Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-30

/ like. The execution was mastery. bu
they were strange themes "from the life
for young lady.
Saying they were very clever, handed
the sketches back to Eunice, and from
| that day set myself to a closer Observance
| of Mdlle. Rosalie. I allowed a month t,
! pass, and then L asked Eunice how sh
was getting on with her studies in paint
| ing.
| ''Not very well, papa" said Eunice
eve have hardly had one lesson-now
think of it, not even one. Mdlle Rosali,
| has taken quite dislike to painting; bu
| she dresses hair beautifully"
I noticed then my daughters hair
which, indeed, was beautifully dressed. 4
charming. sweettempered girl. eightee1
years of age, Eunice from the first hat
never wavered in her praises Of Mdlle
| Rosalie. But for this and the fondness O
my wife for the so-called governess,
doubt whether she would have remained
in my house for any length Of time Be
fore she entered our service, l was giveI
to understand that she was French; and
became convinced, from evidence which
she herself supplied, that she was Eng
hsh. Mademoiselle, therefore, being con.
verified into Miss, Rosalie might quite as
likely be Jane or Betsy and Lenormand
Smith or Jones. Introducing herself IN
der false pretenses in respect of her name
and nationality, she must be capable of
other duplicities, and consequently an IN
fit companion to my dear daughter. After
some elaboration [ communicated my
suspicious to my wife.
you may be mistaken" she remarked.
81 may be" 1 replied, "but I do not
think am in this instance.p
Now, my wife is gentle-mannered lady,
absolutely without guile. Pure minded
herself, she believes in the purity of all
who come in contact with her. Suspicion
never enters her mind. She is ever ready
to think the best of everything and every
body, and [ never heard word of scandal
pass her lips The rich hold her in esteem,
the poor idolize her. Association with a
being so innocent and charitable has
sweetened my days.
'My dear" said my wife, gently, two
men are the best judges OF women"
"Of womens failings," said, correcting
her out of my wisdom.
"Of women's virtues also," said my wife.
Consider, Richard; have you seen any
thing in Mdlle. Rosalie's conduct of which
you disapprove?"
[ did consider, and could fix upon moth
ing definite except the subject-matter Of
the pictures. spoke of this.
''Mdlle. Rosalie," said my wife, ''has ex-
planned all about them to me. She has
had a hard life, Richard, and has been
compelled to turn her talent as an artist
to profitable account. 1t meant bread-and-
hJJt n Il I,
only certain subjects of her, down from low
life, or, rather, dear-not to be unjust
from poorer life that ours"
This was tender theme with my wife.
Her heart was touched with a divine pity
for the poor and lowly, and no arguments
could induce her to condemn them for
their cOarseness.
Had we been born of parents such as
theirs" she was in the habit of saying,
''in places such as theirs, with surround
ings such as theirs, we should have been
as they are"
In her presence theorists were dumb.
go" she continued, "Mdlle Rosalie
had no option. How grateful we should
be for the blessings we enjoy and for the
evils we are spared Mdlle Rosalie is
above reproach; she has come safely out
of the fire of temptation and cruel suffer
ing. Eunice is deeply attached to her.
She is an orphan, too, and her gratitude
for the home she has found with US is
boundless."
''Well, WELL" said, feeling somewhat
helpless, ''let it be as you wish"
"Thank you, DEAR" said my sweet wife.
1--WE will say nothing of this to Eunice:
it would grieve her. And just now," she
added, with bright look, 1--WE must have
no Clouds"
1t did not occur to me till afterwards
and then would not reopen the matter
to inquire in what way Mdlle. Rosalie's
explanations concerning the pictures had
come about. I inquired now of myself.
and decided that it could not have been
through the prompting of my wife or
daughter; therefore, the prompting came
from Mdlle. Rosalie. How, or by what
means? Had she taken note of the feel
ings which an examination of her work
had produced in me, and which | must
have betrayed in my manner towards her:
and had she adopted this course to disarm
me and protect herself? If so, there must
be something subtle in her nature, which
must be guarded against And yet, what
cause was there for suspicion? Was it not
the height of folly to worry oneself so
without reason? After all, might 1 not be
entirely mistaken? I
Later in the day met Mdlle Rosalie's
frank smile with a smile as frank. She
seemed grateful for the response. for she
raised my hand to her lips and kissed it:
and then, as though ashamed of herself
for this ebullition of feeling, she turned
and fled