The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-03-11

''anu feel as though gOOd fortune hat
been making me CALI
The next evening she was rather NOR
doubtful of it. Lepcl had been very COO
and had made her fully earn her fit,
cents an hour. However, as the week
passed away, things grew pleasanter
Bee had plenty of tact, and had been il
an excellent school for developing it. Sh,
saw at once that Lcpel did not trust her
and that she would have to win his con
tidnce. Indeed, Lcpel was constantly
expecting to find her the daughter of hel
father. He feared that she would breal
her word, forget her appointments, o.
ask for money in advance. As her re-
serve passed away, and she became witty
and merry, or INDUCED herself in snatch
es OF songs, or new step in dance, hi
expected these moral alterations more
and more.
But they did not come. Bee grew
rosy.cheeked and ight-hearted, began tc
dress with much taste, managed her small
funds with discretion, and said, grateful.
", ''she began to see the good OF living
In fact, before the winter was over, she
had got, through Lcpel's influence, q
comfortable little business as model, and
was making with her six hours hard
strain, three dollars a day.
The June sunlight in which VIC first
saw Lepcl's studio IS now January sun
light. Somehow the room has bright
look; perhaps it is the basket of flowers
on the table, or perhaps it might be such
trifle as cunning pair Of bronze slip
pers trimmed with cherry colored bows
that arc standing on the hearth-rug. Don
Lepcl has just put them there. It is a
very, very cold morning; Of course that
accounts for the action. He stands look
ing at them with dreamy look in his
eyes, very unusual to those keen gray
orbs, until he hears a clear, quick loot.
step come pit-pattlng along the hall.
Then he resumes his prcoccupied air and
his palette and pencil.
The door opens and in comes Bee. Hcr
face is like rose, her eyes like stars; he1
dark blue suit has bits of snow all over
it, and so has her trim little hat and feath-
ers. She mods TO Lcpcl, shakes herself
jauntily, and then taking off her hat, fans
it gently before the fire to recurl the
feathers.
Better put on your slippers, Bee. l
can't have you take cold now, with these
three pictures on hand"
(which do sit for this morning?"
"Ophelia. I have been painting the
face from mademolselle's photo; you will
dress and pose for the character.''
~
this morning. Bah! The idea of any
woman dying for love, and the saow, and
the sunshine, and the joys of music, and
reading, and eating, and walking to live
for! suppose she was insane-of course
She was unbuttoning her boots during
this TRADE, and when she had slipped
her feet into the bronze slippers and
waltzed around the room, dod ging Apol-
10 and Hercules very cleverly, she an.
nounced herself ready to begin. Ir few
minutes the secret of her high spirits was
evident. Lepel read to her a few lines,
and her face and hair and figure instantly
translated them. The very droop of he1
arms was revelation of physical sym.
pathy.
Two or three times while occupied with
minor details he let her rest, and she
tralled the long robes OF the Danish
maiden up and down the room, chatting
all the time in the merricst, everyday
manner. Had Lepcl heard that Clifford :
picture was sold2 Did he know that
Harry Martin and Palozzi had quarreledl
Was he going to the Lotos, and If 60,
would he tell her how Miss ks dress
was trimmed?'' Then she told him of q
new song she was learning, and obl,ging.
~ hummcd over part of the melody
And then back again to the heroine of a
thousand years ago.
At last Lepel says, "That will do to
day, Bee. Will you 20 and have an oyster
pate with me, or is Clifford waiting fo,
you2"
II don't like oyster potes. # you give
me quail, 1 will go.'
"Very we'll, Miss Extravaganza, you
have done admirably to dsy and you shall
have a quail. Then are YOU going to
Cliford's.''
"Why do you tease me about Cliff
tord's5 ! am not going to Clifford's any
more.'
''But why not?"
"A wOman's reason-~bccause I am
not.'
The next morning, Lcpel met her very
stlff1y. "Betore yon robe, Bee, I want ia
speak to you. Sit down, and warm your
fect.''
She put the pretty slippercd feet on
II, g.
him. "Well2"
"Clifford was here last night, and I
know why you would not 20 there ycster-
day. Think again, Bee. You mil ht do
much worse. I have tried to be your
friend, and must say this much"
"Oh, you advise me to marry Clifford
Fora moment her face was ablaze with
scorn, but the next her eyes sought Lepcl's
just fer an instant; he hesitated, and
the chance was forever lost to him. No,
thing could be more cold and sarcastic
than her next attitude.
"Cllttord has genius, Bee, and indus.
try; he is struggling bravcly for pos,
ton"
II hate poor struggling men. I saw
plenty of them in my childhood. Sue
cess is the one thing forever good. Th.
successful man is the handsOmest mar
and the wise man; he alone is worthy o
woman's love-
She spoke extravagantly, as was he
habit under excitement, but Lepel wa,
annoyed at it.
II don't like your advice" she contin
ued, angrily. "You favored Montan.
because he could cultivate nv voice. ant
l might thus have career with him ;ant
now you advise that I become wife t,
the poor strug Cling Clifford, in order t,
save him the expense of model, sup
po-c." Z
"Dont be unjust, Bee. only WISHED
to see you cared for"
'Thank you; but have my own idea
as to what being cared for means.''
"Do you mind enlightcning meG''
~''Not at all. I mean luxurious home
servants and carriages, foreign travel
home entertainments, and HUSBAND
whose greatest Joy is to crafty my wish
es." :
Lepel hardly knew whether she was i,
jest Or earnest, tot she stood up to max