New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-22
ROWENY IN BOSTON.
VII.
SOME SALESLADIES.

law IN.
norsnins The country girl could not have be-
iieved it possible that that great mans name
could no mentioned so fiippantly, not TO say dis
respectfully. She did not know how to make any
response to such remark. She did not know
.hot in BOSTON nothing is so great but one may
become familiar with it,
She had once belonged to the book-ciuo "hlch
led a struggling and doubtful existence IN Niio-
die Village She had then taken out volume
Of poems called Men and Women" She had
read zone Word More" with ardent eyes ana
heating heart She should always remember the
authors name. ~
"They were getting insufcrabe." went on MISS
Phillips Several of them pretended 10 unoei
stand him. l decided to form new ciuo anu
drop those creatures
"Wby shouldn't they understand him ~ asked
Ro,rcna. calmly 81 think he is real easy"
Miss Phillips suddenly sat upright She turned
a COMPOUNDED face toward her companion
"Well, you are delcious!" she said, more
slowly than she usually spoke
Rowena redeemed with anger. For some reason
81. did not find it agreeable to be called de
licious.
Miss Phillips seemed to wish she had some
kind of glass with which to examine the girl.
At last she became conscious of what she was
doing. She withdrew her eyes. She laughed,
noiselessly, but with intense enjoyment. She
mt out her hand and took Rowena's reluctant,
cold fingers.
DO forgive me-" she sad pleadingly. But
what can | do before one who finds Browning
real easy? What have you read of his?'
Rowena told her stihy.
Miss Phillips suddenly became warmly caress-
Ing and the girls anger melted before that man
ner.
II always think of what 10 Gargery said about
reading, When YOU do come TO a j and o, how
interestin' readin' Isl When' you do under
stand Browning. he is divine. And what should
we do here in Borston without him? We can have
n go at Psychic Research, Christian Science, ana
no end of things you think You can see your
way into them, but there's always browning.
No, we couldn't get along here without him.
Mr.. Herndon said at our last meeting that he
didn't think life would he worth living when he
was once convinced that he understood 'Sor-
dello' There would be no object. l don't feel
precisely like that. but still
Miss Phillippss gaze came back from what she
would have called the all-where," and rested
on Rowena for a moment in silence. Her next
remark was so unexpected that the girl felt help
less before it.
Il have the dearest little sealskin Jacket" said
She. linen Snc duueu, pub ~ uotoH Ho iHC
across the shoulders"
As she spoke her eyes rested on Rowena's
shoulders in an interrogative manner. She went
on. How did you get dress TO look like that'
II is really chic That must be a miraculous
country from which you came. Who is your
dressmaker?"
Rowena laughed.
"Marthy S. is the dressmaker in our deestrict,"
she answered with draw "She can cut coats
and pantaloons, too. She's bound to git fit y
The girl laughed again, and then grew sud-
denly sober, as the picture of the lonely, snow
covered fields. the narrow sleigh-track. the mel.
ancholy houses, came wildly TO her mind.
As for Miss Phillips, she felt as if she had
an entirely new specimen of humanity before her;
and she exulted accordingly. This was not her
idea of country girl at all; and yet she was
keen enough to take in, as if it were delight
full odor, the innocence, the utterly unsophisti-
Gated nature with which she was now IN contact
She also felt that she had discovered Rowena.
and she had pleasing and decided consciousness
that, so far the girl proved interesting, She
was in some sense not only the discoverer, but
the author, the proprietor
"Marthy S. not only got fit she got more.
an air, in this instance" said Miss Phillips
She ought to come 10 Boston. If there is any
thing Boston needs it is style. She has brains
enough. If we can only combine brains and
STYLE. we shall have the most delightful re-
sult in the world Now / know a New-York
woman if only catch glimpse Of the hem
of her gown; there's something about that
hem that tells the whole story. But the chances
are that the owner of the gown has never heard
of Madame Blavatsky, or if she has, she thinks
Madame is some kind of milincr
Miss Phillips resumed her lounging position in
the very unacceptable chair furnished by Mrs
Jarvis to her top-story dodgers.
Rowena blusbed as she said that she did not
emnlov Marthy S she cut and made her own
dresses She found she had kind of knack, and
so she had saved some money that way.
oh" said the other. lit is what you cal a
knack. is it? And that soft hat you wear! Is
that knack, too
IL guess IT'S. Do you like it?" timidly.
IL adore it,
There was silence after this. There was
somewhat beatified expression on the eIoer
woman's face as she rested her head on the back
of her chair. Perhaps she explained TINS py say
ing presently with deep drawn breath:
Il knew | should like your atmosphere
Rowena had never had her atmosphere praised
by any one else and she felt somewhat cohiuseo'
She did not attempt any response.
In moment Miss Phillips said
Did I mention my sealsllin Jacket"
"Yes.n responded Rowcna wonderngiy' one
even thought there was some embarrassment now
in her guests manner.
MAY show it to you?"
why. OF course" still more wonderinsly.
Miss Phillips rose
How do you ring here?'
ave don't ring: we 80 out in the hall ana
scream down the stairway. 1t is like calling DOWN
q we'll for nobody hears.
Il certainly shouldn't scream down this stair
way Just for amusement
Rowcna had opened the door ana the TWO s.oon
in the gloom of the upper hall. MISS rhnhppS
thought she could feel her garments oecon"he
saturated with the combined odors of the place