with me. l shall not let him buy
any more pictures"
She spoke in her old saucy way, bal
ancing her muff first in one hand and then
on the other: but in spite of her TESTING
way, Lcpel saw that she was in earnest
about her marriage. He said few low
words IF congratulatlon, and went busily
on with his work. Bee felt instantly So
bercd. Was he angry with her2 Was he
Jealous of her good fortune, or seltishly
sorry to lose so good a model2 If Bee
had believed in any of these things, her
tongue would have avenged her, but
some look on the grave, sorrowful face
made her remember the moment when
she had seen Loves confession trembling
on his lips. She rose quietly, said a few
words OF gratitude, and farewell, and be,
tore Lepel could answer them, she was
gone. -
Then Lepel, taking from shelf pal,
of small bronze slippers, locked them
carefully away, aud with them locked
away the one love of his life. He worked
| harder than usual, worked till the room
was cold and dark, thea throwing down
his pencil, he made his only complaint
"a. the subject: II don't blame her ; she
.ever knew; I hardly knew myself
Well, well, life is full of might have
beens.'" :.
Again the January snow is in the brisk
cold air, and Lepel's cheerful studio has
its old look of earnest labor. He is be-
fore his easel, but he is not working with
his usual serious attention. The reason
lies on the table beside him in the
shape OF note Of invitation to dinner al
Mr.. Belmar's. A year has passed since
he saw Bee, and he is not at all in love
now, but still she possesses greater in
terest for him than any other woman. HI
wonders how she will look, and what she
I will say, and whether he ought not tc
buy q new evening salt for the occasion
Also there is dlmly present a pleasant
depreciation of orders, for Lepel is never
oblivious to such profitable contingent
I cies.
/ Still, If he had one selfish thought, he
forgot it in the nobler feelings when he
saw Bee again that night. Standing in
his quiet recess, he watched the beautiful
|woman, serene in temper, elegant IL
manners, and exquisitelv clothed, guide
the whole entertainment charmingfy t
| its end. Her husband-stlll her lover
j trusted absolutely in her, and his sister
watched her with pride that was almos
lmotherly; 1t was evident she was to be
woman of great domestic and social in
q Lepel sat long that night over his stu
!. do fire thinking about her. "How oftel
i have scolded her in This very room hov
4 often she has So d Thank YOU for tw,
I. dollar bill right here on this hearth rug
and yet how. cleyerly she made me feel
s. without shade Of pr1de or. Hnkindness
that she was now Mrs. Belmar! Belma
has got q model wife, And Lepel smile
lgrimly at the only pun he had ever mad.
Now no man could slip into a positio
like that and ft It 80 txquisitely bu
,lWomen puzzle mo more and more ever
{ fyear especially American women. =
lHarper Weekly.
] LITTLE Master Roddy has been IN III
u habit Of putting his pennies into III
& bo1s s Sunday school till last Snnda,
q when he came running into the hons
) il breathless hurry and shouted
s alnma sham save up my pennie
8 any morn Tho money donf 70 ND :
a 0odl - n. Kally tate Il md S.
Tin I pQqketl