The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-06

ism sheE" said /, laughing irrepressi-
bly,.
Little Miss Print That was what
| ! had named her at first sight, and the
name had stuck. 1t certainly did ey-
press her very well, and / could not
help thinking so as l watched her
drinking tea and eating cake i'm the
hrehght. Such quaint little figure.
She wore a dark gray cloth gown OF
uncompromising plainness and Quaker
like simplicity; her dull fiaxen hair was
| brushed smoothly back from her fore
head. and coiled tightly on the nape Of
her neck. without single curl or wave
| to break the hardness OF the straight
| lines; her small, childish face lacked
| both the oft-redeeming features of coll
or and mobility Add to this picture a
| shy, frightened smile and a manner de-
| mure 10 the verge OF absurdity. and
| you will see little Miss Prim as she ap-
! peared 10 the eyes of Lady James
| world. Rather hopeless picture to
say the least OF II, and yet-and yet
| well, j am man, and, as | said be-
| fore men and women never agree on
| the subject of women. Ii would have
been no use for me to tell Lady Jane
that little Miss Prim, I'm spite of her
drawbacks, was not altogether without
that nameless quality that forms the
pond or union between the sexes; a
quality that Is as mysterious and mex
plcaDle as are the astonishing results
that IL produces; a quality that makes
some women attractive TO some men,
even though they be as ugly as sin and
as dowdy as-as-well. as little Miss
Prim herself. If had suggested sucn
an idea Lady Jane would have laughed
IL TO scorn. and very naturally, too. so
i did not suggest it.
don't see anything TO laugh at"
SAID Lady Jane, dolefully Perhaps
youll be afflicted with an Impossible
niece yourself some day. just when YOU
nave hlled your house with jolly people
Tor Christmas. too: and then you'll
know how to sympathlze with me lust
hsten TO her now. Only listenw
l listened obediently, and above tho
clatter OF teacups sounded little Miss
Prim's voice. Rather a pretty voice
oy the bye. The only point approaching
good about her.
Money" said little Miss Prim. "is
the root or all evil, and beauty is a |
snare and delusion. Those who nos
sess either are more 10 be pitled than |
envied.p
considering the close proximity of |
Kennedy and Eva. this might be con- |
sldered rather a personal remark. but |
httle Miss Prim's innocent face and |
manner negatiyed the possibility of any |
such intention. She simply looked like
q chllu repeating copy book phrase.
Eva Mainwaring flushed a little. and
sara something I'm an undertone to her
nance, 10 which he merely responded
oy nodi he was at all times a man of
rev words. l noticed. though. that he
smiled To himself i'm an amused sort of
way ana looked attentively at little
MISS Frlm' l noticed. too. that Charlie
RIVERS left his chair and took one close
10 the speaker. The two most fastid-
ous men of my acquaintance evidently
ala not consider little Miss Prim and
per demure platitudes beneath their
notice
wish some obliging and wealthy
,eiation would make me into an object
Ior PITY, charlie Rivers observed.
and then there was a gen-
aral laugh. for his chronic and homeless
state OF impecuniosity was a standInp
Joke with his friends
Little Miss Prim looked AT him se-
Verely.
m afraid. she said, you're of the
world worldly"
Charlie made no attempt to deny the
soft impeachment
We'll, YOU see ne returned in -
mildly apologetlc tone. '1t's rather diff
'ult Tor a man about town To be anv-
hing but the world worldly, Miss Fell
len"
she looked at him more severely still.
Ihen why are you man about
own she asked.
marie ran his fingers through his
lalr and stared at her with a comical
IMPRESSION of helpless perplesity.
Upon my word, I don't know" he
hsWered, unless 1t is that it's the on
PROFESSION open TO me. I haven't
een Drought up 10 any other and jt's
atner late to make a fresh start now"
ana then there was another laugh.
~ IS never too late to mend" said
ttie Miss Prim sentcntiously. Per !
APPS II you were TO try You might be ,
Die TO get some good out of life even I
oW" wv"
charlie looked at her dubiously.
! 90 get certain amount OF good
ut OF life" he said. but perhaps A.
'nt the sort OF good YOU mean. You q
se, ~ plenty OF dances and dinners \
m Ia race meetings and theater suppers
nd card parties and" =
Little Miss Prim interrupted him. r
On, stop, Mr.. Rivers" she said. with I
shudder, please stop. / certainTy r
leant very different sort of goo5 Il
'om that"
We'll, ] thought you might" return v
marie. perfectly unabashed; Il C
as only asking for information" 1
hands. n
Did you ever?" she said. "Now =
q you ever hear n girl talk such non r
nse I'm your life?' II
III Is nonsense" I replied.
Ana SO IL was. but il was rather G
husing nonsense To my way OF think /,
e The other men seemed TO think q,
, too, and after that IL became n "a
rite pasttime TO get little Miss Prim n
and persuade her TO air her views "a
'on different subjects. This she was ci
thing loath To do. being a young wo-
an OF decided opinions that contrast y
oddly enough with her childish face
III shy manner. There was something
1uant about the contrast. too: but
10y Jane did not seem To see II. and I'm
q could not grasp the situation at all.
was a never-faling source OF Won
r and amazement to her. n,
i can't understand any man being ca
thered 20 talk 10 Deborah" she said as
me day or two later. "She seems SO
me most uninteresting girl. and on
{ Charlie Rivers Is carrying on w
ally idiotic Irritation with her and 81
king perfect fool n, himself He IN
Z doing II to please me. 7 suppose?" ur