The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1894-01-10

| her. IL makes soft and soothing sound
much more so than the ordinary flute.
Saprini seemed to notice it at once,
though the glass front OF the cage inter-
vened. She came out from beneath her
blanket and reared slowly up, swaying
little from side to side. have no doubt
that shall be able to perform all the
feats of the Hindoo charmers with a lit
tie practice. Hereafter shall have my
queen of cobras out of her cage ON the
floor. wonder what Sinfre will say TO
| herl
1t is more than week. blythe way,
since Sinfire arrived here. So little occurs
| in our monotOnous round of life that this
event deserves to be recorded. lam per-
| haps the least inhospitable member of our
household, but even |, had been asked
10 days ago whether it were possible for
us to receive a stranger into the family
and of all strangers a young lady, should
have answered moi" with promptness
and decision. Mother indeed is a woman
of the world and profoundly versed in all
social etiquette and behavior, but "soci-
ETY." hospitality and cordiality are one
thing and the perennial kindness that
makes a guest feel wholly and perma-
nently at home is quite another thing.
Now, mother has many virtues. She is
aristocratic, dignifed, courteous, elegant,
high tempered, headstrong and keen wit
ted. Nay, she has strong affections, too,
in way of her own, but | fancy her
most partial admirers foremost among
10 hn,
characterize her as warm hearted
woman.
The perfection of her manners instead
of putting people at their ease, as perfect
manners are said to do, makes them sem
sible of their own comparative boorish-
ness. The faultless taste of her attire
causes the best dressed woman to seem
dowdy. This is no fault of my mothers.
1t is simply matter of temperament
of the sphere" as the mystic social phi
losophers would term it. There is some
thing about her that prevents her from
uniting with others. She has made this
same criticism on me, and possibly with
justice, though / think that in my case
it is rather acquired than innate. Well,
this unassailable mother of mine has en-
countered the exception that proves her
rule. She has met person who has elic-
tied her cordiality. And very genuine,
downright kind of cordiality it turns out
to be, none the worse for having lain so
long in the secret chamber of her heart.
Yet | should never have imagined that
SinfiTe was the enchantross who would
have the key to that door. There is, for
all any one can see, absolutely no COM
uunity of feeling or experience between
mother and her.
John being at any rate man is a less
remarkable case, but even he outstrips
John has always seemed
TO me the ideal of an English country
iquire. He would be just the man for
Il master Of foxhounds-a man able and
willing to browbeat everybody, to domi-
neer and be choleric and yet to COM
mand the hearty good will of all, owing
to their recognition of his unalterable
honesty and childlike kindness of heart.
John did not learn much at school, and
he came to an untimely end in college,
but where l made one friend he made
twenty, and his truest friend was the
one to whom, at the outset of their ac-
quaintance, he administered the most |
terrible thrashing. John loves eating |
he would starve himself for week |
rather than dock his mare of peck of |
oats or his dog of biscuit.
John. has absurd, undemocratic theo- |
ries, and fancies himself the superior of |
every one he meets because he is the heir |
of the Mainwarings, but there is one per-
son before whom he hulnbles himself, |
and that is the English groom in his sta
bles. John would face dozen footpads |
with heart of trust and would probably |
get the best of them, but in the presence
Of a petticoat IAN embroidered one at
least) his big voice sinks to a quaver and
q rumble, and his naughty glance quails
and falls. In view Of this latter fact it
would not have been surprising IT Sinfire
who does wear an embroidered one) had
put him to fight, but her distinction con-
sisted in having inspired him with new
spirit, in virtue of which he is rapidly
emerging from barbarism into civilian
ion.
Instead of talking with a hostler and
roaring out an oath when his humor is
crossed he attempts polite conversation
God bless HIND and courteous irony; in
stead of drinking himself crimson after
Inner he limits himself to six glasses
md every one a toast; instead of start
ng off betimes in the morning on lone
y hunting or horseback expedition he
lawdles anxiously about the veranda in
! comical anxiety to secure in not too
Darefaced manner the monopoly OF
Cousin Sinfire's" companionship This
would be less remarkable were John or
linarily susceptible, but can vouch for
t that every good looking girl within a
'adius of 90 miles has been tried upon
lin with the result only of putting him
% fight. Cousin Sinfire therefore must
Weld some spell unknown to the COM
non run Of young ladies.
Indeed am myself not insensible to
peculiar quality in her which l can
conceive 10 be very attractive to many or
o most people. She is pretty, but it is
lot that. She is intelligent, but it is not
hat. And she has high animal spirits
md graceful vivacity, but neither is it
hese. No, and doubt if can specify
precisely what 1t is. Yet | should be
bile to ahalyze her If anybody can, be-
ause toward her, as toward the rest Of
occupy the position of an
'utsiderand dispassionate observer mere
y. Moreover, have a motive for max
ng the analysis-that, in my role of gen.
raj caretaker Of the family, must de-