New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-31
AN INGENUE.
sIiove q little simple child"


know It. But do duty for one, and do 1t. more
say have always doubted whether the ,. real ssl
article exists. am so conversant with tue tricks
of the trade that may be excused IL am scepticai
ss to even the very best performances IN that line
We are all critics as to our own special art, ana
mine is one which annoys me if it lot carried out
to perfection. Without some necessary quaiinca-
lions IL should never be attempted. and among tnoso
conditions / am myself inclined to place ceItaIp
natural gifts. have it Is true seen dark-browed.
handsome women play the part ana pay ~ '" ~, IN
CERTAIN degree o. ops doubt Whether their sue
ceas ia ever assured enough to make IL worth whie
], the contrary am empnadiGpa at en indeed
snnrnino of the gifts she has bestowe ed upon mo- II
had not assumed 1t. have soft. round. baby
from NV old nurse onward, the world has agreed TO
call "innocent" They are big and blue and have
a trick. this, it is true. - my Improvement upon
nature) of looking constantly surprised. Ny name,
too, was in my favor; 1t was as II my mother ana
nature had combined TO point out to me the roe
was intended to play for was hae
grateful The part OF an ngenue, TO DO successIuiy
carried through, must be promptly decided upon.
and acted throughout consistently. Mine has been
both | do not remember the time when was not
fehearsing it. when did not know more far more,
than supposed to know or Ga not assume an
ignorance of the world which hao long ou'grown'
And on the whole think it has PAID.
NV father died before was born and my mother
married for the SECOND time sp MIA faD ocv
he disliked me. He has now been dead year-it
was not of my mother, whatever III natured people
may say. for he lived very little at home; ana we
we're established 1 am thankful to say we are rich
IN a house in Begravia. . ,.,..
One thing causes me some peTplexity. Philip
Dupda,e my stepfathers son, who Is rising barris-
ter lives with u.s. and Iconicss that his choice or
home puzzles me- am not certain ne likes eit u
of ue / am certain he disikes my mother. But
etiIl he makes his home with us. For my part
have always liked Philip. II he had gwen me any
encouragement, l might indeed. nave done more
but he never has. Till last month. had, neverthe-
less lingering hope that he might end by beconl-
ing fond of me-. But an opportune revelation o. my
me from the error Of reckoning it IN as factor In
nv calculations to the arrangement OF my 1uture.
What she told me was briefly this: that shortly be
fore nv stepfathePs death she had happened 10
Oyerhear a conversation between him and his son,
in which Mr.. Dugdae, senior; had made IL ms ex-
Stances allow himself to be induced 10 marry me.
al can't think what made him do II, said my
mother, plaintiyely; 1T seemed SO unkind.
thought could give a guess at his reasons HIS
own marriage had not been such a success but that
he NAV have thought that he and his son had had
enough of the family. But did not tell mamma So
What did Philip say IN 1 asked at length.
.aThat such an idea had not entered his head pf
course il had not pursued my mother wrathfuiy.
SAnybody could have seen he looked upon you az
sister Ii was so unknd and unnecessary"
That very week engaged myself to Mr.. Clement
Ross. a young man who believes as fully as even
can desire IN my innocent eyes and childish man
ners; but resolved. the while, vindictively, that
1t should not re head before had done With
him. The course before me lies clear and distinct
like Glenn very much he Is hrsSa0 NOT Zoo
tionaly. and has nice curly hair, ana ntend 10
marry him. l know moreover. that after have
married him / shall have no more to ito with my
brother Philip, for am good girl at bottom. and
mean to do my duty by myself and Glenn, too; but
in the meantime intend 10 take all that can pos
sibly get to use all the opportunities which my ~
renue.shfp and my sisteIy relations afford OF inter-
course with Philip, and finally. should 1t be posi-
ss h% tn s Rshs na he @
which, according to my mother, he had treated the
subject.
return from the round OF autumn visits we always
pay-my mother and l. am glad to be back again
in London. Tor the last month Glenn has always
happened to be staying at the same houses as our
selves. and | am little tired OF my nance. we
found Philip already established III Eaton Place,
9nd / lost no time ID imparting TO hun tue iact OF
Iny engagement. fanced he looked put ont at the
news, but l may have been mistaken. l am. how
ever, anxious to ascertain his views on the snDJect
and this evening, as sit with book IN my hand,
am trying TO devise an opening for the prosecution
of my investigations. Philip has come In some ten
minutes ago; he usnaily does ior haii an honr De-
always goes to lie down. 1 sometimes wonder no"
he manages to time his entrance SO accurately. To-
day, as / steal look at him. observe that MS
looking dark face wears Its most ll-telnpered
Expression, which is saying GOOD deal. throw
philip" / say tentatively. Philip starts and
looks up. "Are you busy = n,,,
9Not particularly. as you perceive" says Philip.
courasing, but / intend going look down
II was only-only that wanted to speak to you,
eome time, when you are at leisure
well. / am at leisure now" Philips tone is
rather impatient, rtry brotherly. You had better
make haste. the dressing bell Will ring directly"
It was about-my marriage" say still more
hestatinely ] wish ] could blush--it is the only
branch of my art in which am hopelessy do
fcient. - o,,,.
sWhat about your marriage :" says Philip, more
kindly: he has perceived my embarrassment. It's
ali right, Supposed He is proyokingly matter OF
fact take a sudden resolution, and, rising, cross
the room to where he is sitting A low chair IL at
no great distance, and drawing 1t quite near slt
doTn leaning m snto his face if he wishes TO-
be brotherly, am willing to give into his views,
only in my own way: .,-.,
Son Sls% Php a s but makes
It would make me so unhappy If you didn't get
on with-wth my husband" Again wish could
II believe he is good fellow says Philip, un-
comfortably. sHe rs not quite my sort you know;
Is quite certain he would not have been yours" i
lift my eyes again, little hurt this time. If Philip
means to be q brother, he shall he one with
vengeance. His hand is on the arm of the chair,
and Law mine on it. fancy Philip doesn't like 1t
at least he fdgets again, though he cannot with
al want you to like him." say. 81 have no
brother hut you, and '-as ! watch Philips face
from under my lashes l feel thrill of triumph.
Something has flashed across 1t which is not alto
gether fraternal Whatever 1t is, however, 1t is
gone in moment.
Ali right" he says cheerfully, but rising and
moving away. II will do my best; brotbers-in law
are prOyerbialy antagonstic, you know; but VIII
attempt to bring up the average. When is the
event to come of 7"
In about six months" reply. "If we continue
in the same mind, that is. II is not quite
gagement you know" Philip looks at ne.
q hope you do know your own mind, Innocent"
he says rather seriously. "You may call this sort
of thing an engagement OF not-names matter very
little-but 1t does girl no good if it doesn't end
In marriage And you have no one but your mother
whose advice to take" | interrupt him hastily.
~Ab. but | never think OF taking hers" say re-
Il. ~ \ linz Mxr N