The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-15

NV sister rather enjoyed it, as some
thing unusual, and occasionally went to
the snop, more to watch the little drama
than for anything else. But Miss Beecher
always ftted her herself, aud it was evil
dent that this especial attention paid her
made Mrs. Prideaux person of much
more importance in the shop than her
carriage and footman and all her money
could. miss Beocher was q woGderful
filter, my sister said, dolefully, with an
undoubted gift for her work. She had
become rounded and wholesome and
attractive; and she had, in the course Of
the years designing and fitting, been
brought into close contact with so many
fine ladies that she was nog really quite
fine lady herself.
1t was a numogr OF months after the
passage money had been repaid that,
going over in the Gascogne, saw Miss
B3ecDer come aboard. She was escorted
by son of the head Of the firm, which,
| afterwards learned. had sent her over
to see the styles ard to make purchases
in Paris, her talents having won her the
opportunity.
''Oh, 10, she was saying in reply to
some question from the young man.
''The house allows ma our SIX ives ks,
and, with 80 much 10 Do il wait not be
possible for me to take IL SaTerleigh.
And besides - she hesijated and buried
her face in the roses she carried.
"Ah, | see, Z" said the youth. TIE
earls and earlesses don't approve OF peo-
pie who strike out in tae world for them
selves.
Quite 50 Blu tbs Gear Countess
can neither approve nor dlsappr0ge Lo@
OF what / DO. Lady S3verielga died last
winter" with a downward glance at hei
gown / noticed then that Miss B9ecner
wore mourning, against which her arm
full of red roses was effective. Bat
Lord saverleigh knows" she went on,
that many Of the quality. ! mean tDe
nobility and the country families, " cor
rscting herself in tine, quite our
equals, are in ira le. p"
"And very good thing for them.
From my c.ign of vantage | took a
survey Of the young woman, for she Al
forded me an object lesson. Good ig-
ing, good expectations, fiae ambitions,
the receipt of Difference, the experience Of
pleasure, lively hope, had all done we'll
by her. She vas tail and finely round
ed, her clean, fair English skin and
white teeth, her bright, abundant hair,
and clearly cut features, gave her a
rather decided beauty of sort, and her
appearance, while the long brown lashes
swept the velvet cheek, was quite charm
ing. But when she lifted the lids, the
bold and steady gaze Of pair Of cold
blue eyes took mucn OF the charm away.
The fact that the child of yIllag5 la
1orar, ored from nothing, aGcustom
ID to nothing, had such receptivity for
much hat ariatocracy, wealth, breed
ing, l3ng descent, implied, was an IN
teresting feature in heredltY Where
and how had the strain No ia tu%-
ma le this impossible Could it be the
mere circumstance of sex, Of femininlty,
/ that rendered her superior 10 the clod
/ from whish she sprul Or was she a
! Spontaneous instance Of new departure
| / wondered for a little in what way the
eIem9 ant that gave her these capabilities
came into her bl )od. She had evidently
found her chance aud improved it; she
could have wasted no time; she must
have gone great d5al to the theatre,
| that picture and school Of life; she must
have read and reasoned watched, OBJ
served, and initiated; doubtless she could
| have passed an examination on the he
roines of the novels of fashionable life.