The Butler weekly times., 1884-04-30

~ THE AUTHOR or "DoKA IHoHN''
..A ROSE ~ THoRHs," ETC.

- Il.
nis ori.,iu. He dreaded lest it should ever
he Eaown that he was the son OF poor -
,tora.,f farmer. lie knew it was "a hateful
,.,o.i.r,...- and he loathed himself for it,
Pa. ia. ,vas Uoycrle>. to combat with the
,c,lin..- and he was thankful that II could
never be known.
Atdinnrr one evening, when Lord Aud
lev had invited several guests. the c"i3Ncr-
aIien turned upon the recent purchase
,f ~ sItou (hase. one of the Oldest estates
in tho county. 1t had been bonSht by re-
tired ffckle-inaker, " ho was very anxious
to s..r,,rc adnittauce into the charmed cir
Gle Of county families, but was not permit
ted to do 80.
we must draw the line somewhere"
-aid the great Lady Hottie of Castle Hottie;
..aud we will draw it at pickles"
Hy some means Vane found himself by
Lady Lilias, who looked more beautiful
than ever in a superb dress of white lace
trimmed with water-lililes and green
leaves. Diamonds shone in the dead-Sold
hair and on her white breast. Her arms
were bare to the exquisite polished shoul-
ders. She turned to Vane.
..Fhis is all miserable PRIDE" she said.
..Frankly speaking, / would neither visit
nor receive this rich pickle-manuiacturer.
The reason why is that he does not, nor
never could, belong to our class; that
neither by thought, education, culture. nor
ideas would he be pleasing to us. There
must be different ranks to society as there
are different storys in ii house or strata in
the earth. One alone is useless; but the
whole of them make perfection. And my
decided opinion is that class distinctions
should be preserved. l should not care to
associate with those whom l considered in
ferior."
II
l,eeear-woman in your arms:'' he interro-
gated.
..rhat is a different thing. You will
never understand me. Now, for instance,
if was that pickle-manufacturer, l should
be too proud to cringe and fawn for the
society of those who did not want me. l
should not condescend to buy old pictures
and call them family portraits, to talk
about my .hancestors.' l should take my
stand on my own merits. / would say, Il
am u rich man retired from business. 1
have been Observation-Disclosures, and now
AN anxious to mix in good society. Those
who chose to value honesty and sincerity
could know me if they liked-at least
there would be no sham, no pretence, no
should stand on my own
merits"
Vane laughed in a slow panied fashion
which puzzled her.
..But you YOURSELF" he said. ..Iou
would not visit or know the WHIton Chase
family"
..Frankly, no." she answered. II do
not admit that there is any equality he
tween Us. Why should seek to tolerate
such soclets:'
lie looked at her with strange earnest
ness.
~ begin to undcrstand,'' he >aid. II
Of
one VINO can carry the cln!J ii y, -2ai-
Wolil.tiI, ana tnc pride al ".,c who could
NOS visit - retired picAi"-n...Iui.'etu turer.'
She looked aL aim with II smile i'll her
sweet eyes.
.Ihen YOU are beginning to be u wise
man. size rcj1incd.
Stil lac was strangely ill at ease.
"Lady Lilias," he said, ..if ask you any
questions that seem to You rude or out of
place, rebuke me but l should like to I'M
derstand your social code. see that there
are around Ulverscroft some very nice
farms. They belong 10 Lord Audley. who
takes the most kindly interest in his ten
autry. Now would anything. could ANY,
thing induce you to take even the least in
terest i'll the young farmers, or the farm
crs' sons>''
She laughed a sweet silvery laugh. She
did not the pain in his face, the treni-
bling of his lips, and the keen anguish Of
his suspense.
Nv hat a droll question Mr. Vibart!
think no class of men in England so honest,
so honorable, SO estimahle as the farmers
70 me they seem to be the salt OF the earth.
But what could there be in common be-
tween them and me, except the kindly
sympathy have for them:''
"lou would not associate with, or re-
eeive, or whatever the word is. farmers
son, Lady Liia>:'
''lt Is too absurd i question to answer
A gay moching smile came over her face.
81 Will draw a line ut the professions" she
said Jestingly.
81 wish l Knew whether 1 were inside
the line or out of it," he remarked.
She was not in the least angry at the
words. To himself he said that, If she
knew his origin, she would not address
him again. Just then Colonel Gordon
broke into the conversation with an anec-
dote.
"A very wealthy man," he said ..bought
Burchall Park, in our neighbortIood, u Sir
John Iiford by name. He had been in
trade ia the City, as an oil-merchant, be-
heve-and he had made large fortune
He WAS elected Lord Mayor and knighted
Tor some service to the State. He bought
Burehall Park, and soon after his install.
ment there, he gave \ magnificent fete-
All the elite of the county were present;
and looking round Sir John thought he
had made his position. He had sprung
from the very poorest and worked his way
upwards. His father and mother had be-
ionsed TO the laborins-classes, and had
never consented to give up their plain
homely life To share their sons grandeur.
SIR John had an enemy who envied and
hated him, and who, hearing Of the grand
tete, gave himself the trouble TO 20 10 the
Village where tue old couple lived and told
Them that their SON had sent Tor them, and
that they were not 10 wait IL exchange
their everyday clothes. When the feIe
was at its height, and the guests had just
sat down 10 magnificent banquet, the