The Press., 1892-09-01

ing assurance that she was leaving her family with substantial addition to their narrow means, for MT. and Mrs. Smith had behaved with unparalleled lmunifcence ill the matter of salary. Her heart went straight out to Jacks mother, and she had not been long un- der the same roof with his father before she discovered that 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 @ new creed-"True refinement may be found without much intellectual culti- vation, 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 to take message from Mrs. Smith to her husband, she was greatly surprised to find there no less person than Mir. 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 tone of gentle deprecation, "They are so kind to me, it is impossible to live with them and see their goodness and not love and respect them"
 "I am sure of it," he replied warmly. ''Mr. Smith is renowned for his fiber ality, and is as unassuming as he is gen. erous. He has only left the room to make out a check for thousand pounds, which he has promised me for the So- ciety for Promoting Culture Among the Lower Glasses, of which, you know, I am the secretary. We invited him to be- come our chairman, but he refuses on the ground that he does not pretend to 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 scholar ship, by means of which some promis- ing lad in our mig Int school will have the advantage of three years thorough tech nical training in any branch of artistic labor for which he shows himself best fitted"
 ''It is just like him. They are always l 3ANAIS tIhO o6s1O I IduCcS MI Smiths entrance put an end to the con versation.
 It was MT. Fitzhardy's pleasing duty to inform his sister of the step France$ had taken. Alicia could hardly believe her ears. "What!-Frances Lisle-a girl whom I believed to be patrician 10 ne1 finger tips-gone to be the companion of that vulgar, odious Mrs. Smith? It 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 hun ! q year?" was her broth CTS 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 lcir smash up came-you nib bled at the bait pretty considerably"
 "Alicia! you are downright vulgar" her brother exclaimed.
 Later on Mrs. Smith, thinking it 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 dear Alicia long, loving, gossipy letter, such as girls love to send to their bosom friends. t Hing her something of her changed feeling to.>,.r1 these good peo- pie.
 The reply ca'!i l.@ck to all her previous notions:
 ttMiss Fitzhardy regrets that she is obliged to inform Miss Lisle that their acquaintance must be considered at an end. She had given Miss Lisle credil for sufficient good taste to see that any intimacy between Miss Fitzhardy and the paid companion of her draper's 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 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. | SOAO UAAAS9ACA AOA AOtOLSoC" 1AIAu OllCA hCI better self came to her aid and she laughed aloud. "Poor Alicia! if she had only heard her brothers proposal that day." And so was born that fresh article of her new faith, Intense vul- garity may be found beneath the most perfect veneer of polish and cultiva- tion.''
 MT. and Mrs. Smith quickly became very fond of Frances, and both did their utmost to spoil her; the mother, because she wanted to win the girls love for her sons sake, and the father, because few men are unsusceptible to the charm of beauty added to gentleness and re- finement She frightened their home with her youth and sweetness, snd soon let the influence of her artistic touch and good taste be felt upon their gor geous surroundings.
 Mrs. Smith spoke constantly of her charming new companion in her letters to her son, but carefully refrained from mentioning the young lady's name.
 Frances was happy now. She tried to leave the future to the wisdom of Provi- dence, and meanwhile strove with all her might to do and be all that she knew the man she loved would have wished to find her. She felt sure that day would come when she would be able to ask his pardon for those unlucky words. How her face burned at the bare recollection of that scene! There could be no vul- garity more fragrant than she had cx- hibited in the pride of her own good breeding. Had he recognized this in nate vulgarity in her as she had done in Alicia Fitzhardy, and if so, must not that love have been slain forever? Here Twas the sharpest thorn in that soft nest in which she now found herself. Alas! she had learned too late the important lesson, that refinement and cultivation are only worthy of reverence when they are the outward tokens of innate quail