New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-20
MRS. KEATS BRADFORD.
VI
SARAH KIMBALL'S CALLER.
o.,y,.s.,, 1891, sy rA> Tstsun. Association.

49,, knew that the head which il grew was a
,horoughly Bostonian head.
.nnleton was not Mrs. Searss husbands name;
a. had been her own name before she married, and
!. was fsr too good to drop for the sake of a
.r,hand Even before the death of Mr.. Sears his
lies cards had always been engraved thus:
Nm. Caroline Appleton Sears This fact was
.ueh commented upon, and it was even mentioned
an the presence Of the lady herself. She had only
r.marked that, while she was willing to take her
husbauds surname, she certainly was not going to
throw away her own.
She was woman who had money and first
r,aee in society 1t is not necessary to state that
N, WAS cultured since have said she was Boston
ian Still, would like TO reiterate the statement
that she was truly cultured. And she was so in
sependent that people who were intimate with her
often took heart of grace and became mildly indie
PENDENT themselves.
She dressed richly aid fashionably. but she
was capable of walking out in a storm in short
waterproof suit and high boots a suit in which she
aid she knew she was not beautiful, but she had
the higher consciousness of being suitable. Some
Younger women had begun TO follow her example
in the matter of storm suit. They expressed
themselves as delighted they said tLcy had never
before known what it was to have the use of
their legs When some newspaper writer called
them the Appleton Sears Vivandieres," they
adopted the title with joy. Some of them, in addi-
ton to the smart high boots which wrinkled along
the ankle, wished secretly that they might have
little barrel attached to q strap and slung over
the shoulder But they had not yet come to the
little barrel.
Il sm delighted to receive you," said Rowena.
going forward to meet her guest and leading her
10 the chair before the fire.
She spoke the simple truth. Notwithstanding
her social training, Rowena still had trick Of
being truthful
why are you incognito, like travelling
queen ?' asked Mrs. Sears.
She patted her knee for Marmaduke to come upon
It. That individual was looking intenty at her.
and Immediately upon receiving his invitation.
jumped up and composed himself comfortably.
People who not intimate with Yorkshires
miss great DEAL" remarked Mrs. Sears
She put out one hand and took that of her
companion, who was standing near her. She
did this with the air of an elderly woman who
Is permitted to do what she pleases She had
hardly seen Rowena since an evening when the
two had been present at Browning Club at the
house Of Miss Phillips. But she had remem-
bered her. That she had been attracted had
been strongly demonstrated by her sending Marina
duke IL was her habit TO say that not every
body was worthy to have dog friend.
We'll why incognita? ?" she repeated
But I'm not"
1T amounts TO the same thing. You tell no
one of your arrival Do you think Mrs. Keats
Bradford would be neglected if it were known
she was in Boston,"
But if | want to be neglected."
"Does that mean that / must go?"
"Oh, no, indeed 1t means that I-well,
mean TO work, you know"
Mrs. Sears arranged Marmaduke little on the
folds of her fur cloak, and then leaned back that
she might the better look at her hostess.
"Since it is you who say so. believe you,"
she responded.
is it incredible that woman should love
her work ?" asked Rowena.
at is not incredible that woman who is not
obliged to work should love her work. What If
1t were by your paint brushes that you gained
your bread?
II should still love my paint brushes"
you would have to forego for some time the
of a gown Ike this" taking fold
Of Rowenas skirt between her fingers.
81 could forego it,"
The face of the elder woman was extremely
kind. Faces were quite likely to become kind
age sometimes takes the privilege Of being
dsagreeable," said Mrs Sears, land / am now
about to be disagreeabe. Why did you marry?"
Rowena did not answer. She felt dumb
Her companion stroked the hand she still held.
"Dear cbild!" she said, in low voice.
sWiu YOU allow me to say that since you were
70 marry. YOU could not have chosen more
wisely?"
"Oh. I believe that fervently. and flushing
with her earnestness.
She sat down near her friend. She clasped in
both her own the hand which held hers.
life is so mysterious!" she exclaimed, in an
undertOne.
There was such a thrill in her voice, such
look on her face, that Mrs. Sears, though very
well seasoned by long life in the world, was
conscious Of a sudden singing of the eyes
"You are beginning to find that out, are you 2"
she responded Il used to think, years and years
ago. that life was the simplest thing in the world
One had only to do right.
And it must be so now, only we won't see
it, said Rowena, "we are just to do rlght
She sighed And / suppost that means always
the thing that is hardest, doesn't it, Mrs Sears
Il have some ideas about self-sacrihce winch
are somewhat different from those generally III
eulcated by Sunday-school books Mrs. Bears
returned. "They have been gradually eVoVeo
from experience and observation Perhaps they
are heretical, but they are mine.
Rowena waited eagerly. She was hoping ior
some light on the turbulent darkness of her own
thoughts
But didn't come here to preach, went Oh
Mrs Sears. Il will only say now that a lie
Of habtual self-sacrifce makes your associates
almost too selfish to live. Mind, I'm not going
to follow ort that line of thought at present. anu
l do not wish to corrupt your young nina Leu
us change the subject. Are you just as enthuSi-
sstic as ever over your vocation?"
"Yes Please remember, Mrs. Sears, thai
was born with the love of il in me-
tbouCht that