Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-01-29
PAINTING ON CHINA,

y
not so much of a peculiarly. But
! then she was snare and crooked and
wlthercd up like crab-app!e which
has hung too long on tho tree, and she
wore a little black satin cape and q
cap trimmed with ribbon bows, such
as were in fashion half n century ago,
and she walked with q gOld-hcaded
cane, Ia Fairy Godmother; and hel
eyes sparkled werdly through gold
speciacles, and her hands were covered
with little knitted silk mitts. And as
she sat by her drawing-room fire
drinking chocolate and talking will
another witch-likc little old woman,
they made a 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
dabbl'l lg in paint and varnishl"
"Ds,r, de =" said Mrs. Fanshaw,
the second v 8itch-likc little old woman.
IA tillo more sugar in my chocolate,
please, dear"
''For my part" observed Mrs. Bar.
bara, 81 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 Inherited
some Of ihat ertist-blood from her
fathers fanilr There's none of it in
tho Bcsts, I'm very sure"
"No, to be sure not, said Mrs. Fan.
shaw.
"And | told Gladys plainly That ]
would not tolerate it :" said Mrs. Bar
bara. "Choosc between us, said /.
"Be a lady or grubbing artist, which
ever suits you best. Becau &c, said !,
"Ifyou't 't consult my wishes shall
disinherit you, and cast you off! !
know of another young relation whom
| can adopt, and who cares no more
for art than do for the Egyptian
obeisk."
"And what did she say?' asked Mrs.
Fanshaw, contentedly slipping her
chocolate.
"Shc told me 10 do just as
pleased" answered Mrs. Barbara, in
aggrievod tone of voice "Bccause, she
said, she intended to take the same
privilege"
"What shocking ingratitudc~ com.
mented Mrs. Fanshaw, heaving a deep
sigh.
"Of couI Sc we parted good friends, "
said Mrs. Ba bara. "But Gladys
knows very well that | shall never
see her again If size La, wrecked
her own fortunes, she has only herself
TO thank for it,"
"And where is she now, ;" asked Mrs.
\. ~ ~, ~. a+ --.~.'~'~ss..'
in studio, somewhere on Sixth
avenue" solcmnly answered Mrs. Bar
bara. "With a sign out; art Sales.
room, and Painting and Decorating
Done TO Order"
"Did you ever!" exclaimed Mrs.
Fanshaw.
And, by way of answer. Mrs. Bar
bara only groaned:
"But like Lovel very WE'LL" she
added. "He's splendid young fcl'
low, although sometimes find his
college bills high and his flow of spirits
rather overwhelming But he's a
gentleman. A real Besll"
'Does lie know about Gladys?''
Mrs. Fanshaw asked, in a mysterious
whisper.
"Ccrtainly not" said Mrs. Barbara,
"there is just enough of the Don Quix-
ote about him to make him 20 10 sea
or take to verse writing or some other
preposterous business if he thought
lie was standing between Gladys and
her fortunc-which he isn't" Mrs.
Barbara added with emphasis. The
money is mine, 10 leave to whom
please, and he is just as near a relation
on the side of tile Bests, as Gladys is
on the Maitands!'
Dear, dear, how silly young folks
are!" said Mrs, Fanshpw.
"All | want them TO know is that
am not TO be tri1ed with" said Mrs.
Barbara with the air of Nero, in
black satin and little corkscrew W
curls.
In truth Mr.. Lovel Best was a frank,
loyal-natured, handsome young fe!-
low. He liked Aunt Barbara because
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 OH the par.
lor walls, and kept astonishing her per.
petually. But all the time Aunt Bar
bara knew that Lovel Wal fond of her
in his heart, and it warmed her chill
old pulses to hug this knowledge to
her.
"He's a wild chap" she said to her
self "but he'll come out all right.
The Bests always do, when they have