The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-08-28

Mrs. Lyster was widow with two
unmarried daughters who were Just out
in society, and spent all the time they
could spare from that arrogant mistress
in the pursuit of art, with little music
and embroidery that was also artistic.
Maud was not more than seventeen"
but '.tall and stately" with hauteur
of manner that was not SO pleasant
as the affectionate disposition of Mig
non, the younger. They were good
girls, brought up in a gay, thoughtless
manner, without troubling their heads
over any social problems. In fact, they
considered all women out of place who
asserted their rights, and believed those
socially beneath them to be of a differ
ent caste altogether. "Isn't it curious.
mamma?" said Maude, one morning, rs
she idly cut the leaves of the latest fash
ion magazine. "Ycur new housemaid,
Lisbeth, wears gloves, and such spretty
ruffied aprons, and neat dresses. l
wonder if she wants to save her hands.
or what is the reason?''
Mrs. LISTER smiled. THAT is no fault,
my dear child, the girl does her work
well, and is treasure She is rather
superior and is ambitious, goes to the
Art evening class, and gets one after
noon in the week as well. l got her for
two dollars a month less than the last
maid on that account, and she is far
more delft and handy"
Maude looked her astonishment. ''The
Art class! why she's only housemaid,
and it's really too bad. Rene Lindsay
and Tom Davis belong TO that very class,
if it is Prof. Pontelle's. l shall be very
much surprised if they stay when
they find out servants go there"
Nonsense" answered the mother,
sit is no ones affair whO goes, so long
as they pay and are admitted. The girl
is Thoughtful. and hopes to become an
art teacher, by and by, she told me.
and am sure it is much nicer to have a
girl with artistic tendencies: she dusts
and arranges the parlors with exquisite
taste, every caller notices it, and thinks
you girls do it for me; and she handles
the choicest bric-a-brac carefully. l
really never had such faithful girl"
So Lisbeth continued to attend the
classes and worked IN the early morn
.ings in her tic bedroom. as soon as
daylight came in, and if her pictures
were ''skied," it mattered but little, for
no one saw them but herself. and the
glimpses of the early sunlight. the first
glow in the east. that she watched in
those working moods. formed picture
that always remained in her memory rs
long as life lasted.
Lisbeth won the hearts of her fellow
servants by many little acts of kindness,
till Kitty, the parlor maid, told her one
day in confidence that she was trying to
study arithmetic and bookkeeping, so
rs to take 4 situation in 4 store some day
as saleswoman.
''COuld she make more money and be
rs comfortable" Llsbeth ventured to
ask.
No" answered Kitty, sturdily, ''but
| shall be treated as a human being in
the house where board. and be indie
pendent. don't mind the work. that's
easy. but it's having Miss Maude look
at me as if l was a post, and talking to
other girls about the servants as if we
were no. of the same flesh and blood.
She doeSn t even wait till our backs are
turned. but treats us like the dirt under
her feet" and Kitty's democratic little
head gave a toss of scOrn as she spoke.
Lisbeth often saw the young ladies busy
with their desultory drawing, but they
never seemed TO consider her as hui
man being, with thoughts and feelings,
or capable of observing. Her training
in early life and at the Art School fitted
her to be their companion in everything
but money. Yet. there was great
gulf between them socially, because one
had to earn her daily bread by the labor
of her hands.
Prof. Pontelle was very much inter-
ested in his quiet scholar: her grave.
pensive face. the deep thoughtfulness of
her pure gray eyes, reminded him of the
wife OF his early manhood, who was
taken from him during the first year of
their married life. 1t was ten years ago
that she died, and he had never since
seen q woman on whom he cared to be-
stow second glance; they were so
frivolous, many of them, and studied
art only for fashions sake, fOrsooth, but
this young girl seemed to enter into his
methods and understand his moods. He
watched her closely; saw how lonely
she appeared, and apart from the rest,
even penetrated the feeling that was to
be seen among some of his fashionable
pupils, who seemed not to care about
making any social advances toward her.
Was she not their equal in position? He
curled his lips in scorr. His own father
had been blacksmith and peasant be-
fore they left Europe: he was alone and
could snap his fingers at the world if
this sweet girl would consent to be his
wife. And all the while Lisbeth labored
on in silence; serene, ambitious and
hopeful, determined TO master the art OF
teaching as well as the teaching of art,
and tit herself for more congenial en-
ployment.
The closing of the summer term came
in June, and a reception was given to
the pupils and their friends. The
rooms were crowded: fashion smiled on
anything artistic and delighted to honor
the handsome Professor who presided
over the school.
I Foremost among the gay groups were
Maud and Mignon Lyster who enjoyed
such gatherings. but wished particularly
to see and criticize Lisbeth's work. At
ter some music. it was announced thai
an essay would. as usual, be read by
one of the pupils, and when Lisbeth ap-
peared in her simple white dress.
with no ornament but bunch
of pale roses ut her throat and belt, the
audience listened attentively to her
words. Calmly, and in rich. deep
tones, she spoke of Simplicity in art, j
and when the last eloquent words were
said. was greeted with rapturous but
well-bred applause. As she stood alone
the pleased Professor gave her his arm
and escorted her down the long room,
Al. L..