The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1892-03-05
THE PRETTY ARTIST.
A Girl Who Insisted on Having
Her Own Way.

I
Mrs. Barbara Best was one of the
sweetest, most peculiar old ladies in
the world. To begin with, she was
very rich. That in itself was, perhaps,
not so much of popularity. But,
then, she was spare and crooked and
withered up like crab apple which
has hung too long on the tree. and she
wore little black satin cape and
cap trimmed with ribbon bows, such
as were in fashion half century ago,
and she walked with gold-headed
cane, a la Fairy Godmother; and her
eyes sparkled weirdly through gold
spectacles, and her hands were COW
cred with little knitted silk mitts.
And as she sat by her drawing
fire, drinking chocolate and talking
with another witch-like little old
woman, they made q very funny pair
indeed.
"Yes," said Mrs. Barbara, nodding
her head, 81 couldn't endure it any
longer. told her she must either give
up me or give up her everlasting dab
bling in paint and varnish!"
''Dear! dear!" said Mrs. Fanshaw, the
second witch-like little old woman. "a
trifie more sugar in my chocolate,
please, dear"
For my part" observed Mrs. Bar
bara, II don't know what the world is
coming to. In my time, we used to
leave that sort of work to the trades
people. But Gladys had an odd notion
about independence. And she inherit
ed some of that artist blood from her
fathers family. There's none of it in
the Bests, I'm very sure"
mo, to be sure, not" said Mrs.
Fanshaw.
'.And told Gladys plainly that
would not tolerate it," said Mrs. Bar
bara. "Choose between us, said /.
BE lady or grubbing artist, which,
ever suits you best. Because" said l,
''if you don't consult my wishes shall
disinherit you and cast you off! l
know of another young relation whom
/ can adopt, and who cares no more
for art than l do for the Egyptian
obelisk'
''And what did she say?" asked Mrs.
Fanshaw, contendedly slipping her
chocolate.
''She told me to do just as pleased, !"
answered Mrs. Barbara, in an ag-
grieved tone of voice. Because, she
said, she intended to take the same
privilege"
What shocking ingratitude!" COM
mented Mrs. Fanshaw, heaving a deep
sigh.
''Of course we parted good friends"
said Mrs. Barbara ''But Gladys knows
very we'll that / never shall see her
again. If she has wrecked her own
fortunes, she has only herself to thank
for it,
"And where is she now?" asked Mrs.
Fanshaw.
I'm studio, somewhere on Sixth
avenue" solemnly answered Mrs. Bar
bara. with a sign out: art Sales
room,' and Painting and Decorating
Done to Order"
/ Ibid you ever!" said Mrs. Fanshaw.
And, by way of answer, Mrs. Barbara
only groaned.
"But l like Lovel very well," she
added Hes splendid young fellow,
although / sometimes find his college
bills high and his flow of spirits rather
overwhelming. But he's gentleman.
A real Best!"
Does he know about Gladys?" Mrs.
Fanshaw asked, in a mysterious whis-
per.
Certainly not" said Mrs. Barbara,
there is just enough of the Don Quixote
about him to make him go to sea or take
to verse-writing or some other prepos-
terous business if he thought he was
standing between Gladys and her for
tune-which he isn'tp' Mrs Barbara
added, with emphasis. '.The money is
mine, to leave to whom l please, and
he is just as near a relation on the side
OF the Bests as Gladys is on the Matt
lands!'
Dear, dear, how silly young folks
are!' said Mrs. Fanshaw.
"All | want them to know is that !
am not to be trif1ed with" said Mrs.
Barbara, with the air of a Nero, in
black satin and little corkscrew curls.
In truth Mr.. Lovel Best was a very
frank, loyal-natured, handsome young
fellow. He liked Aunt Barbara be-
cause Aunt Barbara was kind to him,
but he rallied her to her face. teased
her parrot, made her pug bark, laughed
at the stiff old portraits of the dead
and-gone Bests, that hung on the par
lor walls, and kept astonishing her
perpetually. But all the time Aunt
Barbara knew that Lovel was fond of
her in his heart, and it warmed her
chill old pulses to hug this knowledge
to her!
Hes wild chap she said to her