The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-02
A BACK BAY TALE.

The Biglows and the Browns were
wealthy Bostonians, living side by side on
3 fashionable street in the Back Bay The
Biglows had lived in their beautiful home
ever since their only daughter, Grace, who
was now very charming young lady, was
wee, little girl, but the Browns were
comparatively "new people, in the neigh
borhood.
Mr.. Brown, who was brewer and pos
sessed of q tremendous fortune, had found
when his only daughter, Bella, had become
a young lady that they must move The
quiet, respectable house in the suburbs
which had always been good enough for
him was not good enough for his daugh-
ter. So they journeyed Back hayward,
and thus it happened that the BigIows and
Browns lived side by side. Their houses
were much alike, but it must be confessed
their daughters were very unlike.
Grace Biglow was as sweet and lovely a
girl as one would wish to see. She had
not the least trace of affectation in her man
ner, but instead a savoir feire which was
remarkable in one 80 young, and which
Bella Brown tried in vain to initiate.
It is said that in Boston one must pos
sess the three RS to enter society and if
Bella, in her ardent desire to enter society,
had mistaken the letter for a B, certainly
the Browns were we'll equipped for social
functions, where the hostess issues 1900
cards to the elite 400 people,
Bella hated Grace Biglow, and she could
not help it. They had both attended the
same fashionable school, and, as it hap
pened, the previous June both girls had
gone over to Harvard ''class day. to at
tend a spread given by Jack Hollister,
very handsome, popular senior, and both
girls had fallen desperately in love with
him. Since then he had been frequent
vii eli aE hot Init har lIx7G
to prefer Grace, in spite of all Bella could
do or say. In vain she wore her hand
soonest gowns and drove the ''smartest
turnout" on the boulevard. 1t was ter
ribly aggravatiBg to her. And she knew
it was Grace's fault. If the Biglows would
only move away, or fall How Bella did
wish that they might fail! Mr.. Biglow
was banker, and Bella knew that even
banking was not so sure as brewing. So
she waited.
One bright morning in February Bella
dashed into her mothers room, almost
breathless with excitement, and there was
a ring of joyful satisfaction in her voice
as she cried: ooh, ma, the Biglows have
really failedI I have just seen their house
maid, and she said all the servants would
have to go, and Mr.. and Mrs. Biglow
have already left the city. And Ma Brown,
what do you think Grace is going to do?
Go out to Roxbury and do homework and
L
marry Jack Hollister nowi Learning to
cookl'' sneered Bella and then she began
TO laugh. 81 am glad, - she continued,
''that did not mail those invitations to
my party last night, for had one address
ed to her. I guess the only daughter of a
millionaire need not invite paupers to her
party I never did like her anyway, even
a little bit 1t is q wonder they have kept
up go long. Learning to cookl Well, I
guess she is as well fitted for that any
thing" Then Bella began to plan for her
party. Finally she had completed her list
and she said to her mother: Mamma,
dear, you will let me wear your diamond
necklace to the party, won't your I do SO
want Jack Hollister to know we have
things worth having!"
In two or three days it was all over the
town that the Biglows had failed, and, of
course, as it was intended it should, it
reached the ears of the young man who
was really in love with sweet Grace Big
low.
When he heard that Grace had gone out
to Roxbury to do homework, he said:
''She is brave, little girl, and I love her
more than everl The homework will not
hurt her. My mother can do homework
and cook, and what grand, noble WON
an my dear mother is. will hunt the lit
tie cook upl"
The evening of the party came, and Bella
was very happy, as she stood with her
mother in the large drawing room against
a background of beautiful potted plants
and stately ferns, gorgeously dressed and
radiant with her mothers diamonds. Her
heart rose and fell as each different black
coat came into her presence, and yet the
one for whom she had gone to all this tx
pense and trouble did not come Where
was he?
He had gone out to Roxbury and found
the little cottage where Grace Biglow was
staying with her aunt. He found Grace in
the kitchen getting supper, and a prettier
sight he had never seen. There was the
aristocraG1c Miss Biglow, with the sleeves
of her pretty gown tucked up, showing her
round, beautiful arms and her hands In a
pan of flour, making biscuits for tea, FALL
alone, " while beside her sat the dearest
old lady, whom she introduced to him as
my aunt
"How do you do, Mr. Hollister?'' Grace
said, with a roguish twinkle in her lovely
eyes. "As you are kind enough to come
out hero to see me, I am going to ask you
to remain to tea-that is she continued,
eff you will sit here and talk to me W Gle
I finish the supper" She concluded by
saying, ''You see, auntie's kitchen is not
like the ones in the big, fashionable houses,
and we really enjoy sitting out here. y
At last tea was ready, and Jack Hollister
sat down with Grace and her aunt and On
joyed the best cooked supper he had had
for a long time He decided right then
and there that this was the girl for him.
So, after supper was over and auntie had
gone up stairs and Margaret, the only
servant was washing the dishes, Jack and
Grace went into the parlOr, and the young
man went straight to the point and tao
killed. the business he had on his mind and
asked her to marry him. AS it did not
take Rebecca long to make up her mind
in the ancient. primitive times to consent
to be the wife of Isaac because she loved
him, so it was here.
When Jack said, 81 love you all the bet
ter, my darling, now you are poor, - she
E1r1ilel and him tl,11s. g s b