The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-08-11

flower against her cheek.
II shall be curious to see your shep-
herdess," said I. "She seems we'll
known, notwithstanding that she lives in
this retired place. But 1 have sought
her in vain in London crowds"
"You have sought her?"
eyes, I wanted to know what my old
friends little girl was like, and when I
found the president Of the Royal Acad
envy, and the prime minister, and the
poet-laureate, speaking Of her with en-
thusiasm, thought I would seek her
too. They, at least, must be some judges
of beauty, of manners, and of mind"
ct do not agree. There is very little
art at the Academy" said Lady de
Burgh, slowly. "The essence of true
art is failure-failure, because it dares
to grope upon the hidden shores of the
unknown and the invisible. The imita-
tive art which treats of life, and of what
is visible and tangible and provable, IS
mere copying, and it is this copying,
which you find at the Academy. What
1 have said applies equally to the poet
laureates verse which is..indeed thought
full at times, but does not pretend to
fathom ininity, OF to explain the secrets
of nature"
stared. Was Lady de Burgh mad?
"But the prime Minister l gasped,
thinking that here, at least, was practi-
cal ground.
"The PREMIER" she replied, is, be-
lieve, an honest man, but like all states
men, he is utterly commonplace, and
quite oblivious of the grand destinies of
the human race. Like all politicians he
sees only with the naked eye. He does
his best I verify believe, but he is so
stupid, and entiely ignorant of the aims
of humanity, and the needs for which it
is yearning."
She relapsed, with her buttercup, into
her red cushions, and sat Supplied and
speechless. A faint odor seemed to per-
wade the room, and no sound broke the
stiffness. Was in an enchanted place?
"There is no sovereign" began Lady de
Burgh again, but in so weak a tone that
it seemed as if she were speaking to her
self, "there is no sovereign but the in
ner consciousness; there is no parlia-
ment but the REORGANIZATION of
earnest friends; there is no art but the
expression of the intense longings of hui
mainly"
1 tried to speak-to move-but I was
petrifed, spell-bound.
Suddenly the door opened, and Hood
of light rushed in. In the warm radi-
ance stood girl Of nineteen, whose SYM
etry of form and beauty of feature were,
or struck my excited imagination as be-
ing, faultless. She was dressed in white,
with something blue round her slender
waist. and a blue fllet in her hair. 1t
was as if Aphrodite had come to gladden.
the earth.
Come hither, Molly" said Lady de
Burg, raising her voice little. Come,
and let me introduce friend of mine to
you"
This then was the shepherdess, this
tall maiden with the regal grace, and the
wonderful loneliness! She closed the
door, but her presence seemed to keep
the sunshine in the room. l stood up,
but did not venture to meet her through
the maze of chairs and tables and china
pots that strewed the floor, but she was
presently with us, and our introduction
effected, she seated herself on the otto
man, and looked at me.
II have heard of you" she said. cit
is good of you to come and see us, for
you are great Indian statesman now,
are Won not ?" She smiled sweetly, and
spoke brightly.
Dear Molly. murmured her mother,
"you have no flower! How often have
told You always to carry flower in
your hand! And you have forgotten your
crook! Ny darling you are so thought
less"
II am so sorry, mamma" said Molly
with cheerfully penitent air. II did
carry three daisies about all the morning
but they were quite dead at luncheon
time, so threw them away, and my
crook have mislaid somewhere, but I
shall find it again. Do you know" she
added, turning to me, II am as bad as
little 30. peep, for she only lost her sheep,
whereas 1, who have no sheep to lose am
always losing my crook"
"Such spirits! Such gaietyw whis-
pered Lady de Burgh. "Such a color!
Such health and strength! So painful to
q mother"
The color, which was delicate peach
bloom, heightened slightly at Lady de
Burgh's words. But Molly was serenely
good -humored.
"When 1 am twenty-five" she said de-
murely, 81 mean to enter q nunnery.
Not the usual kind, but mammals clois-
tered cool retreat here. I, dare say by
that time 1 shall be tired Of riding and
walking"
"You won't be able to sit here always,
= 4 4 IL 6