Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-12

bhes Teopie WV ~ II
have not the nice ways toward eacn
other that they have toward people
that they only like. It's mystery.
But let me tell you this just because
il was by no wish or will Of yours ihat
YOU ere alive, just because to be boy
or girl is utterly beyond us to effect,
arc the supreme excuses and justi'ica-
lions of the existence Of any one oil
us, Just as we are. The wise people,
somebody says, are the people who ac-
cept the absolute---the things that can't
be changed-and direct their efforts
upon the things that can. Now, you
must exist, and you must he girl
but you could study hard and dress
carefully, so that your father will be
proud Of you, and loving and patient
so that your mother will like you.
You have a right to be alive. Your
father and mother have duties toward
you, just as you have toward them. A
just appreciation Of the duties OF other
people toward us constitutes seli-re-
spect, little GIRL"
Tony had long since stopped crying,
and seemed to be thinking Of what |
was saying.
"Have you any little girls9" she
asked, at last.
"N0; but l was one once" said |.
In a day or two arrived the immortal
Antoinette, to pay her yearly visit to
Cousin Tom. l first met her at the
table, and at first found her anything
but attractive; but close study brought
out her points. She had a small head,
rather gracefully set on her shoulders,
a narrow chest, rather large waist, and
was what is called short-wsisted-a
term invented to escape saying long
legged. Like most people so proper
toned, she stopped good deal. She
had rather large, commonplace hands,
with scrupulously-kept nails, long. mar
row feet, and some phenomenon like a
succession Of coartesies took place
when she walked. Her beauties Of per-
son were just two-abundan light hair
that shone like floss, and was always
exquisitely and becomingly dressed,
and transparent and healthful CON-
plexion. Her mouth was large, .nd
her lips were fiat, yet the red Of taem
was wide. Her teeth we're rather large
and far apart. She did not dress richly,
but with many changes or little varia-
tions Of the same costume, like oddi-
ties Of flower or jewel or lace, that in
vincibly attracted the eye. Her spot
less cleanliness Of person ana attire
was almost feline in its instructive
ness. Her voice was low, and her
manner at once espresso and appeal
ing. She was an orphan, with a
little money, whose investment she dis
cussed in long interviews with Tom,
both at his Office and at his house. She
was the most absolutely idle person |
ever saw, gracefully idle certainly, but
not the less literally. No worsted
work, no embroidery, no painting ever
employed her. She read newspapers,
magazines, and the lighter poems and
novels, and chatted pleasantly about
them. She was twenty-eight or thirty
when | first met her, and had a good
deal Of quiet dignity. She was gene
rally amiable, rarely spoke ill of peo-
pie, while showing surprising adroit-
ness in never speaking distinctly well
of any one.
BY certain seemingly Indifferent re-
marks and by certain cold, keen side
glances from her greenish-blue eyes, |
perceived that she judged people whom
she met both severely and accurately,
and that the weaknesses Of humanity ap-
peared to her in a cruelty humorous
light. In conversation she deplored all
wrong-dOing and misery with an eager,
thrilling vibration in her voice that
seemed the indication of a sympathy
almost divine, and unworldliness ex-
quisitely feminine. | saw at once the
place she had in Toms life and imagi-
nation she was the romance and the
grace. Where his wife's time was
filled with busy occupation, An
toinette was always doing nothing, and
consequently always ready to be his
companion on chance or unusual occa-
sions where his wife was sometimes
caught in morning dress in the after
noon, and in walking-suit at dinner,
Antoinette, having neither cares nor re-
sponsibilities, was always clothed and
in her right mind for every hour of the
day. She never applied any of her
abundant leisure to tightening Agnes's
cares neither, on the other hand, did
she do the least thing te add to them.
Though she never said that she
was pleased, comfortable, or well
fed, never indicated any of the
satisfaction that is so dear tribute
from the guest to the hostess, Antoi-
nette praised Agnes to Tom unceasing-
ly, praised her as practical sensible,
healthy-qualities eminently robust and
abundantly needed in life--but not
poetical, and somehow subtly annulling
in their possessor the higher, or rather
the most delicate, lovableness of a
woman. Knowing Tom, | had been
prepared to laugh at Agnes for her
bitter jealousy of Antoinette, but had
not been three days in the house
with that last-named precious flower OF
fragility when | felt my whole soul in
arms against her and every sympathy
with Agnes. l saw that Tom was al
most nothing in the strife, except as the
cause, and occasionally the resctionary
victim. The true situation was battle
between the two women, Of which he
was totally unconscious.
One day, in sheer desperation at the
quiet misery that was making Agnes
thin and pale, l said
"Agnes, how in the world does Miss
Standish manage'to quarter herself on
our household in this wsy2"
We were alone; the immortal An,oi.
nette had gone with Tom to select q
birthday gift for Agnes, who was busy
on some little skirts for Grace. Lex.
pected some violent outburst in answer
to my indiscreet question, but my friend
replied, gently: "A state of things
like Antoinette's undesired presence
and influence in my house is the result
of many little circumstances that link