Other Things Being Equal | Page 5

father, and let him judge if you had better
not."
"I really think Mamma would not care to go, for she said as much to
Father; but, averse as he generally is to going out, he insists on our
going to-night, and, what is more, intends to accompany us, although
Louis is going also. But if you think Mamma is seriously run down, I
shall tell him immediately, and--"
A blithe voice at the door interrupted her, calling:
"Open the door, Ruth; my hands are full."
She rose hastily, and with a signal of silence to her loquacious cousin,
opened the door for her mother.
"Ah, Jennie, how are your, dear? But let us inspect this box which Nora
has just handed me, before we consider you;" and Mrs. Levice softly
deposited a huge box upon Ruth's lace-enveloped bed.
She was still bonneted and gloved, and with a slight flush in her clear
olive cheek she looked like anything but a subject for fears. From the
crown of her dainty bonnet to the point of her boot she was the picture
of exquisite refinement; tall, beautifully formed, carrying her head like
a queen, gowned in perfect, quiet elegance, she appeared more like
Ruth's older sister than her mother.
"Ruth's gown for this evening," she announced, deftly unfolding the
wrappings.
"Yellow!" exclaimed Mrs. Lewis, in surprise.

"Corn-color," corrected Mrs. Levice, playfully; "how do you think it
will suit my girlie?" She continued, shaking out the clinging silken
crepe.
"Charmingly; but I thought Ruth objected to anything but white."
"So she does; she thinks white keeps her unnoticed among the rest.
This time, however, my will overrode hers. Eh, Daughter?"
The girl made a low courtesy.
"I am only lady-in-waiting to your Majesty, O Queen," she laughed.
She had hardly glanced at the gown, being engaged in a silent scrutiny
of her mother's face.
"And how is my prime minister this afternoon?" Mrs. Levice was
drawing off her gloves, and Ruth's look of pained discovery passed
unnoticed.
"I have not been down since luncheon," she replied.
"What! Then go down at once and bring him up. I must see that he gets
out of his studiousness and is clothed in festive mind for this evening.
Come to my sitting-room, Jennie, and we can have a comfortable chat."
Left to herself, Ruth hesitated before going to her father with her
ill-boding tidings. None knew better than she of the great, silent love
that bound her parents. As a quiet, observant child, she had often
questioned wherein could be any sympathy between her father, almost
old, studious, and reserved, and her beautiful, worldly young mother.
But as she matured, she became conscious that because of this apparent
disparity it would have been still stranger had Mrs. Levice not loved
him with a feeling verging nearer humble adoration than any lower
passion. It seemed almost a mockery for her to have to tell him he had
been negligent, --not only a mockery, but a cruelty. However, it had to
be done, and she was the only one to do it. Having come to this
conclusion, she ran quickly downstairs, and softly, without knocking,
opened the library door.

She entered so quietly that Mr. Levice, reading by the window, did not
glance from his book. She stood a moment regarding the small
thoughtful-faced, white-haired man.
If one were to judge but by results, Jules Levice would be accounted a
fortunate man. Nearing the allotted threescore and ten, blessed with a
loving, beloved wife and this one idolized ewe-lamb, surrounded by
luxury, in good health, honored, and honorable, --trouble and travail
seemed to have passed him by. But this scene of human happiness was
the result of intelligent and unremitting effort. A high state of earthly
beatitude has seldom been attained without great labor of mind or body
by ourselves or those akin to us. Jules Levice had been thrown on the
world when a boy of twelve. He resolved to become happy. Many of us
do likewise; but we overlook the fact that we are provided with feet,
not wings, and cannot fly to the goal. His dream of happiness was
ambitious; it soared beyond contentment. Not being a lily of the field,
he knew that he must toil; any honest work was acceptable to him. He
was possessed of a fine mind; he cultivated it. He had a keen
observation; he became a student of his fellow-men; and being strong
and untiring, he became rich. This was but the nucleus of his ambitions,
and it came to him late in life, but not too late for him to build round it
his happy home, and to surround himself with the luxuries of leisure for
attaining the pinnacle of wide information that he had always craved.
His was