The times., 1897-05-30
PART L.


her rosy lips and white teeth; the look
OF alert interest in her hazel eyes the
plain but becomingly arranged dress, all
suggested that her present condition Of
soiitu lie wasincide nial rather than habituai
ne room in which Mrs. Bairs deft
needle repaired the havoc of stalwart
feet in their daily walks to and from
the money-getting haunts of men, WAS
clearly the resort of culture untainted by
yulgarty on the second floor of Il
snIaIl three-story dwelling in street
unknown to modern fashion, years Of
use as family gathering place had toned
its modest belongings into harmonious at
tractiveness. If the furniture was worn.
1t better accorded with the russell and dun
hues of the old looks covering half the
walls: and the drawn curtains of faded
crimson stnfr did not rebuke the faint odor
OF tobacco that fingered in their folds.
Above the books hung numerous good en-
cravings, photographs and etcilngs, that
lifted thought and pqued Imagination with
suggestions Of the wide worlds beauty
and romantic history. In the most lso-
lated corner a substantial table, littereI
with papers, a letter-press, stray pipe
or two, big conmon-sensc inkstand anu
writing pad, with rack of books OF ref
erence betrayed the snug harbor of male
brain-worker; while a stand OF blossoininS
plants in south window, tea-tabie set
with bits of quaint silver, and a couple of be
cushioned wicker chairs indicated a WON
ans idea OF dulce domum.
This room was, in fact, the common
property of n busy married pair and tner
busy children, who rightly considered their
reunions in its pleasant precincts 10 he
fair equivalent for other things denied
them by dame fortune.
The house and its furniture, with small
sum of ready IN oney, had been the portion
given TO Molly Christian on her marriage,
two and twenty years before, with Terence
Blair He. was a good-iooking, well-bred
clever irisnman, who coming over TO the
new world tomake a living out of journalism
had at once anchored himself happily by
falling in love with and winning the pref
tiest aad best-baianced girl of his ac-
quaintance in New York.
Mr. Christian, Mo!ly's father, after so
contributing to his daughter needs o.
wisely put what remained Of his fortune
INTO an annuity that had supported the
amable but impractical gentleman until
his death, TWO years before our story opens.
This disposition of his funds had been in
dorsed by Mr.. Christians family and
friends, with more satisfaction because of
his previous persistency OF faith in GER
tain silver and copper mines that had given
him every facility for cultivating the
process know as throwing good money
after bad
Although Molly's handsome Terence had
not, according TO her expectations Of him,
quite set the world OF his craft on fire, he
had made a respecta bic livelihood; and she
and their children adored himfor his sweet,
cbeery temper and easy-going ways. Late
IN her life, he had imported 10 live with
them a lively little cid Irish mother-styled
Dy the juniors 'Granny'-who proved to
be Just the dash OF flavor needful TO com
plete their family salad. Petulant affec-
tiona te, witty and light a-hearted, Granny
had bTavely helped her daughter-in-la W To
bear the increasing burden Of domestic life
on limited income in ii community where
upon working people there is call for
every dollar before it is well In hand
As the children had grown up and their
varied mental gifts cried aloud for the
best education OF the times, Molly had,
indeed, had much ado to make both ends
meet Luckily for her, the strain of keep
ing up appearances was not among her
trials.
When the Blairs had married, possessing
between them means enough TO give and
take t.e hospitality OF that simpler period.
they were part OF the circle that in those
da VS. codified the social law of the Metrop-
Oils. Mistress Molly, a whilom belle of her
set, did not lack for attention, and Terence
was popular But very soon, it became
apparent TO the young couple that they
were straining overmuch to keep abreast
With people who affected to put aside the
mr.l-drum ways of their Revolutionary or
Dutch or Puritan ancestors; that the grow
ing elaboration of life among their kind
must drive the Blairs either to accept with
out returning, or not to accept at all. So
Molly let go the threads OF gosSaner that
bound her 10 her world, and little by little
tine Blairs had drifted into insignificanoe.
To Terence, with lis insIlar density as to
the shades OF difference in American so
Ciety, it had not seemed a mighty matter
to give up Moliy's friends; but she was a
woman. and at first it had cost her few
natural pangs- Now, for nearly twenty
years she and Terence had lived their
own life, and on the whole had done very
well without the things forsaken.
How was it then that tonight, as the
little house mother sat at her homely
task, her thoughts, rowing over the field
of her interests, general and special, had
settled with a tiDge of wistfulness, upon
q very trivial matter? In an evening
newspaper she had chanced to read the
account of tail given the night before
for the young daughter Of one of her friends
of carly wears when the ;ipbtItantp hal
literally walked upon flowers.
Lilies of the valley strewing the floor
of the alcove where Tilly Beaumoris stood
beside her mother to Ieceiyei And for
my girItonight. of all nj ghts, when she plays
her violin before Levitsky, not so much as
posy to wear in her bestffockn' This was
the arrow that pierced Mrs. Molly's armor
Yes. it was Kathleen: bright, radiant
Kathleen-her nineteen year-old daugh--
ter, the sunshine and perfume of their home
who had begun to disturb the long standing
family peace.
What Molly had cheerfully accepted FOR
herself, she now, like true American
parent, began to think might be bettered
for Kathleen.
An hour before, she had seen their child
heaven in her face-set forth with her
father for musicale in the studio of
artist who had promised TO fetch there
to hear her play, the great Herr Ievitsky
hInself whose verdict made or marred
as aspirant in her field. And Molly had
no sort of doubt as to Kathleen s rare talent
for the violin.
The only cloud upon Kathleen's horizon
had been that mamma must stop behind
Molly had pleaded though Kathleen quite