The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-18

that her suddenly engaging Miss Bell had
bewildered her whole family.
You know Bertha said frankly, I'VE
are awfully glad to have you. and 1 dare
say you'll be q great help to mother: but
1t came ON us like a thunderclap when she
said you were coming. Mother generally
declares she is 30 poor she can't AFFORD any
thing; she has even talked Of sending Jane
away. and looking after the children her
self. hasn't she, ALICE"
Alice. who came next in age. endorsed her
seniors verdict, but added cheerfuily:
1T will be very nice having you. Miss
Bell: We are always in a muddle, and
mother is in such q rush she hasn't time
to see to things. or 60 out with US. I ex-
pect it will be the jolliest summer we have
had at the Wilderness"
Mr.. Payne said very little to the govern
ess; but he took in every feature OF her
sweet. sad face, and told his wife later on
She was SO like both her parents he
thought he must have known her from the
resemblance II he had met her casually.
And shall you change your mind about
going to K~ingswood?"
Not at all. 1 consider Lady Bellairs IL
~ "a A0 a Jul pOuuuS EC
husband ought to have sent at midsummer.
That only ties my hands till September, and
after that we'll see"
Lettice Bell had never known any girl
who had been governess in a private fam
fy, so she had no power Of comparing her
own fate with a friends. but it did occur
to her. as the summer days went on. that
she had a very easy time. She did a good
1 deal af na>drauorE fDr Mice Do,,, che
busted the drawing room. helped the school
children prepare their lessons but, with II
all. she did not work nearly so hard as she
had done at Crimea Villa, and, though
Mrs. Payne might be sharp and abrupt to
others. she never addressed a cross word to
Miss Bell.
And yet Lettice did not like her. She
reproached herself for ungratitude: she
struggled against the feeling. but 1t was Of
no use: in spite of Mrs. Payne's undoubted
kindness Lettuce did not feel drawn to her
employer. She had a kind of Instructive
consciousness that Mrs. Payne did not ring
true. that-kind and genial as she seemed
now-once offended. she would prove an
implacable foe.
or the large. struggling family Lettlce
liked BERTHE best Of all. He was only twen-
- WV ~ sNthttu q kdAA CClI
him and the laughing tribe Of half-brothers
and sisters. 1t was not that they did not
care for him-everyone of the young Paynes
was fond Of BERTHE: but his quiet, grave
manner. his earnest. wistful face. seemed
to mark him out as different from them
selves. They were fond of him and proud
Of him. but they did not in the least un-
derstand him.
4 Ha Woa IN tha sa~A Nf4y $500 - It.
father. a clerk in the foreign department.
and before he had known Miss Bell very
long he confded to her that he hated It.
All the young fellows tastes and longings
were for an artists career: he had the true
artists touch. his long. thin fingers dashed
of sketches which seemed wonderful to
| Lettuce.
why don't you speak to Mr.. Payne and
ask him to let you go abroad and STUDY
she asked him one summer evening. when
he had gone with her and his sisters by
the sands to Leigh. The girls had met a
schoolfellow and strolled on with her: Let
tice and BERTHE sat on the shore to wait for
them. A. vas high tide. and the water came
up nearly to their feet. The sun was low
In the west. and. shining like q golden ball,
dyed the sea a rosy tint. The trippers
'S :" way n Gitdl HuS Testcu Ou
everything, and the beauty Of the scene
came home to Lettuce Bell with a strange
rush Of feeling. She seemed to understand
and sympathize with the pain it must cost
Berthe to long to portray all he saw on
canvas with brush and pencil. instead Of
being chained to a desk for nine hours a
day writing letters for the firm.
Bertram Payne smiled a little sadly.
1T wouldn't be fair on the others: there
are so many Of US. you know. and I am
the only one old enough to be any he,p. I
earn a hundred and twenty pounds a year:
l haven't cost my father anything for the
last twelve months. Now. IL I went abroad
to study art. he would have to provide for
me entirely"
But only for a time" said Lettics. ANA
Mr.. Payne seems so fond of you. I don't
believe he would grudge the sacrifice"
II don't think he would said Bertram.
but all the same l could not let him make
IT. Besides. 1t would be hard on him: he
dislikes business quite as much as I do.
Long ago he was an actor: he loved the
life. and I think In time he would have got
on: but success was very slow in coming,
and when he married again, his second
father-in-law insisted on his leaving the
stage and going into business. You see. a.
he gave up his ambition, can't tell him I
must crafty mine"
Il should never have guessed Mr.. Payne
had been an actor
BERTHE smiled.
mo. he has lost all signs Of his calling.
A great many people would say he was
much better as he is, a traveller for a city
firm. But I don't know-if q mans heart
Is in one thing. depend upon It that Is his
best chance of success"
Il never knew an actor" said Lettuce,
shyly; but my own father was one. so 1
think kindly OF the profession for his sake"
And is Mr.. Bell dead?"
He has been dead for many years. said
Lettuce. who would not take Mrs. Landen's
view that he lived and had deserted his
child. "Do you think. Mr.. Payne. that
when I know your father better I might
ask him II he had ever met a Harcourt
Bell while he was an actor"
81 am sure father would tell you anything
he could said Bertram. but It always
pains him to speak OF the old days"
The girls came back. M the party turned
their faces homewards
As they reached the gate OF the Wilder
ness. Lettuce gave a last look at the sun
dyed water.
1T il very lovely" she said wistfully.
Better than Bennerton."
It's well enough said Bertha: hut I'd