Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-08-09

"Mr. Barr Mr. Bdrri crnnot listen :,
you further. Let me go-you are MAJ.
A year passed without special inter
est, and yet certain things require 10 De
told so that the sequel may seem con-
sistent. Contrary to AuntAgnes' insin-
uatlon, I proved sincere in my devotion
to study. Mr.. Fleisch came regulorly
twice week, and during the summer
months when was away from home his
instruction was continued by means OF
correspondence. l found him, as Mr..
SPONGE had predicted, an admirable
teacher. His work was everything to
him, and he imbued me with his ability
to look at our relations as strictly I'M
personal. he might have been ma
chine, so little was he susceptible to any
mood of mine-a characteristic which l
deemed more and more Indispensable
each day to a proper understanding be-
tween pupil and master.
As a result OF his teaching and my
own industry l acquired before many
months an intimate knowledge OF the
views shared by those who called them
selves ModerationistS, and. moreover,
without the slightest diminntion OF my
enthusiasm. | was able TO converse In
telligently with the most proficient OF
the school, and there was little OF the
system that failed to commend itself TO
me as entitled to faith and support. |
attended meetings and lectures in advo-
cacy OF it's theories, and occasionally
took part in debates on questions re-
lating TO the management OF the Socie-
ty for the Practice OF Moderation, OF
which | was elected treasurer. Thus IL
happened that my name appeared In the
newspapers as one OF the leading spirits
Of the movement, and among my former
acquaintances there was general i'm
preston that had become very pecu-
liar.
Ny old ballroom rivals, who were for
! the most part Waiting as hard rs ever,
would stop me in the street and say,
"Virginia, my dear, is it true you are
going into a convent" or, "What is
this hear, Virginia, about your being
in favor OF female suffrage? Do you
really think women ought TO vote?"
! Once in while some friend, who was
either more accurate by nature, or who
really felt an interest in me, would hit
| closer TO the mark, and perhaps with a
sigh express regret at not having the
courage to become literary too. But
1t does separate one so from other people
that is, people one knows; don't you
think so, dear?"
1t certainly did. I was completely
estranged from my old associations, and
spent my time, when not employed In
study, largely at the rooms of our socie-
4ry. There were counresded sasra--
and pamphlets to be mailed, setting
forth our purposes and needs. MRS.
Marsh, despite an inaccurate acqualn-
lance with and an overweeninR curiosi-
ty regarding the doings OF fashionable
people, was model OF executive ability.
With some one at hand to correct her
grammer and spelling, she could tran
sact a greater amount OF business than
half dozen ordinary women. In my
zeal to see things properly done con-
stituted myself her assistant, and we
managed together the whole work OF
the bureau, as Miss Kingsley liked to call
our humble quarters.
MY relations with Miss Kingsley were
outwardly very friendly.
She would come whisking into the
rooms where Mrs. Marsh and l were
hard at work and potter about for
few minutes, asking questions and CIV
ing us advice, and then whisk out again
with an encouraging nod. She was apt
to time her visits so as to meet Mr..
Spence, who came regularly some time
during every forenoon to superintend
orr labors. He staid usually about
half an hour, and from the first day |
became connected with the bureau
made a point to avoid him as much as
possible. a course which seemed accepta-
BILE to him, for he always addressed his
business suggestions to Mrs. Marsh, and
did not encourage me to converse with
him. Once in while, however, he
would approach me in a constrained
fashion and express satisfaction with the
reports Mr.. FleIsch made OF my progress.
1t was through his silent agency also,
had no question, that was appointed
treasurer and was regarded as promi-
nent worker in the cause. With Miss
Kingsley, on the other hand, he was
easy and familiar. 1t was evident that
he liked her, and he listened to her
opinions; but could never detect what
seemed TO me any signs of sentiment on
his part in her regard. Miss Kingsley
must have thought differently, for on
one or two occasions she was unable to
resist the temptation, as they went out
OF the door together, Of looking back at
me with an air OF triumph. The more
Mr.. Spence seemed to avoid me the
kinder and more patronizing was her
manner.
Discreet as was my conduct in gen
eral during these twelve months, and
earnestly as I sought TO avoid In its
mildest form what Aunt Agnes called
coquetry, l was not able to escape the
opportunities of Mr.. Barr. Absorbed
as | was in my work, and determined 10
consider all attentions from my literary
friends as mere meaningless gallantries,
il was very difficult TO disregard the
artist poets protestations of devotion;
they had become little short OF that. He
was constant visitor at the rooms OF
our society, although his own principles
were hostile TO those we professed and
he would spend as much time as / would
permit lolling about my desk and whis
pering all sorts OF nonsense. He brought
me flowers and fruit, and now and ther
some new publication-not In sufficient
quantity to permit Inc to refuse them
but single rose, or peach, or tiny
volume OF verses.
He sent me sonnets and madrigali
; through the post without signature
though In his own hand writing, and de
, | MED with observations their authorship
|. when questioned. Beside his black anC
, his brown he had green velyeteen coat
and different colorcd flowing tie FOL
I every day in the week. His habits were
: in complete conformity with his philoso