The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-12-12
WOMAN'S TRIUMPH
| heard voices in the parlor.


ment l heard it. l was conscious Of {
glad thrill in listening to it, Why. ]
could not have told you. | knew but
little OF him. | had seen him but few
times, but in those few times-we had got
to be quite good friends, and friends
were the scarcest of anything in my
life, He had been away for some weeks
from the city. He belonged to the best
society, and was of an old and aristo
cratic family. For those reasons Aunt
Dumont and cousin Lucia were very
glad TO have him call on them and make
himself at home in their parlor. They
were anxious to get into the best socie
ty, and Lucia was anxious to get rich
husband. They always kept me in the
background when they conveniently
could, consequently was not surprised
when Mr.. Wayne asked If I was al
home to hear Aunt Dumont say in her
smooth, oily tones,
81 believe she went out Short time
ago, didn't she Lucia?'
To which Lucia dutifully responded
that she thought did.
And which / proved 20 be contrary to
the facts of the case by opening the par.
lor door, and making my appearance
among them.
"Good morning, Miss Crawford" said
Mr.. Wayne, smiling and coming toward
me with an outstrstched hand 81 was
just inquiring for you as you came III -
l am glad to see you"
"Thank you" l sat down, despite
Lucia's black looks, and commenced to
talk to Mr.. Wayne about this and that
and the other. l fancy kept him pref
ty we'll engaged through the remainder
of his call. ! tried my best TO, at least
and think did not fail. l knew was
getting myself ready for good scold-
ing from Aunt Dumont, and ] could see
that Lucia was angry with me, but fear
ed to show it before NJ. Wayne. The
moment he was gone | might expect q
good lecture on MY conduct. l suppose
l was wrong. but | did take delight in
provoking them. and l knew that to mo
nopolize Mr. Wayne's attention would
he the surest way in. tho world to bring
about the desired end.
The door had hardly closed on him
when the storm began. Lucia threw the
!irst hom oshell.
"One would really think you had an
idea that Mr.. Wayne called on purpose to
see you and no one else, judging from
your monopoly Of him. You didn't give
him chance to speak to any one else
after you came in. could see that he
was terribly bored"
81 thought he looked so when | came
n,but | didn't know but l might be mis-
taken," l answered, as coolly as you
please.
Lucia elevated her nose to a greater
altitude than usual, an6 relapsed into
contemptuous silence.
81 really think you might have some
regard for u.s. began Aunt Dumont.-
GAS members of the best society, we
have certain dignity to maintain. Mr..
Wayne"
''Maintain-
"Mr. Wayne-thats poetry" said /,
in a tone intended to be very sweet. 81
never knew that you made poetry be-
fore, Aunt Dumont.'
Aunt Dumont was speechless for
some time at my audacity. The idea
that woman of her dignity would stoop
to making rhymes
Bertha, must say that l am aston
ished at you, II you hsve no regard
for our station in society, you might
have little personal regard for me-"
81 Don't see what | have done to in
terfere with your dignity and station in
society,"" I answered r
"It WAS all right for you to intrude
yourself upon Mr.. Wayne, to-day, l
suppose sneered Lucia.
"Mr Wayne asked for me- l said.
flushing hotIy.
so he did" answered Aunt Dumont.
"Of course, knowing that you were a
relative Of the family, he was obliged to
90 that"
"You mean, suppose" l said bitter
ly, "that he asked after me merely out OF
politeness, and that he did not come to
see me; and because I, Bertha Crawford,
poor relative, came in and talked with
him for 3 few minutes, I compromised
your standing in society and your dig
nifty? Is that t?'
Aunt Dumont did not answer. I was
putting the case in palmer terms than
she liked to subscribe to, but just that
she meant, and nothing else.
81 suppose it is social crime to be
poor" said, with hot blood tingling in
my cheeks 81 don't like being poor
myself Perhsps,if l had what is right
fully mine, l should not be as poor as l
am now"
The shot told. Aunt Dumont said no
more, and Lucia fell to reading her nov
ell.
When my father died, he left his prop
erty, small, it is true, FIT still enough to
live on quite comfortably, to ine,in Aunt
Dumont's care. She was to keep me, and
give me an education The education
she had given me,as it was just as cheap
to keep me at boarding school as at
home, and there | was out of the way.
But after my education was considered
finished" l -as given to understand
that my property was used up, This /
knew to be false, because my expenses
were few and simple, and what had been
left me at my fathers death was more
than sufficient to support me. II it had
been used up, it had been used for some
other purpose than my benefit.
The life lead was far from being a
pleasant one. You can readily under
stand that, from what little insight l
have given you into it,
Mr.. Wayne called again in few days.
| was in my room when he came in, ,.and
did not 90 down. If he asked for me,
they probably told linn l was out.
So matters went on for month. He
called every few days, and Rosa, the
chambernaid, told me that she had
heard him ask for me twice. and they
had answered that | was indisposed on
one occasion, and out on the other, leav-
ing him to infer that I was always either