Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-11-05
HER "STEP ASIDE.".
Pauline, However, Got Back Into
the True Path.

NJ. Valrcy gave painting lessons in a
fashionable New York boarding school.
He was tall, spare man, whose eye
brows were Just touched with gray, al
though his hair had grown quite white.
His face was shaved clean, so that the
deep lines showed plainly, but failure
and sorrow had aged him more than
years, for in spite of his wrinkles and
white hair he was not yet GO. AT 80 lie
had married and Brought his wife TO
New York, hoping to win the fame and
fortune denied him in France, and he
won neither. Still, he struggled along
galy for awhile, believing that the rich
Amer cans must sooner or later buy his
pictures, give him orders, heap wealth
and honor upon him; but the rich
Americans ignored his very existence,
and poor Paul Val ey drank the cup of
disappointment TO the dregs before the
cup of poverty was forced to his lips.
Finally, when his little stock of money
had dwindlcd down to handful of dol
lars, his wife bore him child, and the
doctor who attended her let Valrey
paint his portrait in payment for pro-
fessional services. The portraitwas ex-
cellent and brought him few orders,
and he managed to keep loaf in the
cupboard, but Mt last he was glad to eke
out living by teaching. He had
neither reputation nor oriniluental friends
to back him, and for long time it was
hard struggle to get pupils, but in the
course of ten or twelve years he achiev-
cd some measure of fame rs a teacher
of drawing and painting.
HIS daughter, when his wife dies, be-
comes the one object of his existence.
He taught her how to draw and paint,
he had her read and speak French
with him, he educated her as
well rs he could, and Pauline Valrey
grew up in the belief that all there was
for her to do in life was to teach, and
accepted her calling without dreaming
of adopting any other. When she was
almost twenty he succeed in getting her
n position in Nine. Kenyons famous
school for young lad es, where he had
given lessons for several years, and she
began with teaching the rudiments of
French and taking charge of the
youngest drawing pupils. ltwas of her
that he wished TO speak to Nine. Ken
yon, and when the note had been writ
ten and the tea brought in, he broached
the subject delicately. Pauline had been
two months in the school, and he want
ed to know whether she gave satisfac-
ton. He knew Nine. Kenyon too well
TO think that she would keep teacher
for any sentimental reason.
"NIlle Valrey has the gift of instruc-
ton" said Nine. Kenyon, promptly.
al have been watching her closely since
she came, and | am convinced that as
she grows older she will develop into n
teacher whose services will be very val
liable. Moreover, Monsieur, she has
such charming manners that she sub
dues my wild Western girls by sheer
gontleness, and | hope they will take
pattern by her. 1t is quite useless, you
know, to preach manners; it is only by
example that a hoyden can be trained.
And my teachers must be able to do
something more than correct exercises
and hear recitations; they must help
me to refine, Monsieur. do not claim
to send out learned women as Vassar
or Girton do, but when young lady
has been with me three or four years
expect her to conduct herself properly
in a drawing room or at II dinner table,
to speak low and use good English, to
dress suitably and word note neatly.
1t is harder to teach all this than to
teach Greek or astronomy"
NJ. Yalrey bowed; he had heard these
remarks many times before, and he
only murmured:
at is indeed, madame, far more diff
fcult."
He had drank the tea, which he alb
horred, and he looked at the fragile,
painted cup in silence for n minute;
then he said:
II hope you will be friend to my
daughter always She may need u
friend any day, and you may need a
new painting teacher" ="
Pauline joined her father after this
interview with the mistress of the fash
ionable school, and as she helped him
into his great coat she brushed speck
oil his shoulder; she gave him his hat
and stick, and The" went out together
to the bustling avenue, and walked
toward the park. She was like him,
tall and slight; it was from her mother
that she had inherited delicate features,
n iine-grained white skin and bright
brown hair and eyes. She could have
sat to the most fastidious of painters
for a portrait of lady, but no painter
could catch the charm of her smile, ac-
companied as IL often was by n faint
flush in her cheeks that faded while
one was wondering what had lit up the
pale face. She looked somewhat older
than her years; she had been trained in
woman. Her mother had taught her
TO use needle deity, and she could
fashion a dress or trim bonnet to
accord well with her face or iigure she
had true Frenchwoman's knack OF
putting aroll of lace around her neck
or tying ribbon ut her throat. For
her father, she cared in sort Of natural
way, looking after his clothes and scold-
ing him gently about his collars, and
she honored him as she Ioved him, and
since her mothers death she had hardly
had companion save him. He was
always undemonstratiye, sometimes 70.
we're toward her but she knew that she
was all that kept his heart beating in his
bosom.
She and her father talked but little as
they made their way to the avenue, foI
it was raw. clustering November day,
and the wind blew the dust hither and
thitber in clouds, seeming to take O
mischieyous delight in whirling hand
full against a girls face. When they
reached the park they got into bell
line car, which, in It's rounds on the
edge OF the town. would carry them tc
that Questionable quarter Of New Yorl