The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1904-11-19
STUDYING BOTANY

When first Glenfield Pearse went to
the reading room at the British mu-
scum he was so weighed down with
thought of his own insigniflcance and
the ponderous amount Of books that
were already in the world that he al
most gave up the idea Of writing at all.
For 1t was not us struggling author
yearning to earn his bread that he
came to consult some Of the million
odd volumes, but because, being an
authority on the botany of his own
country. he had been asked to write
paper on that subject.
The snbdued voices of the officials,
the deadened footballs on the soft
flooring, rebuked his enthusiasm.
Then the tangle Of catalogues on that
center table!
1t was through one Of those lists that
Glenheld first made the acquaintance
Of Ursula Holyroyd.
She was trying to pull about seventy
pounds weight Of morocco bound cata-
logue from Its place, and standing at
the next space, he went to the assist
ance Of beauty IN distress.
After that they met frequently, and
Glenfield began to find that his subject
required constant attendance at the
library and wrote to his mother at
Glenfield manor that the books Of ref
crcnce at the museum were invaluable,
and he could not tell when he would
be home-at any rate, not until the
pheasants required his attention.
Many quiet talk they had together
as they wandered about the great gal
leries, exchanging theories and ideas,
for Ursula was delightfully."- refined
and educated woman. and, though
spending half her life working up
wearisome statistics for q firm of pub
fishers, thereby earning the money
which was necessary to exc out the
small pension possessed by her mother.
she was as bright and happy us II en-
gagged in the most congenial employ
ment
In her fathers lifetime she had spent
many pleasant season at Malta or
Gibraltar or wherever the squadron
touched and her father, a captain in
the navy, could make temporary
home for his wife and daughter.
Glentield had persuaded her to come
into the Egyptian gallery one day, and
a passing smile seemed to nlunine the
stony face Of pharaoh as be sat,
hands on knees, looking down on the
love drama going on at his feet, which
was enacted much the same In his day.
How should love. to see the land
where all these wonders came fromv
said Ursula. II know I have been
lucky in seeing 30 much Of the world,
but always longed for father to be
tatloned at Alexandria. fear am
morbid, but mummies have a fascina.
ton for me-"
II should like to take you to Egypt"
said Glenteld. watching the bright face
at his side.
She looked up, surprised at his
words.
you forget. Struggling authors like
you and cannot do such things. One
cannot 90 to Cairo for few pounds"
He had never told her be was poor.
She had simply taken the fact for
granted. seeing that be pored over the
musty volumes day after day until the
opportunity came for rest and stroll
with her.
May 1 come and coll upon your
motherf" he said presently. * should
much like to meet her and hear Of your
brother, who was on board the Moon
stone as gunnery lieutenant when your
father was captain"
The following morning he received
letter from his mother reminding him
Of the guests he had already invited for
the pheasant shooting, commencing on
the following day.
It was six weeks before he could
again come up to town.
Ursula" he said as he grasped the
little hand she held out to him, Child.
tell me what is tho matter. What has
happened"
She could not trust her voice. Only
she looked down at the black dress she
wore in mute answer 10 his question.
Together they paced the long, desert
/ ed galleries and she told him the story
Of her mothers short illness and death.
No word escaped her of the awful
desolation In her heart nor of her pow
erty, which was very real and terrlbls
now. At her mothers death the PEN
sion had been stopped.
"But, you see. have my work left
to distract my thoughts. and must
work harder than ever now." was an
she said, and he guessed the yest.
They were in the gem room and tho
sparkle Of the diamonds and the sunny
gold Of the topaz seemed in their cost
ly splendor to mock at the pitful ~
tie tale Of acknowledged berea yensn1
and unacknowledged poverty.
Ursula" he said, looking down in
to the eyes which rivnled the sapphires
in their depth and purity, twill you
give me the right to comfort your viz
you be my wife,"
At last she looked at him, ana no
knew before the words were spoken
thQt all fho neorla ma ,,,btoe xrf,ictS