New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-09
CHAPTER I.
''Do you see this ring?
~. ~ it, It's a figure. 2 symbol say:
n i-e5..ss sign. now for tho thing sirnffied .

IIa Tsct59laass i ''-a at starlight
- -sneat it. Mrs. Derohan I repeat it," cried
1o,5 Ebbrides. his usually well modulated voice
- and harsh through irritation Every man,
-,or,an and child has their price,
rad grammar-and a false creed said my
mother
lord Ebbrides's angry tones attracted the at
.,,tioD Of my mothers other guests who filed
1,,ost 10 OVERLOOKING the narrow strip of garden
- from, Of our tall French villa. and they
ceased their own gay chatter to listen.
..Iu back my opinion TO any amount, Mrs
rsrohan You can buy
p,t he was interrupted by clamor of voices
r-,srvbody had an opinion and gave it loudly
r,,srybody talked. nobody listened. !, least of
.as company. was unconscious that did either,
ling absorbed in watching my fat puppy,
prince Hal. gobble up a saucerful Of bread and
,-aan,. but. after the odd manner of children,
,+er remembered what had been said.
presently the pretty girl who presided over
the tea table made her shril voice dominate all
others Grown people may be as horrid as
that she cried. but not children
The ,un7llt died away. and the Viscount Eb-
.i5es was heard to say that children were
-otten lot: greedy. time serving. deceitful; as
had as their elders and easily bought An
ether ba bel followed this trenchant announce
rnent: then / heard my name
look II little Athena, Look at the little
qolden haired angels great, steadfast gray eyes
and dare to say
gathered up my overfed pup and walked
away 10 the end of the garden. There, IN the
tail trees Of our boundary line. l found another
house party engaged in shrill discussion. These
were Inagpies. in quaint suits of pepper-and-
salt They did not talk of my looks-a tire
some. never ending topic-but politely ignored
nv existence and turned a deaf ear to the sharp
yaps Of Prince Hal
Although it was but May. splendid roses
clanbered up the brick walls Of the villa. and
summer had come The villa had been rented
for a month. that my mother might rest before
the London season. hut il was crammed with
people. as she disl.ked being Gull. The French
coast pleased her near Dinard. Its fields of car
dinal colored clover against a background OF
blue sky. the little waves dancing about the
r7vriads Of golden brown islets off shore, the
DAYS Of brilliant sunshine suited heT. She
found the place gay and she owed gayety-of
every kind We had no settled home. but fitted
from place 10 place rarely pitching our tent
anywhere for longer than two months. My
mother had had but q dreary girlhood-teach-
inr music all the year round in a country town
and after her marriage she INDUCED her fancy
for society and for constant change. My faIher
shared her tastes. and was equally fond OF Nv
ing IN Europe until the Civil War began. Then
he wished to return home and fight for the
preservation of the Union-the question or
slavery did not interest hlm-but my motner
would not let him go. This was very naluras;
She was not only deiieate and tender hearted
dreading the horrofs OF war, but quite alone III
the world-an orphan. with the memory of rela-
1,.5 her ,,-1p 10
So my father remained abroad. and they wan
dered far afeld. perhaps TO be out of hearing OF
home echoes When they were in Athens I was
born. and they named me for that city and its
tutelar goddess. During my childhood I heard
nothing of home politics but much of Athena;
nothing Of the rights and wrongs Of North and
South or Of the miseries arising out OF the
negro question. but much of the wisdom and
strength that must be acquired by a little girl
who bore the name OF a great and good goddess.
Unfortunately. was but humdrum child.
Ny poor mother declared that mad taste
for the Commonplace, even preferring plain look
ing, commonplace people This was because of
my affection for Percy Stuart, good tempered
Young Englishman. who like his cousin. Lord
Eb5rides. spent most Of his time in our ever
changing homes. Although he was over twenty
and l but eight years old that May, he never
teased ne but always treated me with the con-
sideration due sensible ana much liked COM
panion So I was much pleased on that May
afternoon when he joined me in my end of the
garden.
Have you been to St. Malo, Percy"
No. Athena"
Then where have You been? Listen to the
sea. how it is singing
he paid no attention. l stared at him. Won
dering.
Athena" he burst out after a moment, is
there anything that you want most awfully?"
Yes" ! said without hesitation. i want a
doll
had never had doll. Even the DOR make
shift Of towel with string tied around its
middle and pencilled face, denied me- /
possessed but two toys-a racing stable with its
stud and a beautifully rugged schooner yacht.
With these I seldom cared TO play: indeed 7
had but little time FOR playing. What with
studying wise books all the mornings Of the
year. and learning TO ride swim. box fence or
shoot every afternoon, playtme was crowded
out Yet ! wanted doll, and fearing Percy
had not heard me, repeated what I had said
Yes. Percy ] do wish for doll most aw-
fully"
He turned on his heel abruptly and left me.
muttering as he went:
4 feel a Judas
Presently my mother called TO me She had
left her chaise Tongue. and knew, because of
the great briancy of her eyes, that she was
excited over something.
Athena she cried as I drew near. Athena
my little goddess, pray. say you Go not want q
doll
/ could not say l remained Silent The
curiosity OF The company was aroused as to WHY
might not wish for one. Everybody demanded
the reason. / wished 10 know. too
Because / don't choose to have what is called