Year: 1875

the parlor minus its mistress and the
garden in possession of a queen. ]
generally visit the afhor in dishabille
at this hour to paint sunset clouds, OF
to read French novel;


Hagar Bell stood before Ludolph
Lee with the sweet light of joyful sur
prise beamipg in the large, hazel eyes,
and around the thin, red lips dimpled
an irresistible smile. In dishabille
she certainly was. A light, loose
muslin draped the superbly developed
figure, and fell from off the dropping
shoulders with careless, sovereign
grace. The curling wealth of nut
brown hair was drawn to the top Of
her head, and confined with a pearl
comb. The evening was excessively
warm, and she had unloosed the blue
ribbon at her throat, turned back the
delicate lace and left the column of her
neck white aud bare, The muslin
sleeves were pinned back to her should
ers and the arms were dimpled and
ivory-like. There was grace in every
movement, from the coquettish nod of
her bright head down to the indignant
stamp of her shppered foot. With
charming negligence she Lpotted the
azure sash around her plant form, and
took the pins from the upturned sleeves.
Then, with playful movement, she
took the comb from her hair and shook
the sunny, bronze eurls over brow and
shoulders. She would have banded it
back, but he interfered, for there was
beauty, thrillingan great, in its rip
Pile and glitter on the broad white
brow. His coming had flushed the
white cheeks, and mirrored itself in
gladness in the scintillant brown eyes !;
had curved the lips into half smile,
and she was bewitchingly beautiful as
she stood there 10 the dying light of
that sweet May day. So Agdolph
thought as he gazed enraptured on her
careless, unadorned loveliness. This
lawless child of the old world had by
her artlessness and yivacity charmed
this man of dignity and this deyotee
of courtly custom. She was so coy,
and yet so unaffected. Her coquetry
was as natural as the sparkle in the
sweet eyes and they were admirably
allied. With girlish pride she dis,
dained customs empire, and she reck-
ed not society usage. This life was in
Hagar Bells opinion dominion of
immunity, sunny cline where laws
and regulations were not needful. On
her fresh banner was emblazoned-the
audacious motto. Self sway and in
dividual authority She was lawless





and loyal as princess, bright and
wooing as Circe. There lurked
supreme power iutbsl lamhent shadows
of her lustrous eyes, aud she knew
we'll the gift. What need had she for
customs staff when by glance Of the
eve and a kiss of the fragrant lips she
could gain pardon for the most daring
deed.


All woman, such power is now
your own, and your guilt may be un-
licensed and unmeasured for season
as brief as the roses bloom, but there
will come time when such power
will vanish away. When your golden
hair has lost its glitter and your Grim
son lips their fragrance, when time has
withered your bloom aud quenched
the light of your eye, where then will
beyour sovereign influence, your potent
power? Men who once lay enchained
at your feet, languishiDg for smile
and courting caresses, will pass you by
unheeded, forgotten. Those who sung
your praises in youths palmy season
and who knelt at your shrine with
plighted vows will give no heed to the
woman whose beauty is wrecked and
whose laurels are faded. Men wilt
not under times visitation as do the
Trailer sex. You hold your eolors ad-
mirably. We congratulate you. Ex-
cept trace of silver in the hair and a
furrow on the brow, the footprints OF
years are indiscernible. 1t takes three
score years to bend the form and stamp
dissolution on the proud being made
in Deity's image. A life time may
throw its shadows athwart the stalwart
figure of perfect manhood and still he
stands erect, battling with age, destiny
and life. Physically, in this stage Of
existence, you triuMph over Us. We
cope not with your strength, power ol
endurance, or manual labor. Intel
lectually speaking, there is similitude
We do not claim superiority, only
equality, which you are loath but COM
PEELED to give US. The combat ha:
been going on for eighteen hundred
years, and the acknowledgment you
must make or we will continue it eigh'
teen hundred more. Select your cru
dite and wise and send them out tC
the contest, and in a marvellous shor


period our banner will wave unmolest
ed. Give us judges of men with wis


dom of Boethius, and in their luci(
conception justice will assert itself
We are battling with egotIstical sirei
who opiniouate themselves as tht
learned of earth and deem other origin
ality valueless and devoid Of merit
That is what makes this life wall
ing miserere of regret" this making
1T Monologue of self. We know tina


it would be pitiable condescensior
from your present high standing Il
acknowledge our excelleucy, still, re


member, "You must stoop to con


quer."


Hagar Bell appeared to Ludolph tn


personifcation of innocence and art
| lessness. "At her feet he bowed anC
fell" the willing slave of her slightes


,r;h onJ the vassal Of her smile He