The Holly chieftain., 1903-06-26


comfortable home and all the com
forts and luxuries that belong to a
life of elegant leisure such as you
enjoy ard would continue to enjoy in
your uncle Harold's house. Have
you taken all that into account"
There was judicial calmness In
the professors tone, but one watch
ing his face could have seen that he
was awaiting the answer with inter-
est, and that for a moment his lips
clasped the stem of his pipe without
suction.
That does not alarm me in the
least, she answered. You remember,
Uncle Phin, that l was brought up in
the simplest way. l am accustomed
to economize and to go without
things. Besides what pleasure there
would be in feeling that l was sup
porting myself and that the food l
ate and the clothes on my back were
mine by right of my own endeavors,
instead of contributed by others, how
ever kind"
But you might earn money
stance-by embroidery or some other
ladylike art without leaving your
uncle's house.
The professor, as he spoke, by
series of determined puffs, sent vol
ume of new smoke toward the ceiling.
Aunt Emma mentioned that She
suggested that | might paint on china
~ trit-o mi,
my prospects"
"Ah. did she. really? Just my own
| idea, precisely; only she improves
upon it. Paint on china or give whist
lessons! Capital! But the last
strikes me as especially felicitous.
You could give whist lessons, | should
say, certainly, without sacrificing your
prospects. Your aunt is an eminently
sensible woman"
| The professor spoke jauntiy; so
much so that Eleanor, who had in
tended to be sardonic. paused with
| surprise 1t almost seemed to her
that there was irony, also, in her
mentors words. But the sober pre-
| cision of the phrase with which he
renewed the dialogue, convinced her
| of her error.
why should you not adopt your
aunt's suggestion"
Cant you see why, Uncle Phin?
should merely be making believe. 1t
couldn't help being nearly the same as
it is now. Oh, Uncle Pnin. don't
wish to seem to you ungrateful for
what Uncle Harold and Aunt Emma
have done for me. They have been
very, very kind, and-and | don't
wish to criticise them; I'm not criti-
cising them. But what is beneficial
for one person and what interests one
person may be harmful and demoral-
izing to another. It's the atmosphere
that l object to-the whole way of
looking at things; and l had feeI-
ing that you would understand me,
Uncle Phin."
There was the sadness of despair
in her tone
Understand you, my little giN?
should think did understand you.
Has not my whole life been protest
against the very atmosphere which
you condemn, and which, thank God
you cannot bear? Come here and
| kiss me-"
She approached him in sweet sur
prise, and lowered her lips to his
cheek. He held her upon his knee
and stroked her hair.
You shall teach; you shall do what
you WISH" he said Il will see to 1t;
leave it all to me-"
Then you do not think me foolish,
Uncle Phin?"
Foolish? | thank God that you are
SC wise; that it has been given you
to see the difference between the false
| gods and the true the glory of life
ard its prostitution-yes, prostitution,
l say. l had not dared hope it, for
they had held to your lips the Lethe
of luxury and languor and form and
superstition, but you would not drink;
no, thank God, you would not drink!
You have made your choice; but,
child, the path which you have
! chosen is no easy one to follow he
cried, with sudden sternness You
have said that work and privations
have no terrors for you: you may
even be proof against dependency
and wea-iness of heart and brain;
but are you ready to put up with
polite scorn, kindly consideration and
| plying patronage? Are you prepared
to be looked askance at as quixotic,
| stigmatized as unconventional, ta-
| bOOed as unOrthOdOX2 This must