The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-09-04

Practice of Moderation, of which was
elected treasured Tilus-it happened
that my name appeared IN the newspa-
pars rs one of the leading spirits of the
movement. and among my former &C
quaintances there WIS general impress
sion that | had become very peculiar.
My old ballroom rivals. who were for
the most part waltzing as hard as ever
would stop me in the street and say,
Virginia. dear, is it true YOU are going
into 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 a while
some friend. who was either more ac-
crrate by nature. or who really felt an
interest IN me, wonld hit closer 10 the
mark. and perhaps with a sigh express
regret at not having the courage to be
come literary too. But It does separate
one SO from other peOple-that is, people
one knows: don't you think SO, dear?
1t certainly did was completely es-
tranged from my old associations, and
spent my time, when not employed IN
study. largely at the rooms of our soci-
ETY., where Mrs. Marsh presided as sec
retary. There were countless circulars
and pamphlets to be mailed. setting forth
our purposes and needs. Mrs. Marsh,
despite an inaccurate acquaintance with
and an overweening curiosity regarding
the doings of fashionable people, was
model of executive ability. With some
one at hand to correct her grammar and
spelling, she could transact a greater
amount of business than half dozen
ordinary women. In my zeal to see
things properly done | constituted my
self her assistant. and we managed to
gether the whole work of the bureau, as
Miss Kingsley liked to call our humble
quarters.
Ny 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 rs advice. and then whisk out again
with IN 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
our labors He stand usually about
half an hour, and from the first day
became connected with the bureau i
made a point TO avoid him Us much as
possible, d course which seemed accepta-
bic TO him, for he always addressed his
business suggestions to Mrs. Marsh, and
did not encourage me TO converse with
hin. Once IL a while. however, he
would approach me IN a constrained
fashion and express satisfaction with the
reports Mr.. Fleisch made of my progress
Il 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 Ii was evident that
he liked her, and ne listened to her opin-
ions; but 1 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 general
during these twelve months, and earn
estly as sought to avoid IN its mildest
form what Aunt Agnes called coquetrv,
| was not able TO escape the importuni-
Ties of MIR. Barr. Absorbed as | was IN
my work, and determined TO consider
all attentions from my literary friends
as mere meaningless gall.ntries. 1t was
very difficult to disregard the artist
poets pTotestations Of devotion; they
had become little short Of that. He was
a constant visitor ar the rooms of our
society. although his own principles
were hostile TO those we PROGRESSED; and
he would spend as much time IS ! would
permit lolling about my desk and WINS
penng al sorts of nonsense. He brought
me flowers and fruit, and now and then
some new pubication-not IN sufficient
quantity to permit me to refuse them,
but single rose, or peach, or tiny
volume of verses.
He sent me sonnets and madrigals
through the post without signature,
though IN mis- own handwriting, and de-
MED with asseverations their authorship
when questioned. Besides his black and
his brown he had green velveteen coat,
and different colored flowing tie for
every day ID the week. His habits were
IN complete conformity with his philos-
ophy of extremes. He was apt to tel
me when he had been sitting ND all
night, whether IN study or what he
called wassail; but could always guess
the fact from his appearance. His
method of work was equally irregular,
and he lived from hand TO mouth. He
would be idle as forced peach ON hot
house wall ito use a sinile of his own
for weeks al time, and yet when he
was seized with desire to work It was
no uncommon thing for him TO paint or
compose twenty-four hours at sitting,
and come to the bureau or my house al
most before / was out of bad with
disheveled raiment and bloodshot eyes
to exhibit or read TO me the result of his
industry
had by this time ceased TO regard
him with any seriousness as philoso-
III, =. 70