The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-08-05

! get damp, anyway, in walking to the
car, SO l might just as well walk all the
way. Ther-I save nickel. And
\ now, Polly Goldenlocks, it's your turn.
\ What do you know that you didn't know
this morning."
Il know one thing. It's shame that
we girls were born with such extrava-
giant tastes, without the means to crafty
them. l am not cross, mamma dear, -
as she blew kiss to her mother. II
am just complaining on general prin-
ciples.
To-day, when I was at Parker's Civ
ing that terrible little Nina her lesson,
Miss Parker's winter dresses were sent
home, and as was leaving, she called
me upstairs to see them. Really, Helen,
I never saw such hideous gowns in all
my life. Those for evening wear were
just as dowdy as they could be, and her
street dresses were more like what one
might expect to see on a second-rate
actress, who wished her clothes to be a
sort OF trade mark than on Hill Side
avenue girl. Now, if we could have
spent the money she did, we would have
bought clothes fit for a lady, not for a
circus performer I wish were in her
place for little while"
cit really does seem too bad,' said
Helen. "She can have everything she
wants; she is fairly well educated, and
yet"
"Why don't you finish?" said Polly.
"She isn't a lady, and never will be
either in manner or looks"
"Did you know, mamma, that your
Polly is wickedly envious at times? We
could enjoy wealth so much, yet we have
nothing. Then to see these monied no.
bodies, almost throwing their wealth
away, so anxious are they to let the
world know they have it. l never envy
wealthy people who are to the manner
born,' who use their wealth in the right
way and are above petty snobbishness;
but it is this class that Polly speaks OF,
which makes me feel at times that the
good things of the world are unjustly
divided"
Girls" said Mrs. Weston gently,
would either Of you willingly live the
life of any one you know in this city, or
any place else, for that matter?"
"Would WEI" said Polly. "This
very minute I'd begin, if I could. I'd
be Miss Parker, and we would be in
their dining room at dinner, and let
them enjoy our poverty for time.''
"You couldn't be there with Helen
and ME. Mrs. Parker would be your
mother. You would have to have all
that gaudy decoration about you which
they have, but you wouldn't mind be-
cause you wouldn't be educated to
anything better You would be watched
during your long elaborate dinner
by the pompous butler, whom you
are half afraid of, and who shows as
plainly as he dares the scorn he has for
you and your vulgar family"
! Polly interrupted Il wouldn't be
satisfied to be Miss Parker as she is. l
should like her wealth, but would be my
own self, with my own will, inclinations
and character"
But that is impossible. Providence
intended that every being created should
fill its own place. Some were given
wealth, some brains, others, without
either Of these gifts, have the power to
be thoroughly contentcd with their own
surroundings, knowing nothing better,
and these people, to my mind, have the
richest gift Of all.
Well, can you think OF anyone else
with whom you would exchange
places?"
"Of all the people we know" said
Helen, thougltfully, Il think Mrs. Fen
ton is the happiest. She seems to be
blessed with all the worlds gifts. She is
a handsome woman, endowed with rare
intelligence, has great wealth, and there
never lived more model son than Mr.
Dudley Fcnton. While I don't know
that would really prefer her life to my
own, hers is certainly pleasant one.'
My dear Helen, of all the sad, bro
ken-hearted women I've ever known
Mrs. Fenton is most to be pitied. So
far as the world knows, she is brilliant
society woman, welcomed everywhere
Tor her gracious personality, and thor
oughly contented with her public and
home life. I believe I am the only one
to whom she ever told her story, know,
ilig that I had learned most of it from
he1 incohercnt rawlings when l nurset
her through that severe illness few
years ago. feel that my daughters
will keep the story as faithfully as
have, but will tell you, Helen, that yor
may decide whether you can afford tc
envy her.
She was the only daughter of 7;
wealthy Southern family, and her iahc
was one OF the staunchest supporters o
the confederacy. Previous to the wal
she had visited i'll the north, and had me
a young man, Dudley Forriston, be
tween whom and herself warm friend
ship soon changed to ardent love, whel
her fathers imperative message callee
her home.
ktTy