The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-03-03

violets have perfume, and the sun
warmth She was the spoken secret of
the universe-the Interpretation of its
fairest elements By what mishap, then,
was such a creature confined las she was)
to few square miles of village land in
the center of the state of New York?
Was such pearl created only to be cast
before cattle, and the village grocer's
son, and the hollow chested young
Unitarian minister, and the innkeeper's
daughters? The world could not afford
it, and yet there she was, and just at the
time this story begins there seemed to be
rather less probability than usual of her
ever getting anywhere else.
She lived with her father in n roomy
broad beamed, brown old house. en-
vironed by elm trees taller, biss less an
tique, than itself. II was an American
Eighteenth century house Some hero
of the Revolution had passed night in
1t. It stood on the side of low, gradual
hill, and was four miles away from the
nearest railway station. Altogether the
region was sufficiently remote, though
New York city was hardly more than
three hours distant by rail. The mail
arrived twice day, and Mr.. Alexander
Randolph, the owner Of the house and
estate, received yesterdays World every
forenoon, and read it during the hour
preceding dinner, which always took
place mt o'clock. It was an eminently
conservative households; at all events
its master was conservative and
democrat. as his fathers had been before
him
These forefathers were of virginia.
descent, and two generations ago had
owned large plantations in the south.
But the young Randolph of that epoch
had fallen in love with northern lady
and ended by marrying her and settling
down ON this estate. which was his
brides dowry.
He was originally quite wealthy, but
lost money by speculations during the
war. With intent to compel better
fortune he soon after ran for an office,
but was defeated, as foregone conclu-
sion, by crushing majority. To crown
all he lost his wife, to whom he was de-
votedly attached. She died of typhoid
children, a boy Of 10 and girl of G.
Mr.. Randolph, though Of a naughty and
headstrong character, was not what is
called thorough. He was tall and Of
slender build, with high shoulders, IA
gray mustache and imperial, and thick,
wavy hair, growing rather long His
eyebrows were bushy and overhanging
and gave to his eyes u fiercer expression
than might otherwise have belonged to
them; he had habit of twisting them
between his thumb and finger when in
thought, which looked ominous to stran.
gers, but really amounted to nothing
His fingers were very long, and so were
his arguments and discussions: almost
the only short thing about him, in fact,
being his temper. His general aspect
was that of retired southern brigadiel
whose slaves had been unrighteously
made contraband. His expression was
ordinarily. profoundly serious, and ht
smiled rarely: but it was not difficult t,
make him break into shrill, gigglinp
laugh, which absurdly marred the sever,
contour OF his visage and betrayed tn,
underlying weakness.
He was fond of phrases, and had
fancy for calling himself 1.-The most in
dulgent of fathers" but whenever hi
children transgressed the moral law o
their fathers good humor or incidence
and this was not seldom the case witt
Ed, who was as restless and independen
as u hawk-he fell upon them witt
sweeping broadsides of rebuke, culmina
ting, If they answered him back. in via
lent assertions of their total depravity
Ed WAS sent to school, but the study o
books had no part ia his scheme of exist
enoe. In the boys seventeenth yea
Hamilton Jocelyn, q friend of the tam
lily, being OH visit OF a few days to th
Randolphs, was tickled by Eds bearing
and the story Of his exploits. and offere,
to take him back with him to New Yorl
city for a month or 80, to give him in
struction in the laws and amenities O
polite society.
He went of accordingly, and tn
month had prolonged itself to six befor
he came back. His father thought th,.
he had been improved by his sojourl
there. He had brought back with hin
certainly great deal of entertainin,
talk, and gave Beatrix endless account
Of the great city, its streets, its houses
its hocses, its theatres: above all. of it
operas and its concerts Both she an,
Ed had always been passionately devot
ed to music. They had understood it
by the light of nature, as it were, from
very early age, and had CONSTANT,
practio1d ever since. Eds voice was no
Of much use. but he was an admirable
performer on the violin. Beatrix, Of
the other hand. was above all things
singer. and her voice developed into
soprano sf remarkable range and power
Her studies were not confined to churcl
music. She knew by heart all the grea
operas and oratorios. and in pursuanc
Of thu marked dramatic ability whicl
abe possessed she had. with Eds assist
snce. acted out scenes from many Of tn
former (sO Ear as two performers might
ON the stage OF the back drawing room.
One day Hamilton Jocelyn. who hat
heard all the famous singers OF the worlt