The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-08-27

1
too They, n, least, must DC soEe Ju"Sos w
beauty. of manners, and oi mlnu'
81 do not agree There Is very llttle ART al
the academy" said Lady dc Burgh, slowly
The ESSENCE of true art is tailure-iailure,
because II dares to grope upon tue hiuueh
shores of the unknown aud the invisible. The
INITIATIVE ART which treats of life, and of what
Is yls bic and tangible and probable, Is mere
copying, and it is this copying when you
find at the Academy. What | nave sa'u aP
niles equally to the poetlaureates verse, when
Il indeed thoughtful at times, but does notpre-
tend TO fathom infinity, or TO explain the Sc
crets OF nature"
!, | stared Was Lady dc Burgh madf
but the prime minister" gasped, think
ling that here, at least was practical ground.
"The premier" she replied, us, believe, an
honest man, but, like all statesmen, he is utter
" commonplace, and quite oblivious OF the
grand destinles Of the human race Lake all
politicians he sees only with the naked eye.
He does his best, verify believe but he Is
stupid, and entirely ignorant OF the aims oil
humanity, and the needs for which II yearh'
ing"
She relapsed, with her bu'tercup into her
lred cushions and sat stupefed and speeches..
A fam, odOr seemed to perva,!e the room, ana
no sound broke the stiffness, Was IN an en-
chanted palace?
There Is no sovereign" began Lady do
Burgh again but IN ~ weak a tone that 1t
seemed az it she we're speaking to herself {:
"therc is no sovereign but the inner conscious
ness; there Is no parliament but the inter com
muni0n of earnest friends; there IL no art out
the expression Of the intense longings OF hu'
manly"
tried to speak, tried to move-but WAS
petrited, spellbeund.
Suddenly the door opened, and Hood OF
light rushed IN. In the warm radiance stood
a girl of nineteen, whose symmetry OF form
and beauty of feature were or struck my ex'
cited imagination as being, faultless. She
was dressed in white, with something blue
round her slender waist, and blue fillet in
her hair. 1t was as If Aphrodite had come to
gladden. the earth.
Come hi,her, Molly" said Lady dc Burgh,
raising her voice little. Come, and let me
Introduce an old friend OF mine to you"
This then was the shepherdess, this tall mai.
den with the regal grace, and the wonderful
Iloveliness! She closed the door, but her pres
ence seemed to keep the sunshine IN the room
| stood up bu. did not venture to meet her
Through the maze of chairs and tables and
lchina pots which strewed the floor, but she
was presently with us, and our Introduction
perfected, she seated herself on the ottoman,
and looked kindly at me,
II have heard of YOU" she SAID. ut is good
of you to come and see US, for you arc great
Indian statesman now, are you nOt?" She
|smiled Sweely, and spoke brightly.
Dear Molly" murmured her mother, you
have no flower How often have told you
always to carry n flower IN your hand. And
you have forgotten your crook. My darling,
you are so thoughtIess."
~ am so sorry mamma" said Molly, with
y cheerful. penitent air. IL did carry three
daisies about all the morning, but they were
quite dead at luncheon time, so threw them
away, and my crook have mislald some
where but | shalt find it again. Doyou know"
she added, turning to me- 81 am as bad as q
little Bo'peep for she only lost her sheep
whereas |. who have no sheep to lose, am al
ways losing my crook"
\ Such spirits! Such gaiety!' whispered
Lady de Burgh. "Snch color! Such health
and strength! So painful TO mother!'
The color, which was delicate peachbloom,
heightened slightly at Lady de Burgh's words.
But Molly was serenity good humored.
"When am twenty five" she SAID, demurc
ly, II mean to enter nunnery. Not the usual
kind, but mammals clustered, cool retreat
here. dare say by that time shall be tired
of riding and walking
"YOu won't be able to sit here u! ways, Mol
ly," SAID her mother, paintively. 81 shalt be
very glad to have you in the afternoon, but
some one must order the dinner, and write
notes, IN the mornings"
"Of course shall do all that just as usual
| like it," said the young housekeepcr Shall
we have some tea, now, mamma, dear? and
then we might 60 out"
She pulled a thick gold cord a. she spoke,
/, and 1t must have rung bell long way OIL
for though heard nothing, The result almost
Immediately appeared in the shape OF lilipu
tian boy in silk stockings and satin suit car.
lrying small ebony tray, containing three
diminuiivc cups of very strong tea, silver
cream jug and sugar basin Of exquisite work
manship, and two little platterS, on ono OF
which lay some thin slices of bread and honey,
and on the other II few punches of red, white,
and black currants. A large, yellow goose
berry, piece of groundsel, and spray Of
Ijassamine, seemed To have fallen accidentally
upon the plate after the fruit had been ar.
| ranged.
+ "Ah, my sweet nymphl' cried Lady de
Burgh, claspiDg her hands in an ccstacy Of
, delight; and then she took the little plate OF
truit on her knee, aud gazed at il abstractedy
Tor some seconds before offering il to me, with
sigh, But helped myself ruthlessly. l
: felt that Molly had picked the currants, and
mannuvered their artistic simplicity, and the
fruit tasted deliciously because she had finger
ed It,
, II think you must go out now Molly" said
Lady de Burgh, in more subdued tone than
. ever. This excitement has quite ovcrpowercd
t me. and my BRAIN throbs."
would not Il little fresh AIR do you good ?"
suggested, marveling what the excitement
had been.
, Lady de Burgh smiled family
t NO" she replied solitude is my hes,
9 hysician--solitude, and my own grand
thoughts"
. Dear Mammal calculated Molly, kissing
: her mothers pale brow very, very gently. ii
/ am afraid that talking so much has tired you.
You must rest II little, and | will bring You
y some flowers, and you must come out by.and-
b by, when the sun is low"
a "When the dew has riscn." murmured Lady