The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-12-27
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Lady Lilias, who looked more beautiful
than eyerin superb dress Of white lace
trimmed with water-lillies and green
leaves, Diamonds shone in the dcad-Sold
hair and on her white breast. Her arms
were bare to the exquisite polished shout.
ders. she turned to Vane.
nThis is all miserable PRIDE" she said
..FrunkIy speaking, would neither visit
nor receive this rich pickle-manuiacturcr
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 rs there
are different st0rys in house or strata IN
the earth. one alone i Useless; but the
whole Of them make perfection. And my
decided opinion is that class distinctions
should be preserved. | should not care "a
associate with those whom | considered in
ferior."
"Yet you would carry the child of II
beegar.w oman in your arms" he interro.
gated. -,
..That is a different thing. You will
never understand me. Now, for instance,
if was that pic kle-manufacturer, | should
be too proud to cringe ana fawn for the
society of those who did not want me.
should not condescend TO buy old pictures
and call them family portraits, to talk
about my 'hanccstors.' L should take my
stand on my own merits. | would say, 81
am a rich man retired from business.
have been Observation-Disclosures, and now
am 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 prctence, nc
affrctation-I should stand on my own
merits"
Vane laughed in slow panied fashion
which puzzled her.
"But YOU YOURSELF" he said. "You
would not visit or know the Wyiton Chase
familyW
cranky, no." she answered al dc
not admit that there is any equality be.
tween US. Why should seek to tolerate
such society"
He looked at her with strange earnest
ness.
81 begin to understand" he said. 81
begin to distinguish between the pride OF
one who can carry the cnild of II beggar-
woman, and the pride Of one who could
not visit retired pickle-manuf acturer."
She looked at him with q smile in her
sweet eyes.
..Then YOU are beginning to be wise
man." she rejoined.
Still he was strangely i'll ut ease.
"Lady Lilias," he said, "if ask you any
questions that seem to you rude or out oil
place, rebuke me but should like to UNI
derstand your social code. see that there
are around Ulverscroft some very nice
farms. They belong to Lord Audley, who
takes the most kindly interest in his ten.
antry. Now would anything, could any.
thing induce you to take even the least in
terest in the young farmers, or the farm
ers' sonsI"
She laughed sweet silvery laugh. She
did not see the pain in his face, the trem
bling of his lips, and the keen anguish OF
his suspense.
"What a droll question Mr.. Wharf!
think no class of men in England so honest
80 honorable, SO estimable rs the farmers
To 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 themr
Oh WOulu uOt assoS1aeC WIN, VI 10
ceive, or whatever the word is, farmers
son, Lady Liliass"
at is too absurd question to answer
A gay mocking smile came over her face
al will draw line at the professions SHE
said Jestingly. ........
~ wish knew whether 1 were inside
the line or out Of it," he remarked.
She was not In the least angry at tn,
words. To himself he said that, If sh'
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 "bough
Burchall Park, in our neighbOrhood, Sill
John Ilford by name. He had been II
trade in the City, as an oil-merchant, be
heve-and he had made large fortune
He was elected Lord Mayor and knightet
for some service to the State. He bOugh
Burchall 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 hi
had made his position. He had sprung
from the very poorest and worked his way
upwards. His father and mother had be
lOnged to the laboring- classes, and hat
never consented to give up their plat
homely life to share their sons grandeur
Sir John had an enemy who envied anc
hated him, and who, hearing Of the grand
fete, gave himself the trouble to 80 to the
village where the old couple lived and told
them that their son had sent Tor them. anu
that they were not to wait TO exchange
their very.day clothes. When the fett
was at its height, and the guests had just
sat down to magnificent banquet, the
host Mt the head Of the table, with Count
ess on one side and u Baroness on the 9th
er, the door opened, and the old people
were suddenly announced as Sir Johns
father and mother. They stood there be
fore the brilliant crowd, old, frightened
and trembling. His enemy had thought
to shame the grand noblc-hearted man
had thought to see him blush for his old
father and mother, and turn from then
ashamed. All, how mistaken he was! II
brings a lump into my throat to think Of
il. Sir John stood tor one half moment q,
bay; then he went to his trembling ole
mother and kissed her with hearty kiss
and shook his fathers hand. You are
heartily welcomed he said. Holding
hand of each he led them to the top of the
table. Ladies and gentlemen he said
.let me introduce my father and mother t
YOU. owe them everything, and honor