San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-07-18

&aGgyt 49, ~
"I-almost think there's p0thtng-to for
giUe."
der the same roof with his father before
she discovered that a great deal of
shrewd, good sense and much kindliness
of nature lay beneath the rough, some,
what bombastic outer man. Uncon.
,sciously the girl began to formulate a
new creed-"True refinement may be
found without much intellectual cult
walton, and nobleness of nature does not
always show itself in polished manners.
Before long, experience added another
article of belief; it came about in this
way. Going into the library one day tC
take message from Mrs. Smith to her
husband, she was greatly surprised to
find there no less a person than Mr.. Fitz.
hardy, the philanthropist, the man OF
letters, the disciple of culture. He was
alone. Frances felt some awkwardness,
recollecting the occasion on which they
had last parted but he was perfectly
self possessed, and began talking at once
With easy friendliness She explained
her position at The Grange, adding in
a tone of gentle depreciation, "They are
so kind to me. it is impossible to live
with them and see their goodness and
not love and respect them"
81 am sure of it," he replied warmly.
Mr.. Smith is renowned for his hber
atty. and is as unassuming as he is gen.
erous. He has only left the room to
make ont check for thousand pounds,
which he has promised me for the So.
ciety for Promoting Culture Among the
Lower Glasses, of which, you know,
am the secretary. We invited him to be.
come our chairman, but he refuses or
the ground that he does not pretend tc
any culture himself; he hopes the next
generation will have better advantages
in its youth. The money is to be de.
voted to the establishment of a scholar.
ship, by means of which some promis.
ing lad in our night school will have the
advantage of three years thorough tech.
meal training in any branch of artistic
labor for which he shows himself best
fitted"
1T is just like him. They are always
giving and helping" said Frances. Mr..
Smiths entrance put an end to the con
versation.
1t was Mr.. Fitzhardy's pleasing duty
to inform his sister of the step Frances
had taken. Alicia could hardly believe
her ears. "What!-Frances Lisle-agirl
whom l believed to be patrician to mel
finger tips-gone to be the companion OF
that vulgar, odious Mrs. Smith? 1t is
incredible! How could one so apparent.
ly sensitive to the least want of refine.
ment and cultivation submit for mo
ment to become the dependent of people
of that kind?"
Perhaps you think she had better
have let her mother and sisters starve
on two hundred Year," was her broth.
er's curt reply. Alicia was angry, and
anger is rarely discreet.
She need have done neither if she
had only played her cards properly, she
replied snappishly. You may thank
your stars she did not hook you safely
before their smash up came-you nib
bled at the bait pretty considerably"
alicia! you are downright vulgar"
her brother exclaimed.
Later on Mrs. Smith, thinking il
would be pleasant change for Frances,
told her to invite some young friend to
come and spend few days with her
at The Grange Greatly delighted at
the prospect, Frances wrote to her dea1
Alicia a long, loving, gossipy letter,
such as girls love to send to their bosom
friends, telling her something of hel
changed feeling toward these good peo-
pie.
The reply came as shock to all her
previous notions:
"Miss Ftt2hardy regrets that she is
obliged to inform Miss Lisle that their
acquaintance must be considered at an
end. She had given Miss Lisle credit
for sufficient good taste to see that any
intimacy between Miss Fitzhardy and
the paid companion of her diapers wife
was utterly out of the question. Miss
Fitzhardy wishes Miss Lisle every hap
piness in her present station, and if at
any time her name would be of service
to Miss Lisle as a reference or anything
of that kind, she would be most happy
TO lend it.
A hot, indignant blush burned the
girls cheek as she read; her very FIN
gers tingled for revenge. And then her
better self came to her aid and she