Mexico Missouri message., 1911-01-26


was always with her TO drive home her
belief that the girl had no individual
fly other than an Inherited one. with
no good In It.
The winters were spent. Of course. In
Boston, where Aunt Cornelia's friends
looked up to her opinion and encour
aged her representations that she was
going to have trouble with the girl
Their summers were spent In l.enoX.
md II was here. meeting Graham Win
throp, with his sweet good nature. that
she won her FIRST appreciation from her
relative by conserving to an announce.
ment Of an engagement with the young
man.
1t seemed as though great relief was
In sight. for he had many qualities
that delighted her, but II was not long
before she realized that to marry him
would be a greater mistake than TO
continue her present life. The invita-.
ton to spend the spring and summer
with Graham's mother gave her the
opportunity to carry out scheme that
she had carefully and slowly evolved.
Going Into Southampton early one
day, she had succeeded I'm getting l.
tiers OF Introduction to several ma'-
ayers and had at last secured the en-
gagement which had ended 80 disas-
trously. Her father when she made
her announcement TO him had come
on from Lenox to expostulate, but had
finally consented Out OF respect for
him she had asked the consent of
Aunt Cornelia, which had been bitter
ly refused with virago-like denuncia-
ton. And now she had to go back!
had failed. and failed miscrably! She
had only one more talk with Graham
after his last pleadings on the train
before the day rehearsals started lie
had come to her two days later and
said he was going abroad
Isn't this rather sudden" she asked.
81 cant help II. Dora" he said Its
the only thing that will calm me down
In one way feel that ought to stay
around in case you should need me:
but, on the other hand. I don't think
] will really be of much use, and
must get a change. am going over
for only a week or 40. purely TO get
the sea air"
And the next day he sailed
While the failure of the venture was
bitter blow. the thing that bore most
heavily on Dora was the thought that
she. confessedly defeated. would have
TO meet Aunt Cornelia. That essen
TALLY decisive type Of the New Eng
land spinster had become a veritahle
bette noire to the young girl. who was
all sensitiyeness, preponderately emo.
tiondl and dominated by the gentlest
impulses.
Her father met her at the train when
she arrived Ia New York and was
even more affectlonate. more gentle
and more sympathetic than was bis
wont. but underneath It all she could
see that he was glad-that he regard
ed It victory for his judgment-and
she thought II he were unable to con-
ceal his exultation over her defeat
what would not Aunt Cornelia show.
They got into a cab Mt Forty second
street. and he explained that they
were also In New York to meet NJ.
Vavin.
M. vavinr exclaimed Dora. 81 did
not know he was to come so soon"
A warm thrill went through her at
the thought that once more she was to
meet the kind. distinguished gentle
man who seemed always TO have un.
derstood her. even more than her own
father.
His resolution was rather sudden"
} said the professor, land, frankly, ii
caused little trouble. as we had I'M
dertaken to have Doumice come over
J and give the lectures, and Doumice
really was announced. Doumice him.
} self wired us that there had been
changes In his program made neces-
snry by family affairs and that he had
persuaded vavin to deliver the course
for him and take up the work. OF
course It ia perfectly splendid"
And he is here In town." asked
Dora.
Yes: he is stopping at the hotel"
She settled back In the cab. The
first contented feeling that she had
had since the announcement of the
closing OF the tour had come to her in
the thought that al FEAST In the COM
pany OF Vavin abe would gain the
strength with which to meet the
dreaded female relative.
Vavin was out when they arrived at
the hotel, hut they met Mt dinner. he
just as blithesome and happy over the
meeting as she was He kissed her
hand affectionhtely.
MY dear little Miss Dora" he said
1T Is so nice to see you again"
Her father had told her during the
afternoon that Vavin had been much
interested In her experiment with the
stage-in fact. he had written to him
most sorrowfully that his daughter
was about to 60 on the stage and that
he had been unable to control her. 1t
was In reply TO this letter that yavin
had accepted the invitation to visit
Fullerton and lecture In America.
you have had a jolly experience.
ehY' he said when they were seated.
You have been all actress. eh?' Then.
noticing that through her smiles there
was a suggestion OF a tear. he patted
her hand and said:
at is very fine to be une actrice, ne
c'est pas1 Failure! What Is that?
A great experience. Had you succeed
ed you would know little. You have
failed; you are not forgotten"
Fullerton himself. however. did not
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