The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1881-09-01
MOLLY. 1STITCH ID nHRID r0JIS

| MU001 ! Il NAIIGG 4za 41zkaIM lUlsUD
! When first entered the room it seemed
TO me that was confronted by thick vel
Of darkness, but when my pupils, con
tlacted by the fierce glare Of the July sui
outside, Ilad become accustomed to th,
sudden change I perceived that subduet
light, proceeding from three. carefully cur
tained windows, dimly Illuminated tht
apartment. | advanced cautiously, thread
/ ing my way among the qllalnt and oddly
Etiiaposetl furniture until I slipped into tl1t
little nook whore her iaiy8hip recli1ed Or
q soft luxurious diYaII. She was almo5
walled up between 4 huge black cabinet
ana some curiot1saT carved shelves filleC
with aancers OF antique china, each O
WIliclstood with one side against the wal
50 as TO fornl a little5aqt qtlare. chamber with
in the large drawing groom. This cornel
was just big etIoH5rci1sto eonta5n the tliyan
q small low ottoman and :: tiny table, OF
| which lay 8 1utteleslI5 with 8 long stalIz
by the side of q slenner vase in which haC
been placed asprar Of white currant8, tI1e
stem and leaves atraggling high IN the air
while three or l5Hr punches Of The trans.
pareus fruit hung over the edge Of the
glass.
Lady dc Bnrgl1 WAS lying baeE among
deep red cushions, with listles8 hands clasp
ed round her knees, ana contemplating the
/ vase OF ctlrrant9 with the rapture Of one
who has discovered q profound secret. She
was a woman whose age it was difficult tc
guess, and whose height and figure could
noe be OWNED from the obscuritY Of the
room, the nature OF her apparel anl hel
| lounging attitude. She was very pale, and
her features, though hardly beautiful, were
refined. She wore 10 ornaments, not even
on her long white fingers, save her we'd
| ding ring, aud Oh herilcad her sole idorn-
mont was her soft dark brown hair, which
seemed to cling simply about her in short
dainty waves, without either plaiG on part
ing. She was arraycd in u pale green dress
With:3 good deal Of old and very yellow
lace about It; itsat loosely round her neck
and wrists, and though her elbows and
knees were sharply defined, her waist re.
manned unmarked behind the straight and
single fold of her sillSen garb.
| 1t must not be supposed thut took in al
these facts at q glance. / observed them
gradually az / sal by Lady dc Burgh's side
Oh the divail, WHITTIER she motoned me.
II am very glad to see You, she said
in a low, melancholy voice. II believe !
have not seen you since the day Of my
marriage, atn5 yoHs we're such u rough bog
Them
Il hope I am not asrough man, said
trying to moderate my voice. 81 was only
fifteen then, and 1t IL twenty years ago.
Ieu went abroad, and before you came
back had gone to India.
S'Ah. You must have found India very
trying" she remarked. But life Is 4
dreary affair to All-always desire an.l new
er frnition.p
"But surely you have no cause to COM
plain," ventured 10 relnonstrate s.Sil
John is rich and successful, and under
stand you have a charming daughter"
She shivered slightly. my daughter Is
tf:ss, s5lf, Il u7eFU sfep=
herdess. ! 60 my best forher, but she is a
mere shepherdess. She is entirely her faith
er's child, like him negatively and aft1llna-
lively. Would you believe it?-she even
ridicules my eurrantsl / can hardly sup
port the idea. Had had q son he would
have understood me, sYmpathized with me,
intuitively deciphered me. -
s'But hear that Miss de Burgh IS i1-
finitelv lovely" I said.
No Doubt said Lady de Burgh, no
doubt the souIless beings you have met in
town think SO. Numbers of soulles8 men
and women come here and think her. per-
feet. Aud SO she is, in her way, but she is
q mere shepherdess, as said before. She
cannot satisfy me. But I seek no .ioy from
those Of my own hearth. I look for it but
ID this calm seclusion, ana occasionally III
the intercourse. Of 2 select few who can APP
preciate. = And she took up the t3uttercnp,
leaned back among herpilIoWs and fonaletl
the flower against her lip and cheek.
81 shall be curious to see. your shepherd
ess, said |. sisslle. seems we'll known, not
witharanding that she lives IN this retired
place. Butt have sought her in vain in
london crowds
OH have sought her.
Yes, wanted 10 know what my old
friends little girl was like, and when /
found the President Of the Royal Aeat-
en1y and the Prime Minister and the Poet
Laureate speaking Of her with enthusiasm
thought would seek her too. They, at
least, must be some judges Of beauty of
manners and Of mind.
.sI do not agree. THERE'S very little art
Eatthe Academy said Lady lie Burgll,
slowly. .sThe essence Of true art is fail
ure-failufe, because it dares to grope up
on the hidden shores OF the unknown and
the invisible. The initiative art which
treats of life, and OF what Is visible and
tangible and proVable, Is mere copying,
and II Is thiseorying which yot1 find ut the
Academy. What have sail applies equal
to the Poet Laureate's verse, which il
indeed thoughtful at times, but does not
pretend to fathon1 inauity, or to explain
the secrets ct nature