The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-08-21

Z an; re1-D afl3{Gl.S 10 understand g'Itu
system l'r'GrticcHH
lasting tinkling of the horse cars and
rattle of vehicles in the street below
She opened the door herself and her
face assumed its most radiant expression
as she recognized me.
This is too delightful. Miss aarlan!'
found myself face to face with sew
srai people whom she FASTENED to intro
duce. The only familiar name was that
OF Mr.. Paul Burr, which instantly rec
objected To have seen on the dedicatory
page of Mr.. Spence's volume of poems.
The inscription read Ito my souls
brother, Paul Barr" and hence gazed
at the stranger with interest
From Mr.. Barr got the impression of
handsome bit disheveled looking man
OF large stature. with coal black beard
and piercing eyes which be bent upon
me ardently 5s he bowed his figure in
what might well be styled profound
and lavish ,obeisance He wore vel
veteen coat and large cherry necktie
the flowing ends of which added to his
general air of disorder The other names
to which gave slight heed. for their
owners were not especially significant in
appearance-were Mr.. Fleisch short
small German with eyeglasses, and Mrs
Marsh, fat, genial matron of fve-and
forty
All this took in at glance, for Miss
Kingsley conducted me to her boudoir
las she called it, to lay aside my wraps.
Has he not soulful eyesT she asked.
'Whof' said l. though knew to whom
she must refer
Mr. Barr
What is he?' said l.
a Bohemian, dear she replied. in a
tone of satisfaction
Really
had long wished to meet a member of
that mysterious brotherhood, of which
or course | had heard and read
Yes. lie lisa poet painter, and great
friend of Mr. Spence Have you never
seen his pictures! Even Mr. Spence adj
mits that they possess the abandon Of
genius, although be disapproves of aban-
don. Their views today are totally dis
similar. but yet their friendship is SYM
pathetic as ever. Is it not inspiring?'
Mr.. Spence is coming. hopper
oh, yes. | expect him every moment,
and have made Mr. Barr promise to
get him to give us an exposition. Not
knowing how you might feel, Virginia
may | call you Virginia? 1t seems so
much more natural after having heard
your aunt always speak Of you in that
way Thank you, dear And if you will
call me Lucretia shall feel much fatter-
ed-not knowing how you might feel
about coming where there was no matron,
| asked Mrs. Marsh to join us We do
not regard it of Importance, and you will
not little later: but just at first it is
perhaps as well Do you know Mr.
F'leisch by reputation? He plays with
artistic charm, rare even in this musical
epoch He is follower of Mr. Spence,
and is seeking to apply his principles of
moderation to music with striking sue
cess. All! you must excuse me, dear. it
is his knock.
understood that she referred to Mr.
Spence. and | waited an instant to put
finishing touch to my toilet before fol
lowing her into the other room For
had still something of the old Adam, or
rather of the old Eve left in me; so that
| must confess my eagerness for culture
was not without spice of coquetry
half unconscious though it were.
Mr.. Spence, from his appearance, was
fairly entitled to be called moderation
ist He had nothing of the splendid
savagery of Mr.. Paul Barr, whose luxuri-
ant and matted head of hair now struck
my attention, nor the studentlike insig-
niicance of Mr.. Fleisch. He was neither
tail nor short, stout nor inadequately
spare; and be was in evening dress like
anybody else. Had l met him without
knowing who he was, | should never
have imagined him celebrity. This
was my first impression, but second
look at his face revealed firm though
thin lips, and small, nervous eyes that
were full of fire when In movement. It
was not, however, until heard him speak
that recovered from my disappointr
ment. BE it So" was all he said in
reply to some remark addressed to him;
but the enunciation of the words was so
musical, so soft and winning, yet so clear
and authoritative, that | was spellbound
for an instant and quite lost my COM
posture as Miss Kingsley, becoming aware
of my presence, proceeded to make US
acquainted
The backs of all the company except
Mr.. Spence had been turned on me, for
Mr.. Barr was fulfilling his promise of
persuading his friend to introduce his
system of speech as the order OF the
evening. The ecstatic expression of Miss
Kingsley's face, as well as the few words
[ had heard him utter, were sufficient to
show that he had been successful; but
winhng her eyes more rapidly than ever
she whispered in my ear with an imita-
ton, as thought, of her masters style:
"It is to be-"
Almost Immediately Mr.. Spence, whose
bow | had thought rather formal and
like that of the rest of the world, came
up to me and said:
Welcome, Miss Harlan, to our circle.
/ know your aunt-a massive woman IN
tellectually, and my benefactor. As
think our hostess has already intimated
to you, it is the wish OF some of the
company that should give practical
illustration of certain views regarding
the essence of speech peculiar to me, of