The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-05-02

most important lnlnS IN the WOrlQ, eX-
cept dress. l went home feeling rather
out of it, as father had expressed
it.
Then came a spell of wet weather,
and l spent my days at the window
watching the street below, and the tops
of the umbrellas of the passers-by, and
listening to the continual whirr of the
machine of the little dressmaker who
lived above me, and to the stunning
of the poor girl who lived down stairs
with her widowed mother, and gaze
music lessons. These days were de-
cidely dull and conducive to pessim-
ism; but l learned to talk to myself a
good deal. In order to carry out your
high ideals" l said sternly, you have
to learn to forego frivolous society and
the pleasures that have hitherto proved
sufficient for you. So be it, Life con-
tains other pleasures-higher ones. You
must seek these"
SO 1 went to Maudie's, and came
home laden with recent novels.
Father appeared one evening. He
explained that Aunt Jane was very
conscientious, but not a stimulating
companion: and so he had walked to
a cigar, at my request, and he talked
a good deal about Britain's attitude
towards the opium question; but he
gave me no account of all Aunt Jane
must have been doing in the house-and
he never mentioned Captain Despard's
name.
When he got up to go, he looked
round my room as if he had suddenly
seen it for the first time
So this is where you live?" he asked
Yes" l said.
He shrugged his shoulders and kissed
me.
l ceased to pay calls. What was the
use of going and listening to people
whose lives were so different from my
life? I even stopped attending our usual
church; it would look so weak to sit in
the family pew. / went on visiting my
district, though. The poor have such
simple ways Of looking at things 1t
never occurs to them to question exist
ing facts. The great problems of life
that confront us do not seem to trouble
them. There was one poor woman in
my district whose husband was out of
work, and the way that woman sobbed
home to her, night after night, footsore
miles in answer to some advertisement
only to find that some other applicant
had been chosen. I saw the husband at
once. He looked a nice, well built hon
est lad The wife tried to seem cheerful
when he came in, and poked up the little
bit of fire, and began to spread out some
wretched apology for meal. l went
away and drove around to everyone l
could think Of including the Charity Or
ganization, to ask for work for that
man. But the courtesy Of this century
cannot stand the strain If you interfere
in either business matters or with sport
and 1 got no help for him. Finally
went to my fathers chambers.
Tut. TUT" he said. why should
you be undertaking this mans taste of
Hades for him?"
"Oh, yes. of course. the whole system
is wrong." 1 cried. But meanwhile
these people are unhappy! Think of the
poor wife, father, She says he has all
ways been so kind. and worked so hard
for her, and now she is afraid his cour-
age will break down. And she is i'll her
self
No doubt. She should have been as
sensible as you, my dear, and declined
the part of Alcestis."
| went away detected But that even
ing l got a note from my father. Have
sent a clerk round to see your proteges
and find it all as you say Have given
him work and sixteen shillings a week.
Will you reward me by coming to the
theater tomorrow night? Do you re-
gard the Haymarket as a form of Ha-
des?"
Dear father How good he was, And
what a treat the theater would bel And
how happy that poor little Wife would
feel by now, l ran upstairs to shake out
one of my crushed evening dresses that
1 had not worn for so long, and 1 laid
out my opera cloak, and fan and gloves.
and felt quite light-hearted.
Father fetched me- The play had be-
gun when we had arrived. When we
were sitting in our box father handed
me his opera glasses. The very first
thing / saw, before / raised the glasses
to my eyes. was Captain Despart sitting
with a group OF people in the stalls.
hastily leveled my glasses to the stage,
and became absorbed in the play. Cap
tain Despard did not look once in my di-
rection: he seemed engrossed in CONVEX
sation with the lady next him. There
and an elderly man and three ladies.
Captain Despard talked mostly to a