Delta chief., 1883-10-24
NAN THAT SUCCEEDED.

are not much In the way Of schools or
academies here, but have been her in
kructor myself, and she is thorough
A Mathematician, an excellent musician,
Ind linguist of no mean capacity. We
are studying Hebrew now every day,
she and l, and she devotes her evenings
10 comprehensive reviews of Latin and
Greek. She will be scholar, If l live
Ito complete her education"
81 Mr.. Crofton looked curiously at the
oddly assorted pair-the silver haired,
y I,shabbily attired old gentleman, with
his bald forehead, eagle eye and deli
cately white hands; and the dark
Drowned, sullen looking girl. with gip-
sy skin, ,untidy frock and patched boots.
Pretty? Yes, she might be pretty under
some circumstances. The diamond it
self is not an attractive stone before the
lapidary's art has polished its rude an
giles into glittering facets OF white fire.
But she certainly possesses no sweet.
feminine graces now.
"How old are you. Miss Monteagle?"
he asked, finding it imperatively neccs-
sary to say something.
And Mary Monteagle answered in
1 words. seventeen" while her looks
replied plainly. 'None of your busi-
ness"
Go, my child, and gather some flow
ers to deck our humble board" said
the old gentleman magniloquently.
while he conducted the son of his old
friend into the tumble-down old stone
house. where the carpets were moth
eaten. furniture mildewed, and every
trace of decayed gentility told the sad
story Of better days.
Mrs. Monteagle. who had been
beauty once. and had her portrait en-
graved in Gallery of American
Rosebuds. was sitting up in state in
battered boudoir in black silk dress
that must have been quite quarter of
century old. with flower in her sill
vcr sprinkled hair. and still preserving
the girlish attitude in which the en-
Agrnvcr's pencil had immortalized her,
oddly contrasting with the sharpened
4 outlines and haggard abruptncss of her
4 sixty odd years.
z And this was the way the old couple
lived. in the dead past as IL were. Colo
mel Monteagle starving contcntedly on
the recollection Of his past grandeur,
AID his wife fondly fnncying that time
stood still since the days in which she
had been counted worthy to be one of
the American Rosebuds.
Mrs. Monteagle sweetly welcomed
her guest, and touched the little hand
bell mt her side.
I'VE will dine, Sarepta," she said to
the maid.
please. ma 'am." brenihlessly utter
ed that young person. there ain
nothin' for dinner. We eat the last of
y the cold beef yesterday. and the dog he
tipped over the pan OF oysters, and
"That will do, Snrepta," said Mrs.
Montcagle, with red spot mounting to
each Of her cheek bones. al sxid-we
will diner'
Aud Sarepta withdrew with jerk.
The dinner was served prescntly-an
Instance Of the magnetic power Of will
but there was no cold beef. neither
were there oysters. Fruit, thin, wa
terry soup Of herbs and parsley. taste.
fully garnished salad Of lettuce and
mAyonaise, apd dish Of peaches and
cream formed the meal
"Quite Arcadian - said Mrs. Mont
eagle, with gigglc.
"And very badly served" secretly
commented Mr. Crofton to himself.
<.But the salad was nice"
.'Where is Nary" the colonel asked.
drinking in the beauties Of the sun
set, presume" the lady answered air.
lily. "rhc poor child has an artists
soul. and we do not tie her down TO any
hours or rules.
The colonel fell asleep in his chair
after dinner. Mrs. Monteagle and her
painted fan withdrew themselves into
the boudoir. and Mr.. Crofton. inwardly
bcwailing himself that he had promised
to stay week at Monteagle manor.
sxnntered out upon the heights which
overlooked the valley below. As he
stood there n rustling sounded In the
bushes and the dark browcd gypsy
sprang up the hillside.
"You have fine place here, Miss
Monteagle.' he said, by way Of making
himself agreeable
81 hate III" said Mary. darkly,
"I-beg your pardonp" exclaimed
Mr.. Crofton in amazement.
~ dor flashed the girl ~ hate it
all! The learning and the poverty, and
= the grand prctenses and the miserable
make-shifts.
"But--"
"Ahr' said Mary Monteagle, "you
don't know IL all. You never heard the
tradesmcn howling at the back doors
like pack of bowling wolves you
don't know that the house is advertised
for sale for tax arrears. How should
you P How should you be aware that
the very clothes we wear are not paid
for. nor the Goals that cook our dinnerp
poNo u,p,,l h;u ci,r. nd 20 lie about