Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-04-03

was there ever 80 glorious a cain
after such storm!
"Then those NEUROLOGICAL compli
ments,' continued Mary Don't yo'
dislike themY'
II can't say that have ever receives
many, none that recall" replied Bran
don, with q perfectly straight race, pu'
with a smile trying its best to DreaK
out.
"Oh, you have not! Well, how would
you like to have somebody always tell
ing you that Apollo was humpbacked
and misshapen compared with you;
that Eudymion would have covered MS
face ha d he but seen yours, and 80 onT'
II don't know, but think should
like 1t from some persons" he REPLIED
looking ever SO innocent.
This savored of familiarity after 80
brief an acquaintance and caused the
princess to glance up in slight surprise,
but only for the instant, for his inno-
cent look disarmed her.
II have a mind to see," she returned,
laughing and throwing her head back
as she looked up at him out of the cor
ner of her lustrous eyes. But l VIII
paw you a better compliment. | posi-
lively thank you for the rebuke. / 90
many things like that, for which am
always sorry. Oh, you don't know how
difficult it is to be a good princess"
And she shook her head with gather
ing of little trouble wrinkles in her
forehead. as much as to say, There IS
no getting away from it, though Then
she breathed soft little sigh of tribu-
lation as they walked on.
II know 1t must be task TO be good
when everybody hatters even ones
shortcomings" said Brandon and then
continued in way that, am free to
confess, was something priggish: 1T Is
almost impossible for us to see our
own faults even when others are kind
enough to point them out, for they are
right ugly things and unpleasant to
look upon. But, lacking those outside
monitors, one must all the more culti-
vate the habit of constant Unlocking
and self examination. If we are only
brave enough to confront our faults
and look them in the face, ugly as they
are, we shall be sure to overcome the
worst of them. 4 striving toward good
will achieve at least part of it,
"Oh.' returned the princess. But
what is good and what is wrong? So
often we cannot tell them apart until
we look back at what we have done,
and then it is all too late. | truly wish
to be good more than / desire anything
else in the world. | am so ignorant and
helpless and have such strong inclina-
tons to do wrong that sometimes /
seem to be almost all wrong, The
priests say so much. but tell us so little.
They talk about st. Peter and st. Paul
and host of other saints and holy ia
theirs and what nots, but fail TO tell us
what we need every moment of our
lives; that is, how to know the right
when we see it. and how to do it, and
how to know the wrong and how to
avoid it. They ask us to believe SO
much and insist that faith is the sum
of virtue and the lack of it the sum of
sin, that to faith all things are added.
but we might believe every syllable OF
their whole disturbing creed and then
spoil it all through blind ignorance of
what is right and what is wrong
''As to knowing right and wrong"
replied Brandon, Il think | can give
you a rule which. although it may not
cover the whole ground, is excellent
for everyday use. 1t is this, Whatever
makes others unhappy is wrong. what
ever makes the world happier is good
AS to how we are alFays to do this |
cannot tell you. One has to learn that
by trying. We can but try, and if we
fail altogether there is still virtue in
every futile effort toward the right
Mary bent her head as she walked
along in thought.
what you have said is the only ap-
proach to a rule for knowing and doing
the right | have ever heard. Now
what do you think of me as fiatterer?
But it will do no good The bad is in
me too strong. 1t always does itself be-
fore can apply any rule or even real
ize what is coming" And again she
shook her head, with bewitching lit
tie look of trouble.
Pardon me, your kighness, but there
is no bad in you. 1t has been put on
you by Others and is all on the outside.
There is none of it in your heart at all.
That evil which you think comes out
Of you simply falls from you. Your
heart is all right or l have greatly mis-
Judged YOU" He was treating her al
most as if she were child.
Il fear, Master Brandon, you are the
most adroit fatterer of ALL" said Mary,
shaking her head and looking UP at
MIN with side glance. people have
deluged me with all kinds of fattery- /
have different sorts listed and labeled /
but no one has ever gone to the ex- /
travagant length of calling me good. /
Perhaps they think / do not care for
that, but l like it best. / don't like the
others at all. If am beautiful or not
t Is as God made me, and have moth
ing to do with it and desire no credit.
but If l could only be good it might be
my own doing perhaps. and 1 ought to
have praise. l wonder if there is really
and truly any good in me and If You
have read me Alright" Then. looking
IN af him with n t1r1p.