The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-01-08
A GREAT TEMPTATION.

III any one was to blame, it was Glenn
ence Arlington, who had first con-
beauty. heiress, only child and mistress
of her fathers house, was by no means
accustomed to having her plans thwart-
ed. It would have been absurd for
Fannie Rae to have opposed them.
Fannie was lately acquired protege,
whom Miss Arlington delighted on
various occasions to caress, shower
fayors upon, swear by in matters artis-
tic, and even to patronize. Six years
previous the two had been school
friends; that was before Fannie had
come to the most terrible experience of
her life. She had often entertained
Clemence at her suburban home, which
Clemence had declared most poetic
and fascinating place. Later on, Miss
Arlington, duly chaperoned, was sent
abroad to complete her education, and
the two lost sight of each other for a
space of three years. During this time
sudden reverses swept the Raes penni-
less; father and mother succumbed to
the. shock, and Fannie stood facing the
world homeless orphan. Nerving her
self with heroic resolve, she had forth
considerable talent for art had studied
some and made fair progress. She
chose this, therefore, as her profession.
She had been for some time en-
sconced in dear little ky-studio, with
just enough pupils to keep her from
starving, and just enough courage to
hold despair at bay, when, one day,
one late November afternoon, Glenn
ence Arlington walked in upon her.
The same old Clemence, very tall and
slender for her height; elegantly dress
ed and characteristic in manner.
She took Fannie's face between her
hands and gave her light kiss on
either cheek; after which she decided
that Fannie's natural enough emotion
was very becomming, and, moreover,
that Fanny, in her plain, black dress
was beautiful as ever, with an intelec-
tuai, interesting sort of beauty, not
mere pink and white and Grecian fea-
lures.
She had heard all about her friends
troubles, she had been looking her up,
she said presently, since returning
from Paris.
"And how are you succeeding?" she
went ON.
80, fairly" said Miss Rae. trying to
smile.
(which means you are having an
awfully hard time. Never was real
genius yet that didn't. Well, tell me
all about it."
And Fannie obeyed with some re-
luctance.
The sat conversing so until the early
winter dusk had fallen about them, and
they could hardly see each others faces.
Then Miss Arlington suddenly remem-
bered:
"How late it is! And there are q
thousand things want to ask you.
Come home with me, can't you? I'm
going to the opera tonight; / want you
to look st my dress and put decent
suggestion into it. Come, you can stay
all night, I'm sure"
And Fannie, of course, obeyed.
They numbered but three at dinner
in the Arlington mansion that evening,
immediately after which Mr.. Arlington
retired to his library to write letters,
and Clemence took Fannie up to her
own apartments. If Fannie had not
been in mourning it would have been
Miss Arlington's way to insist upon her
friends accompanying herself and the
motherly matron who was to act as
chaperon. AS it was, Miss Arlington
dismissed her maid from the room, i'm
mediately the woman had laid out the
shimmering satin gown and all its fine
accessories.
"Please to look at me-" said the heir
ess, by and by, when she had slipped
unaided into her elaborate toilette, "and
give me an artistic touch or two."
Il do not see much to alter" said
Fannie, seriously.
Clemence. though slender, was beau
tifully formed and graceful in every
movement. Her very long neck bore,
like cleaning column, the dark and
naughty face. She wore rare pearls,
and carried n bouquet of white carna-
tions.
Miss Rae adjusted her friends dra-
peries, lengthening lines where posi-
bic, and giving touches that should tend
to picturesque effect.
Clemence, meanwhile, appeared to
grow thoughtful.
al have an idea about you she said
at length, as she drew on her long
gloves.
~About me?"
"Yes; art is all very nice. but, as the
poet says. art is long and life is fleet
ing. and have made up my mind 10
establish you: in other words, to get
you u husband"
"a husband?"
eyes; you are toe beautiful and in
teresting TO have your best yearc
wasted. That's the trouble with all
che famous women, don't you know